GSA Issues Guide on Contracting Ban for Vendors Using Certain Chinese Telecom Products

The General Services Administration has issued a new guide to help federal agencies comply with a new rule that would prohibit them from buying goods and services from contractors that use telecommunications equipment and other products from five China-based companies, Judicial Watch reported Wednesday.

The two-page guide seeks to implement Section 889 of the fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act and offers information on Parts A and B prohibitions of the legislation.

Part A, which took effect in August 2019, bans agencies from obtaining certain telecommunications and video surveillance equipment and services from Huawei Technologies, ZTE, Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology and Dahua Technology. Part B is set to take effect on Aug. 13, Thursday, and bars the government from contracting with entities that use such equipment from those five Chinese companies.

The GSA document directs contractors to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” whether they use the covered equipment and educate their procurement professionals to ensure they have knowledge of the compliance plan.

The guidance also provides information on the waiver process, which requires agencies to assign a senior supply chain risk management official. A waiver must contain a justification for additional time needed, complete laydown of covered equipment and a plan to phase out the banned products.

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