Contracting Ban for Vendors Using Certain Chinese Tech Products Takes Effect; Ellen Lord Quoted

A U.S. official said a rule that prohibits U.S. government agencies from procuring goods and services from contractors that use telecommunications equipment, cameras and other products from five China-based companies took effect Thursday, Aug. 13, Reuters reported.

Under the new regulations, a company should either secure a government waiver or certify that it does not use products from Huawei Technologies, ZTE, Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology and Zhejiang Dahua Technology.

Ellen Lord, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment and a 2020 Wash100 Award winner, said the Department of Defense "fully supports" the new rule “but recognizes the implementation challenges facing industry partners.”

She added that her team was collaborating with Congress to "draft revisions to (the law) to facilitate effective implementation and to preclude untended consequences."

Sponsor