60-741.4—Coverage and waivers.
(a) Coverage—
(1) Contracts and subcontracts in excess of $10,000.
Contracts and subcontracts in excess of $10,000 are covered by this part. No contracting agency or contractor shall procure supplies or services in less than usual quantities to avoid the applicability of the equal opportunity clause.
(2) Positions engaged in carrying out a contract.
(i)
With respect to the contractor's employment decisions and practices occurring before October 29, 1992, this part applies only to employees who were employed in, and applicants for, positions that were engaged in carrying out a Government contract; with respect to employment decisions and practices occurring on or after October 29, 1992, this part applies to all of the contractor's positions irrespective of whether the positions are or were engaged in carrying out a Government contract. A position shall be considered to have been engaged in carrying out a contract if:
(A)
The duties of the position included work that fulfilled a contractual obligation, or work that was necessary to, or that facilitated, performance of the contract or a provision of the contract; or
(B)
The cost or a portion of the cost of the position was allowable as a cost of the contract under the principles set forth in the Federal Acquisition Regulation at 48 CFR Ch. 1, part 31: Provided, That a position shall not be considered to have been covered by this part by virtue of this provision if the cost of the position was not allocable in whole or in part as a direct cost to any Government contract, and only a de minimis (less than 2%) portion of the cost of the position was allocable as an indirect cost to Government contracts, considered as a group.
(ii) Application.
Where a contractor or a division or establishment of a contractor was devoted exclusively to Government contract work, all positions within the contractor, division, or establishment shall be considered to have been covered by this part. (Appendix D of this part provides guidance on positions engaged in carrying out a contract.)
(3) Contracts and subcontracts for indefinite quantities.
With respect to indefinite delivery-type contracts and subcontracts (including, but not limited to, open end contracts, requirement-type contracts, Federal Supply Schedule contracts, “call-type” contracts, and purchase notice agreements), the equal opportunity clause shall be included unless the contracting agency has reason to believe that the amount to be ordered in any year under such contract will not be in excess of $10,000. The applicability of the equal opportunity clause shall be determined at the time of award for the first year, and annually thereafter for succeeding years, if any. Notwithstanding the above, the equal opportunity clause shall be applied to such contract whenever the amount of a single order exceeds $10,000. Once the equal opportunity clause is determined to be applicable, the contract shall continue to be subject to such clause for its duration, regardless of the amounts ordered, or reasonably expected to be ordered in any year.
(4) Employment activities within the United States.
This part applies only to employment activities within the United States and not to employment activities abroad. The term employment activities within the United States includes actual employment within the United States, and decisions of the contractor made within the United States, pertaining to the contractor's applicants and employees who are within the United States, regarding employment opportunities abroad (such as recruiting and hiring within the United States for employment abroad, or transfer of persons employed in the United States to contractor establishments abroad).
(5) Contracts with State or local governments.
The requirements of the equal opportunity clause in any contract or subcontract with a State or local government (or any agency, instrumentality or subdivision thereof) shall not be applicable to any agency, instrumentality or subdivision of such government which does not participate in work on or under the contract or subcontract.
(b) Waivers—
(1) Specific contracts and classes of contracts.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary may waive the application to any contract of the equal opportunity clause in whole or part when he or she deems that special circumstances in the national interest so require. The Deputy Assistant Secretary may also grant such waivers to groups or categories of contracts: where it is in the national interest; where it is found impracticable to act upon each request individually; and where such waiver will substantially contribute to convenience in administration of the act. When a waiver has been granted for any class of contracts, the Deputy Assistant Secretary may withdraw the waiver for a specific contract or group of contracts to be awarded, when in his or her judgment such action is necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of the act. The withdrawal shall not apply to contracts awarded prior to the withdrawal, except that in procurements entered into by formal advertising, or the various forms of restricted formal advertising, such withdrawal shall not apply unless the withdrawal is made more than 10 calendar days before the date set for the opening of the bids.
(2) National security.
Any requirement set forth in the regulations of this part shall not apply to any contract whenever the head of the contracting agency determines that such contract is essential to the national security and that its award without complying with such requirements is necessary to the national security. Upon making such a determination, the head of the contracting agency will notify the Deputy Assistant Secretary in writing within 30 days.
(3) Facilities not connected with contracts.
(i)
Upon the written request of the contractor, the Deputy Assistant Secretary may waive the requirements of the equal opportunity clause with respect to any of a contractor's facilities if the Deputy Assistant Secretary finds that the contractor has demonstrated that:
(A)
The facility is in all respects separate and distinct from activities of the contractor related to the performance of a contract; and
(ii)
The Deputy Assistant Secretary's findings as to whether the facility is separate and distinct in all respects from activities of the contractor related to the performance of a contract shall include consideration of the following factors:
(A)
Whether any work at the facility directly or indirectly supports or contributes to the satisfaction of the work performed on a Government contract;
(D)
Whether working at the facility is a prerequisite for advancement in job responsibility or pay, and the extent to which employees at facilities connected to a Government contract are recruited for positions at the facility;
(E)
Whether employees or applicants for employment at the facility may perform work related to a Government contract at another facility, and the extent to which employees at the facility are interchangeable with employees at facilities connected to a Government contract; and
(F)
Such other factors that the Deputy Assistant Secretary deems are necessary or appropriate for considering whether the facility is in all respects separate and distinct from the activities of the contractor related to the performance of a contract.
(iii)
The Deputy Assistant Secretary's findings as to whether granting a waiver will interfere with or impede the effectuation of the act shall include consideration of the following factors:
(A)
Whether the waiver will be used as a subterfuge to circumvent the contractor's obligations under the act;
(B)
The contractor's compliance with the act or any other Federal, State or local law requiring equal opportunity for disabled persons;
(D)
Such other factors that the Deputy Assistant Secretary deems are necessary or appropriate for considering whether the granting of the waiver would interfere with or impede the effectuation of the act.
(A)
Promptly inform the Deputy Assistant Secretary of any changed circumstances not reflected in the contractor's waiver request; and
(B)
Permit the Deputy Assistant Secretary access during normal business hours to the contractor's places of business for the purpose of investigating whether the facility granted a waiver meets the standards and requirements of paragraph (b)(3) of this section, and for inspecting and copying such books and accounts and records, including computerized records, and other material as may be relevant to the matter under investigation.
(v)
(A)
A waiver granted under paragraph (b)(3) of this section shall terminate on one of the following dates, whichever is earliest:
(1) Two years after the date the waiver was granted.
(2) When the facility performs any work that directly supports or contributes to the satisfaction of the work performed on a Government contract.
(3) When the Deputy Assistant Secretary determines, based on information provided by the contractor under this section or upon any other relevant information, that the facility does not meet the requirements of paragraph (b)(3) of this section.
(B)
When a waiver terminates in accordance with paragraph (b)(3)(v)(A) of this section the contractor shall ensure that the facility complies with this part on the date of termination, except that compliance with §§ 60-741.40 through 60-741.45, if applicable, must be attained within 120 days of such termination.
(vi)
False or fraudulent statements or representations made by a contractor under paragraph (b)(3) of this section are prohibited and may subject the contractor to sanctions and penalties under this part and criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1001.