22.806 Inquiries
Source: FAR 22.806 on acquisition.gov
All contractor and labor union inquiries about E.O. 11246 compliance or related appeals must be referred to the designated federal authorities for proper handling.
Overview
FAR 22.806 outlines the procedures for handling inquiries related to compliance with Executive Order 11246, which mandates equal employment opportunity requirements in government contracting. The section specifies how contracting officers and agencies should direct inquiries from contractors and labor unions to the appropriate authorities for resolution or further guidance.
Key Rules
- Contractor Inquiries
- Any inquiry from a contractor about their compliance status with E.O. 11246, or about appeal rights related to actions under FAR 22.809, must be referred to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) regional office.
- Labor Union Inquiries
- Inquiries from labor unions regarding changes to collective bargaining agreements to comply with E.O. 11246 must be referred to the Deputy Assistant Secretary.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must promptly refer contractor and labor union inquiries to the designated authorities (OFCCP regional office or Deputy Assistant Secretary).
- Contractors: Should direct compliance or appeal-related questions to the contracting officer, who will refer them appropriately.
- Agencies: Ensure proper referral procedures are followed and maintain communication channels with OFCCP and the Deputy Assistant Secretary.
Practical Implications
- This section ensures that compliance and appeal inquiries are handled by the appropriate experts, reducing confusion and ensuring consistent application of E.O. 11246 requirements.
- Contractors and unions should be aware that their questions will be escalated to specialized offices, not resolved at the contracting officer level.
- Failure to follow these referral procedures could delay resolution of compliance or labor agreement issues.
(a) An inquiry from a contractor regarding status of its compliance with E.O. 11246, or rights of appeal to any of the actions in 22.809, shall be referred to the OFCCP regional office.
(b) Labor union inquiries regarding the revision of a collective bargaining agreement in order to comply with E.O. 11246 shall be referred to the Deputy Assistant Secretary.