Susan McClain, Director of NASA LaRC’s Office of Procurement, requested that the following information, issued by Assistant Administrator for Procurement Karla Smith Jackson on August 24, 2022, be shared with LaRC Contractors Steering Council members.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated their guidance and recommendations for COVID-19 risk, prevention steps, post-exposure precautions, and actions to take when individuals are sick or test positive for the virus. To align with recently published CDC guidance, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force identified changes to COVID-19 safety protocols for Federal Agencies. Therefore, NASA is providing updated COVID-19 guidance regarding access to NASA buildings and facilities to onsite contractor employees, grant and cooperative agreement recipients, and other visitors. Specifically, the following policy changes are effective immediately:
- COVID-19 Vaccination. NASA will stop COVID-19 screening testing programs that differentiate among individuals based on their vaccination status, regardless of community levels.
• Testing is no longer required for unbadged on-site contractor employees, on-site grant and cooperative agreement recipients, and other unvaccinated visitors coming on center.
• Testing will continue where it is required for operational reasons as determined by NASA. - Vaccination Status. NASA will not require on-site contractor employees, on-site grant and cooperative agreement recipients, and other visitors to provide information about their COVID-19 vaccination status via the Certification of Vaccination form, regardless of community levels.
- Post-Exposure Precautions. NASA will no longer require individuals who are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations to quarantine after a COVID-19 exposure as long as they remain asymptomatic. However, individuals are required to follow CDC guidance on post-exposure precautions regardless of community levels.
The guidance above is separate and distinct from requirements of Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors. As stated in previous guidance dated December 9, 2021, NASA continues to take no action to enforce NASA FAR deviation clause 52.223-99, Ensuring Adequate COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors, in contracts or contract-like instruments implementing requirements of Executive Order 14042, absent further written notice from the agency.
Additional information about the coronavirus, including preventative best practices and lessons learned is being continuously updated. Contractor employees and grant and cooperative agreement recipients are responsible for monitoring local radio, television stations, and other communications channels for updates.
I appreciate your cooperation and continued commitment to safety and the NASA mission. Please direct any other questions concerning this letter to your cognizant NASA contracting officer or grant officer.