New Q&As Issued on Vaccine-Related Leave and Vaccinations for Federal Contractors

On Friday, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force posted new Q&As for vaccinations and vaccine-related leave for federal employees and contractors. Here are two excerpts that relate specifically to federal contractors:

How should an agency ask onsite contractor employees about their vaccination status?

Agencies should provide visitors with the Certification of Vaccination form when they enter a federal building or federally controlled indoor worksite.

Unless an agency has an existing system of records notice that permits it to collect and maintain this information on visitors, agencies will direct visitors to complete the Certification of Vaccination form and keep it with them during their time on federal premises—visitors may be asked to show the form upon entry to a federal building or federally controlled indoor worksite. If they are not fully vaccinated or decline to answer, they will be required to show a negative COVID-19 test result from within the previous three days.

Agencies may email the Certification of Vaccination form to visitors in advance of arrival or utilize a tool or application to share the form with visitors and enable visitors to easily complete it, but the agency will not maintain Certification of Vaccination forms from visitors unless an agency has a system of records notice that covers its collection of this information from visitors. Any such collection, storage, or maintenance of the attestation disclosure forms may implicate the Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act.

Individuals entering a federal building, federally controlled indoor worksite, or federal land to obtain a public service or benefit do not need to complete the form or show documentation of a negative COVID-19 test result. However, if they are not fully vaccinated, they must comply with all relevant CDC guidance and safety protocols, including mask-wearing and physical distancing requirements.

What type of negative COVID-19 test result must a visitor or onsite contractor who is not fully vaccinated show documentation of in order to enter a federal building?

Agencies may determine what types of tests a visitor or onsite contractor can show documentation of in order to enter a federal building, provided that the tests are authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and produce a dated result. Note that an onsite contractor enrolled in an agency testing program does not need to show a recent negative COVID-19 test result.

President Biden is expected to announce additional requirements for federal employees on Thursday. CUPA-HR’s government relations team will keep members apprised of any updated guidance as it becomes available.