PSC Urges Government to Clarify Supply Chain Regulations Multi-Association Industry Letter Stresses Need for Actions to Address Key Deficiencies

Arlington, Va. (Oct. 21, 2019)—The Professional Services Council (PSC), joined by three other trade associations, submitted comments on an interim final rule concerning restrictions on the use of certain telecommunications products and services, and urged the government to clarify a number of provisions to reduce unnecessary burdens on the contractor community. The comments were signed by PSC, HUBZone Contractors National Council, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce GovConNet Council, and Women Impacting Public Policy. 

“Our associations support efforts to protect national security interests, critical technologies and contractor supply chains from potential threats,” said PSC Executive Vice President and Counsel Alan Chvotkin. “That said, PSC believes that the government can and should take a number of specific actions to achieve a less burdensome and more seamless implementation, including clarifying and improving the eight areas our associations lay out in the letter.”

The interim final rule—“Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment” (FAR Case 2018–017)—will implement section 889(a)(1)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115–232).  The legislation and regulations impose new restrictions on the use of certain telecommunications products and services produced by specific Chinese companies. 

“This regulation has far reaching consequences for the federal contractor community, and given that the rule was effective on the day it was published, our members were not provided much time to prepare,” Chvotkin continued. “Adoption of our recommendations would greatly ease the administrative and logistical burdens imposed by the new rule and ensure that companies are not risking compliance or false representation based on vague definitions and unclear applications. PSC looks forward to working with the government on these necessary improvements.”

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Media Contact: 
Ashlei Stevens
Director, Media Relations
703.875.8974| stevens@pscouncil.org 
About PSC: PSC is the voice of the government technology and professional services industry. PSC’s more than 400-member companies represent small, medium and large businesses that provide federal agencies with services of all kinds, including information technology, engineering, logistics, facilities management, operations and maintenance, consulting, international development, scientific, social, environmental services, and more. Together, the trade association’s members employ hundreds     of thousands of Americans in all 50 states. Follow PSC on Twitter @PSCSpeaks. To learn more, visit www.pscouncil.org.