The State Department will include in all contracts a clause that would require contractors to fully cooperate with the agency’s office of inspector general by providing OIG access to their records and employees in an effort to prevent any future misunderstandings, Federal News Radio reported Friday.
“For the vast majority of contractors, this is going to represent absolutely no change,†Kevin Donohue, deputy special counsel for the State Department’s OIG, told the station.
“But what we are doing is safeguarding our ability to enforce failure to cooperate with those few contractors who for whatever reason decide they will do that,†he added.
OIG said in a management assistance report the clause also covers access to vendors’ oral and written statements as well as technical examination and assistance regarding collected data and evidence.
The department’s office of the procurement executive approved on Feb. 26 the recommendation that calls for the amendment of the federal agency’s acquisition regulation to reflect the proposed provision.
