The office of the undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment at the Department of Defense has issued a memo to facilitate the implementation of an interim rule that would block government agencies from contracting with entities that use telecommunications equipment and other products from five China-based companies.
The memo states the proposed rule is set to take effect on Aug. 13 and seeks to implement Section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2019.
The rule covers telecommunications equipment and services from Huawei Technologies and ZTE and video surveillance products and related services from Hytera Communications, Dahua Technology and Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology.
The memo prohibits contracting officers from awarding or extending contracts, task or delivery orders on or after Aug. 13, with companies that use certain telecommunications and video surveillance equipment made by the five Chinese manufacturers. Solicitations issued on or after the date of effectivity should include the provision, while existing indefinite delivery contracts, task orders and delivery orders should be modified to implement the rule.
The DoD document also covers exceptions to the prohibition and details the process to apply for a waiver.