Angela Styles Interviewed by Fedscoop re: Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors

Akin Gump government contracts partner Angela Styles was interviewed on The Daily Scoop podcast regarding implementation of the executive order-mandated vaccine requirement for federal contractors.

Styles, a former Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy within the federal government’s Office of Management and Budget, said that technology and IT companies that were able to have employees work remotely through the pandemic are not having a problem, while manufacturing companies “are really struggling.” She said that the executive order issued in September did not initially apply to contracts for products, and, so, manufacturing companies were not prepared to comply with the workforce task force guidance and were not ready “for really aggressive implementation that you’re seeing by GSA [General Services Administration] and you’re seeing by Defense Logistics Agency [DLA].”

Styles also discussed the nature of GSA’s and DLA’s requirements for federal contractors; the lack of clarity in applicability of the requirements; the impact on contracting companies, including the absence of an enforcement mechanism or infrastructure; the broadness of the mandate; the test vs. vaccinate option for companies; the supply chain impact; company compliance deadlines; and more.

To hear the full interview, which begins at 02:27, click here.