Summary

Prohibits federal solicitations from requiring a minimum formal education (like a degree) for proposed contractor personnel unless a contracting officer provides a written justification showing the requirement is necessary and how it meets agency needs. The Director of OMB must issue guidance within 180 days on how agencies should determine, justify, and review education requirements and promote alternatives. The new rule applies to solicitations issued 15 months after enactment, triggers the repeal of a prior rule allowing education requirements once OMB guidance is issued, and requires GAO to report on agency compliance within three years.

Key Points

• Federal solicitations generally may not include minimum formal education requirements for proposed contractor personnel unless a contracting officer provides a written justification.
• Justifications must explain why the requirement is necessary and how it meets agency needs.
• OMB must issue guidance within 180 days explaining how to determine, justify, and review education requirements and suggesting alternatives.
• The rule applies to solicitations issued on or after 15 months after enactment.
• A prior authority permitting education requirements (from the 2001 defense law and implemented in the FAR) is repealed once OMB guidance takes effect.
• GAO must report to Congress on agency compliance within three years of enactment.
• The law defines key terms such as “education” and “education requirement.”
• No new funding is created and the bill changes procurement policy rather than program authorizations.

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