1. Home
  2. |Insights
  3. |Proposed Rule and Guidance Issued for Implementing "Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces" Executive Order

Proposed Rule and Guidance Issued for Implementing "Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces" Executive Order

Client Alert | 1 min read | 05.28.15

Today, the Obama Administration published the highly anticipated notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and guidance for implementing the "Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order," starting the clock on a 60-day notice and comment period. The NPRM and related guidance (available by PDF here and here and explained in more detail on our government contracts blog) would add onerous labor compliance reporting requirements for contractors and subcontractors on contracts valued over $500,000 (and on non-COTS subcontracts valued over $500,000), inject subjectivity into the contract award process through the addition of "Agency Labor Compliance Advisors" advising the CO with respect to responsibility determinations, limit contractors' right to arbitrate certain employment disputes, and add new "paycheck transparency" requirements for contractors.


Insights

Client Alert | 2 min read | 07.15.26

CMMC Phase II Suspension Requires Reconsideration of Such Requirements in Solicitations

As discussed in more detail here, the U.S. Department of War (DoW) recently issued a memorandum (Memo 26-P-1023, dated July 13, 2026) directing the immediate suspension of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Phase II requirements. Significantly, the memo directs that “all pending and future CMMC implementation milestones across DoW solicitations and contracts are held in abeyance until further notice.” Moreover, the DoW issued a memorandum on implementing these requirements (available here), directing agencies to issue amendments removing CMMC Level 2 and 3 requirements from active solicitations “as soon as practicable.” Contractors should monitor the government’s compliance with this requirement and should be prepared, if needed, to file a bid protest to protect their rights....