The U.S. Department of Agriculture has amended the Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) to align with changes to acquisition law, regulations, and internal USDA policies.
The USDA’s final rule takes effect November 6, 2024.
Notably, the rule does not include controversial blacklisting provisions that USDA had twice proposed previously. The blacklisting provisions, which CWC opposed, would have required USDA contractors to certify compliance with various labor and employment laws and report alleged violations so that USDA could insist on corrective action. The final rule’s preamble does not discuss the agency’s decision to drop the controversial provisions.
Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC), our affiliated nonprofit membership association, can read more here.