Summary

The Department of Defense, General Services Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have issued a proposed rule that would revise the Federal Acquisition Regulations (“FAR”) to implement section 5(b)(i) of Executive Order (“E.O.”) 14030, Climate-Related Financial Risk, requiring government contractors to publicly disclose greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions and climate-related financial risk and also set science-based reduction targets.  Non-excepted contractors who do not comply with these rules could be presumed non-responsible and thus ineligible to receive federal awards.

Overview

Under the proposed rule, contractors will need to represent whether they are a “major contractor” (over $50M in federal contract obligations in prior Federal fiscal year) or a “significant contractor” (between $7.5M and $50M in federal contract obligations in prior fiscal year).  If the contractor meets either of those definitions, they then must complete a GHG analysis and report their findings in SAM.gov.  Importantly, the Proposed Rule does not include an exception for commercial items (including COTS items) or services contractors.

The baseline reporting requirement consists of completing the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, which involves assessing (1) GHG emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the reporting company (i.e., Scope 1 emissions) and (2) GHG emissions associated with the generation of electricity, heating and cooling, or steam, when these are purchased or acquired for the reporting company’s own consumption, but occur at sources owned or controlled by another entity (i.e., Scope 2 emissions). 

Major contractors must also complete an annual disclosure questionnaire through the CDP Climate Change Questionnaire.  This annual disclosure requires accounting for emissions that result from the operations of the reporting entity and that occur at sources other than those owned or controlled by the entity (i.e., Scope 3 emissions).  Additionally, major contractors would need to develop a science-based target to reduce GHG consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.  The disclosure and the target must be made publicly available online.  Among other limited exceptions, major and significant contractors that are higher educational institutions or nonprofits are not required to complete an annual climate disclosure or set science-based targets. Notably, however, a major contractor considered a small business for the North American Industry Classification System (“NAICS”) code it has identified in its SAM.gov registration as its primary NAICS code would be exempt from the Scope 3 reporting and target requirements, but must still comply with the Scope 1 and 2 reporting requirements.

Failure to conduct the GHG inventory, make the annual climate disclosures, or meet the science-based targets, if required, would result in a presumption of non-responsibility under FAR subpart 9.1.  Such contractors would presumptively be ineligible to receive contracts or subcontracts through the federal government unless the contracting officer determines that (1) noncompliance resulted from circumstances properly beyond the prospective contractor’s control; (2) the prospective contractor has provided sufficient documentation that demonstrates substantial efforts to comply; and (3) the prospective contractor has made a public commitment to comply as soon as possible on a publicly accessible website (within one year).

Implementation of Rule

The Acquisition Environmental and Contract Management Team is reviewing over 38,000 public comments on the Proposed Rule and drafting the final rule.  A date for release of the final rule has not been made public.  One year after the Proposed Rule is finalized, major contractors and significant contractors will be required to complete their GHG inventories and disclose their emissions in SAM.gov.  Additionally, major contractors will be required to submit their disclosure questionnaire and science-based targets two years after the rule’s implementation.  The Proposed Rule provides waiver authority to an agency in the event of an emergency, for national security reasons, or to allow an additional year for an entity to achieve compliance.  Although it is possible that agencies will grant waivers in the event contractors experience difficulty implementing this rule, agencies have less readily granted waivers of FAR compliance requirements in certain situations, particularly where, as here, the waivers are made public.

Changes may certainly be made to the Proposed Rule before it is finalized.  However, as it is currently drafted, this Proposed Rule would impose potentially significant new reporting and disclosure standards for many government contractors, resulting in increased compliance burden and cost, including cost to the government under cost-type contracts.  For instance, the rule goes further than many companies’ standard climate pledges and even beyond the climate disclosure rules proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission in March 2022 (as previously discussed here, which would not require companies to develop targets, like the proposed FAR amendments).  Additionally, this rule suffers from a familiar frustration with assessing GHG emissions as it lacks clear guidance on the particular methods and factors that should be used by companies in calculating their emissions.  This lack of a clear framework is particularly concerning in the context of government contracting, where companies will be expected to certify to the results of their GHG emission assessments.  Therefore, as we move toward a final rule, government contractors would be well advised to continue monitoring the progress of this Proposed Rule.

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Photo of Robert Huffman Robert Huffman

Bob Huffman represents defense, health care, and other companies in contract matters and in disputes with the federal government and other contractors. He focuses his practice on False Claims Act qui tam investigations and litigation, cybersecurity and supply chain security counseling and compliance…

Bob Huffman represents defense, health care, and other companies in contract matters and in disputes with the federal government and other contractors. He focuses his practice on False Claims Act qui tam investigations and litigation, cybersecurity and supply chain security counseling and compliance, contract claims and disputes, and intellectual property (IP) matters related to U.S. government contracts.

Bob has leading expertise advising companies that are defending against investigations, prosecutions, and civil suits alleging procurement fraud and false claims. He has represented clients in more than a dozen False Claims Act qui tam suits. He also represents clients in connection with parallel criminal proceedings and suspension and debarment.

Bob also regularly counsels clients on government contracting supply chain compliance issues, including cybersecurity, the Buy American Act/Trade Agreements Act (BAA/TAA), and counterfeit parts requirements. He also has extensive experience litigating contract and related issues before the Court of Federal Claims, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, federal district courts, the Federal Circuit, and other federal appellate courts.

In addition, Bob advises government contractors on rules relating to IP, including government patent rights, technical data rights, rights in computer software, and the rules applicable to IP in the acquisition of commercial items and services. He handles IP matters involving government contracts, grants, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), and Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs).

Photo of Alexander Hastings Alexander Hastings

Alex Hastings advises clients across a broad range of government contracting issues, including advising clients in transactional matters involving government contractors and assisting defense contractors and pharmaceutical companies in securing and performing government contracts.

Mr. Hastings also advises clients concerning best practices in…

Alex Hastings advises clients across a broad range of government contracting issues, including advising clients in transactional matters involving government contractors and assisting defense contractors and pharmaceutical companies in securing and performing government contracts.

Mr. Hastings also advises clients concerning best practices in e-discovery. He assists in investigations and litigations that involve complex e-discovery issues and has represented clients in matters involving the U.S. Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission and the United States International Trade Commission.

Mr. Hastings’ government contracts experience includes advising clients regarding new developments in regulatory requirements, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation’s (FAR) anti-human trafficking requirements and the FAR and Bayh-Dole Act’s intellectual property provisions. Mr. Hastings also provides due diligence regulatory advice to clients contemplating the acquisition of government contracting entities or assets.

Mr. Hastings’ e-discovery experience includes advising a wide-array of clients on best practices in information governance and document collection and assisting clients develop effective mobile device and document management policies.

Mr. Hastings also maintains an active pro bono practice and routinely writes on issues related to government contracts and e-discovery.

 

Photo of Chanda Brown Chanda Brown

Chanda Brown advises clients on complex national security, defense, regulatory compliance and government contract matters, including bid-protests, size protests, internal investigations and the allocation of government rights in patents. For exporters, she provides guidance to clients regarding the export and import of dual…

Chanda Brown advises clients on complex national security, defense, regulatory compliance and government contract matters, including bid-protests, size protests, internal investigations and the allocation of government rights in patents. For exporters, she provides guidance to clients regarding the export and import of dual use and military products under the Export Administration Regulations and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Her work has involved responding to federal agency enforcement actions, assisting with export licensing and registrations, drafting export control plans, conducting product self-classifications and voluntary self-disclosures.

In corporate transactions and public company representations, she performs due diligence in connection with large and small government contractors. In transactions involving acquisitions by non-U.S. companies, she has helped clients navigate complex transactions before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).