DATE:           September 25, 2017

TO:                Procurement Directors/Contracting Officers

FROM:          Chief
                      Contract and Financial Assistance Policy Division
                      Office of Policy
                      Office of Acquisition Management

SUBJECT:     Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria National Interest Exemption

SUBJECT: Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria National Interest Exemption

SUMMARY: In view of the special circumstances in the national interest presented by the destruction caused by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has issued a temporary exemption from certain federal contracting requirements

The Hurricane Irma exemption period runs from September 8, 2017 to December 8, 2017. The Hurricane Maria exemption period runs from September 21, 2017 to December 21, 2017. Each might be extended by OFCCP. For the period of the exemption, new Federal contracts to provide relief efforts for both disasters should contain a provision exempting the contractor from having to develop written affirmative action programs as required by Executive Order 11246; The Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act; and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Both memoranda are attached to this policy flash. Additional information regarding National Interest Exemptions can be found on OFCCP’s website at https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/.

Questions concerning this policy flash should be directed to doe_oampolicyflash@hq.doe.gov.