Class Deviation 2025-O0003 - Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity in Federal Contracts

Summary

This deviation implements Executive Order (EO) 14173 and EO 14168 by eliminating equal employment opportunity and affirmative action requirements from Department of Defense solicitations and contracts. Contracting officers must stop enforcing EO 11246 and remove the related Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provisions and clauses from new and existing contract actions. Specific paragraphs in several FAR provisions and clauses are reserved to remove references to equal opportunity and gender-based requirements.

Required Contracting Officer Actions

1. Do not implement or enforce EO 11246 or FAR subpart 22.8.
2. Do not use provisions and clauses prescribed at FAR 22.810 or 22.407(a)(4).
3. Do not review System for Award Management representations based on those provisions.
4. Do not follow procedures in Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)) subpart 222.8 or DFARS Procedures, Guidance, and Information subpart 222.8.
5. Do not use 52.222-21, 52.222-22, 52.222-23, 52.222-24, 52.222-25, 52.222-26, 52.222-27 or 52.222-29 in new solicitations and contracts.
6. Amend open solicitations to remove the clauses listed in paragraph (1) of this deviation and incorporate the deviation versions of affected provisions and clauses.
7. Modify existing contracts to remove the clauses listed in paragraph (1) of this deviation and incorporate the deviation versions of affected provisions and clauses. Contracts with less than 6 months remaining in the period of performance and no options to extend are exempt from this requirement.

Affected Provisions and Clauses

52.204-8, (Clause)

• Prescribed in: 4.1202(a)
• Change type: MODIFIED
• Action: Substitute clause 52.204-8

52.212-3, (Clause)

• Prescribed in: 12.301(b)
• Change type: MODIFIED
• Action: Substitute clause 52.212-3

Before (original text):

(d) Representations required to implement provisions of Executive Order 11246—

After (deviation text):

[Reserved]

52.212-5, (Clause)

• Prescribed in: 12.301(b)
• Change type: MODIFIED
• Action: Substitute clause 52.212-5

52.213-4, (Clause)

• Prescribed in: 13.302-5(d)
• Change type: MODIFIED
• Action: Substitute clause 52.213-4

52.222-21, (Clause)

• Prescribed in: 22.810(a)
• Change type: MODIFIED
• Action: Modify clause 52.222-21

52.222-22, (Clause)

• Prescribed in: 22.810(a)
• Change type: MODIFIED
• Action: Modify clause 52.222-22

52.222-23, (Clause)

• Prescribed in: 22.810(b)
• Change type: MODIFIED
• Action: Modify clause 52.222-23

52.222-24, (Clause)

• Prescribed in: 22.810(c)
• Change type: MODIFIED
• Action: Substitute clause 52.222-24

52.222-25, (Clause)

• Prescribed in: 22.810(d)
• Change type: MODIFIED
• Action: Substitute clause 52.222-25

52.222-26, (Clause)

• Prescribed in: 22.810(e)
• Change type: MODIFIED
• Action: Substitute clause 52.222-26

52.222-27, (Clause)

• Prescribed in: 22.810(f)
• Change type: MODIFIED
• Action: Substitute clause 52.222-27

52.222-29, (Clause)

• Prescribed in: 22.810(g)
• Change type: MODIFIED
• Action: Substitute clause 52.222-29

52.222-9, (Clause)

• Prescribed in: 22.407(a)
• Change type: MODIFIED
• Action: Substitute clause 52.222-9

Before (original text):

(c) Equal employment opportunity. The utilization of apprentices, trainees, and journeymen under this clause shall be in conformity with the equal employment opportunity requirements of Executive Order 11246, and 29 CFR part 30.

(End of clause)

After (deviation text):

[Reserved]

52.244-6, (Clause)

• Prescribed in: 44.403
• Change type: MODIFIED
• Action: Substitute clause 52.244-6

Notes

Exemption for Expiring Contracts: Contracting officers are not required to modify contracts nearing the end of the period of performance. This exemption applies when less than 6 months remain and no options to extend exist.

Effective Until FAR/DFARS Update: This deviation remains in effect until FAR and DFARS are updated to implement EO 14173 and EO 14168. Direct questions to DPCAP/DARS at osd.dfars@mail.mil.

Suggested Questions