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Federal Market Intelligence for Small Business |
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Industry wants to extend Section 3610Industry organizations are calling on Congress to extend Section 3610 of the CARES Act--which has been reimbursing federal contractors for paid leave to certain skilled workers during the COVID-19 pandemic--beyond its expiration date of Sept. 30, 2021. The Section 3610 provision was included in the COVID relief bill to authorize federal agencies to reimburse contractor expenses for keeping skilled workers in a “ready state” when they are unable to perform work due to government-imposed closures or similar restrictions. Eleven trade groups, including the Professional Services Council and the National Defense Industrial Association, say that because the Delta variant of COVID-19 is causing the pandemic to be extended with another surge of illnesses, Section 3610 needs to be extended to protect the industrial base. “This authority has been a critical lifeline for government programs and for the contractor industry during the COVID-19 emergency,” the organizations wrote in an Aug. 11 letter to House and Senate appropriations committees’ leaders. The letter cited a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that found that found widespread belief among contractors that the provision has had a positive impact on retaining employees. The GAO report said DOD, NASA, DHS and DOE reported $882 million spent on Sect. 3610 reimbursements over 14 months. The trade groups also say Congress should create a permanent stand-by authority for Section 3610 so it can be used for future emergencies.
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