Bill > S731

This bill aims to prevent consulting firms from simultaneously working for the United States government and certain foreign entities, particularly China, Russia, and other countries deemed to support terrorism. The legislation requires consulting firms to certify that they do not have contracts with "covered foreign entities" before being awarded federal contracts. If a consulting firm wants to work for both the U.S. government and a covered foreign entity, they must choose one. The bill provides a limited waiver process where an executive agency head can grant an exception if it is deemed in the national security interest, but such waivers are restricted to 365 days and limited to one per entity at a time. Firms must disclose detailed information about their foreign contracts, including contract values, employee details, and potential national security implications. The bill also establishes significant penalties for firms that provide false information, including contract termination, potential debarment from future federal contracts, and potential liability under the False Claims Act. Covered foreign entities are specifically defined to include the governments of China and Russia, state sponsors of terrorism, and entities on various U.S. government watchlists related to national security concerns. The legislation applies to consulting services broadly defined, with some specific legal and compliance-related exceptions, and is intended to mitigate potential conflicts of interest that could compromise U.S. national security.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/731/all-info