Interim Rules Bar Federal Agencies From Buying Huawei, ZTE Telecom Gear

Comments are due Oct. 15 on an interim Federal Acquisition Regulatory rule that took effect Tuesday and prohibits DOD, the General Services Administration and NASA from procuring, or extending or renewing a contract to procure, telecom and video surveillance equipment by Huawei, ZTE, Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision and other manufacturers "reasonably believed to be owned or controlled by, or connected to, the government of the People's Republic of China" unless there's an exception, said Tuesday's Federal Register. Federal contractors are directed to report "any such equipment, systems or services discovered during contract performance" and impose the same requirement on subcontractors, it said. FAR is expected to address further prohibitions to take effect in one year in a separate rulemaking, it said.