Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act of 2025
What does the Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act of 2025 do?
HR 5235 is a House bill sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC-1). This bill limits when federal contract solicitations may set a minimum educational requirement (associate, baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree or specified coursework) for proposed contractor personnel. It adds a new Section 3313 to Chapter 33 of title 41, United States Code, providing that a solicitation may not set forth any such requirement unless the contracting officer includes a written justification explaining why the executive agency's needs cannot be met without one and clarifying how the requirement ensures those needs are met. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget must issue implementing guidance within 180 days, including instructions requiring each education requirement to be determined, justified, and reviewed, and encouraging alternatives. The prohibition applies to solicitations issued 15 or more months after enactment. The bill also repeals Section 813 of the Floyd D.
Did HR 5235 pass? Where it stands
As of August 24, 2026, HR 5235 has passed the House.
Status: Passed House
Latest vote: House Passed by voice vote on February 23, 2026
Outlook: Possible
Key provisions
- New Prohibition on Minimum Education Requirements
- A solicitation may not set a minimum education requirement for proposed contractor personnel to be eligible for award
- Exception: contracting officer must include a written justification in the solicitation
- Justification must explain why the executive agency's needs cannot be met without the requirement and clarify how the requirement ensures those needs are met
- OMB Guidance in 180 Days
- Director of OMB must issue guidance to executive agency heads within 180 days of enactment
- Guidance must include instructions requiring each education requirement to be determined, justified, and reviewed
- Guidance must include instructions that encourage the use of alternatives to education requirements
- Applicability and Old-Rule Repeal
- Prohibition applies to solicitations issued on or after 15 months after enactment
- Section 813 of the Floyd D. Spence NDAA for FY2001 (Public Law 106-398; 114 Stat. 1654A-214), as implemented in FAR subpart 39.104 as in effect on January 3, 2025, is repealed
- Repeal takes effect when the OMB guidance becomes effective
- GAO Evaluation
- Not later than 3 years after enactment, the Comptroller General must submit an evaluation to Congress
- Evaluation covers executive agency compliance with new 41 U.S.C. §3313
Last updated August 7, 2026