PSC: New Section 3610 guidance is 'a lot more complicated' than anticipated

The Professional Services Council is preparing to send comments to the Pentagon about draft guidance issued this week related to implementing Section 3610 of the CARES Act, which is meant to provide reimbursement for contractors unable to work because of the coronavirus outbreak.

In an interview with Inside Defense, Alan Chvotkin of PSC said he has spoken with multiple member companies about the draft documents.

"The level of detail included in there that they're requiring from companies is a lot more than necessary," he said. "This is pretty intrusive."

Chvotkin said there's a "sense that we don't want to pay you unless you climb the highest mountain to demonstrate that it's really essential that we do so."

Comments on the draft guidance are due by 5 p.m. Friday.

Chvotkin said PSC sent a request for feedback to companies on Monday and has heard some of the same responses.

"The common concern is the volume of data and so -- asking questions that are essential, not just nice to have, [is] going to be a challenge," he said. In particular, he said, it creates a larger burden for small contractors.

Chvotkin said PSC would like to see the government use data it has already collected from companies and create a final integrated document that consolidates other guidance.