Sick Day

Because so much at the Defense Department depends on contractors, Pentagon leaders fear the work of private contractors may not get done during times of crises. That is why Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn issued a memo last week relaying new acquisition regulation language that would ensure defense contractors craft some kind of fall-back plans for continued operations if, say, an influenza epidemic would afflict large portions of the population.

The Feb. 26 memo tasks DOD's contracting officers to weed through their contracts and determine which services should be considered “critical to the support of mission essential functions that, if interrupted, may seriously impair the government.” Where applicable, a new clause must be added to contracts and solicitations, Lynn wrote.