As used in this subpart -

Covered Individual is defined as an employee of a contractor at any tier required by the Department to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), whether the NDA is directly between the Covered Individual and the Department or between the Covered Individual and a contractor, and whether the NDA is required by a contract or otherwise (e.g., pursuant to a vendor demonstration, product trial, market research effort, or other non-contract efforts).

General NDA means an NDA, other than an Intelligence-Related NDA, required by the Department to be signed by a Covered Individual.

Intelligence-Related NDA means any NDA required by the Department to be signed by a Covered Individual who is connected with the conduct of an intelligence or intelligence-related activity.

Non-Disclosure Agreement means any nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement, policy, or form, including the agreements in Standard Forms 312 (Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement) and 4414 (Sensitive Compartmented Information Nondisclosure Agreement).

(a) Upon receipt of a complaint filed pursuant to FAR 3.904, the Inspector General shall conduct an investigation and provide a written report of findings to the HCA, or designee.

(b) The HCA or designee will ensure that the Inspector General provides the report of finding to the individuals and entities specified in FAR 3.905(c).

(c) The complainant and contractor shall be afforded the opportunity to submit to the HCA or designee a written response to the report of findings within 30 days of receipt of the report. The HCA or designee may grant extensions of time to file a written response.

(d) The HCA or designee may request that the Inspector General conduct additional investigative work on the complaint at any time.

(a) Upon determination that a contractor has subjected one of its employees to a reprisal for providing information as set forth in FAR 3.906(a), the HCA or designee may take one or more actions specified in that section.

(b) Whenever a contractor fails to comply with an order issued pursuant to FAR 3.906(a), the HCA or designee shall notify the Attorney General and request that DOJ file an action for enforcement of such order in the United States District Court.

The contracting officer shall ensure that any General NDA that DOJ requires a Covered Individual to sign contains the required Whistleblower Protection Provision at JAR 2852.203-70.

The contracting officer shall ensure that any Intelligence-Related NDA that DOJ requires a Covered Individual to sign contains the required Whistleblower Protection Provision at JAR 2852.203-71.