DoD Keeps Telecom Threat Reporting Rules for Defense Contracts
Published Date: 10/1/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Defense is updating how businesses report on certain telecom gear to keep our military communications safe from foreign threats. If you sell or provide services to the DoD, you’ll need to keep sharing info about covered equipment to help protect national security. This update extends current rules with no new costs but keeps the paperwork flowing smoothly through 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Must declare if you’ll supply covered telecom
If you bid on DoD contracts, the solicitation provision DFARS 252.204-7017 requires you to state whether you will or will not provide covered defense telecommunications equipment or services under the contract. This representation is required as part of the offer process and ties to the existing DFARS solicitation provisions.
Contractors must report covered equipment found during work
DFARS 252.204-7018 requires contractors to report any covered telecommunications equipment, systems, or services that are identified during contract performance. You must report these items while performing the contract so DoD can respond if prohibited items are discovered after delivery or use.
Annual paperwork totals 62,085 burden hours
The information collection covers 3,446 respondents with approximately 50 responses per respondent, for about 172,320 annual responses. The agency estimates an average burden of 0.36 hour per response and total annual burden of 62,085 hours (about 18 hours per respondent per year).
Collection enforces NDAA ban on certain telecom equipment
The information collection supports implementation of section 1656(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, which prohibits DoD from procuring equipment, systems, or services that use covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component for the nuclear deterrence or homeland defense missions. DoD uses the representations and reports to help ensure it does not award or continue contracts involving prohibited items.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-20175, Information Collection Requirement; Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Part 219, Small Business Programs
The Department of Defense wants to keep collecting info from small businesses working with them to make sure programs run smoothly. They’re asking for public feedback by November 30, 2026, before extending this info collection for another three years. This affects about 41 businesses yearly, each spending about an hour sharing their info, with no new costs expected.
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The Federal Transit Administration is updating the rules for its Capital Investment Grants program, which helps fund big public transit projects. These changes aim to make the process faster, clearer, and hold project sponsors more accountable. If you’re involved in transit projects, get ready—comments are open until November 16, 2026, and the new rules will apply right away with no exceptions.