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119-hr-5235119th CongressWALLET

Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

Passed Senate

Summary

Shift federal contracting from degree mandates to skills-based hiring. The bill would bar minimum educational requirements in federal solicitations unless a contracting officer provides a written justification explaining why the agency’s needs cannot be met without that education requirement and how it ensures those needs are met.

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  • Limits when agencies can demand an associate, baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree by defining “education” to include degrees, specified coursework, or comparable educational attainment from accredited or state‑approved institutions.
  • Forces contracting officers to justify any education requirement and directs the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance within 180 days on that justification process and on encouraging alternatives to education requirements. The rule applies to solicitations issued on or after 15 months after enactment and repeals Section 813 of the Floyd D. Spence NDAA once the OMB guidance is effective.
  • Requires the Government Accountability Office to evaluate executive agency compliance with the new Sec. 3313 not later than 3 years after enactment.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Fewer education barriers for federal contract workers

The bill would limit minimum education requirements for workers proposed for federal executive-agency contracts. A contracting officer would need a written explanation in the contract notice showing why the requirement is necessary and meets agency needs. This rule would cover notices issued 15 months after enactment or later. It would cover degrees, specified coursework, and other educational credentials from accredited or state-approved colleges and universities. It would also cover requirements met by education alone, education or experience, or both together. Within 180 days after enactment, the Office of Management and Budget would issue guidance requiring each education requirement to be justified and reviewed, while encouraging alternatives. When that guidance takes effect, the bill would repeal Section 813 of the 2001 defense authorization act, implemented in federal contracting regulation 39.104, using the version in effect on January 3, 2025. The Government Accountability Office would evaluate agency compliance within 3 years after enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

SC • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 9/9/2025

  • Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 12/16/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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