Want to get work with the state? You had better get vaccinated.
Gov. Phil Murphy made that clear Wednesday, when he signed an executive order requiring all new state contracts, solicitations for a state contract, extensions or renewals of an existing state contract, and exercise of an option on an existing state contract to include a clause requiring workers employed to by those companies to be fully vaccinated — or submit to testing.
Murphy, speaking at his COVID-19 briefing, said this include workers that enter, work at or provide services in any state agency location.
“This will bring new contracted workers in line with the requirements set for all direct state employees,” he said.
Among the provisions in Executive Order 271 are that:
- Each executive department and agency including independent authorities will, to the extent permitted by law, ensure that contracts or agreements entered into by the executive department or agency include a clause that the contractor or any subcontractors, at any tier, that is party to the contract must maintain a policy that requires all covered workers to either provide adequate proof to the covered contractor that they have been fully vaccinated or submit to COVID-19 testing at minimum one to two times weekly;
- The order will apply to any new contract, new solicitation for a contract, extension or renewal of an existing contract, and exercise of an option on an existing contract, if it is a contract for services, construction, including demolition, remediation, removal of hazardous substances, alteration, custom fabrication, repair work or maintenance work, or a leasehold interest in real property through which covered workers have access to state property, and the cost or contract price thereof is to be paid, in whole or in part, with or out of executive department or agency funds;
- Covered workers must provide proof of vaccination, which includes:
- The CDC COVID-19 vaccination card issued to the vaccine recipient by the vaccination site, or an electronic or physical copy of the same;
- Official record from the New Jersey Immunization Information System or other state immunization registry;
- A record from a health care provider’s portal/medical record system on official letterhead signed by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, registered nurse or pharmacist;
- A military immunization or health record from the U.S. Armed Forces; or Docket mobile phone application record or any state-specific application that produces a digital health record.
The order is effective immediately.
