I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5235 
To amend title 41, United States Code, to prohibit minimum educational 
requirements for proposed contractor personnel in certain contract solici-
tations, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 
Ms. MACE (for herself and Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform 
A BILL 
To amend title 41, United States Code, to prohibit minimum 
educational requirements for proposed contractor per-
sonnel in certain contract solicitations, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Skills-Based Federal 
Contracting Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:22 Sep 12, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5235.IH
H5235
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. USE OF REQUIREMENTS REGARDING EDUCATION 
OF CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL. 
(a) FLEXIBILITY IN CONTRACTOR EDUCATION RE-
QUIREMENTS.—Chapter 33 of title 41, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 3313. Flexibility in contractor education require-
ments 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—A solicitation may not set forth 
any minimum education requirement for proposed con-
tractor personnel in order for a bidder to be eligible for 
award of a contract unless the contracting officer includes 
in the solicitation a written justification that explains why 
the needs of the executive agency cannot be met without 
any such requirement and clarifies how the requirement 
ensures the needs are met. 
‘‘(b) EXECUTIVE AGENCY DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘executive agency’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 133 of this title.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.— 
The table of sections for chapter 33 of title 41, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘3313. Flexibility in contractor education requirements.’’. 
(c) OMB GUIDANCE.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:22 Sep 12, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5235.IH
H5235
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Office of Management and Budget shall issue guidance to 
the heads of executive agencies for implementing the 
amendment made by subsection (a) that includes the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Instructions for contracting officers for the 
justifications under section 3313(a) of title 41, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), in-
cluding a requirement that each use of an education 
requirement be determined, justified, and reviewed. 
(2) Instructions for contracting officers that en-
courages the use of alternatives to education require-
ments. 
(d) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by this 
section shall apply with respect to solicitations issued on 
or after the date that is 15 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
(e) REPEAL.—Section 813 of the Floyd D. Spence 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 
(Public Law 106–398; 114 Stat. 1654A–214), as imple-
mented in subpart 39.104 of the Federal Acquisition Reg-
ulation, as in effect on January 3, 2025, is repealed as 
of the date that the guidance required by subsection (c) 
becomes effective. 
(f) GAO REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:22 Sep 12, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5235.IH
H5235
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
shall submit to Congress an evaluation of executive agency 
compliance with section 3313 of title 41, United States 
Code, as added by subsection (a). 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) EDUCATION.—The term ‘‘education’’ means 
an associate, baccalaureate, graduate, or profes-
sional degree, specified coursework, or other form of 
educational attainment awarded by a junior or com-
munity college, college, or university that is accred-
ited as a collegiate institution by a recognized ac-
crediting agency or approved by the appropriate 
State education authority under State law to grant 
associate or higher degrees. 
(2) EDUCATION
REQUIREMENT.—The term 
‘‘education requirement’’ includes a requirement that 
can be met either through— 
(A) education alone; 
(B) education or experience; or 
(C) a combination of education and experi-
ence. 
(3) EXECUTIVE AGENCY.—The term ‘‘executive 
agency’’ has the meaning given that term in section 
133 of title 41, United States Code. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:22 Sep 12, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5235.IH
H5235
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS