FAR 26.303—Data collection and reporting requirements.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 26.303 is a reporting-and-accountability provision tied to Executive Order 12928. It explains that the Executive Order requires periodic reporting to the President on how well departments and agencies are complying with the laws and requirements referenced in the Executive Order. In practical terms, this section is not a procurement procedure for contractors; it is a government oversight requirement that drives internal agency tracking, measurement, and reporting. The section matters because it creates a formal mechanism for senior-level visibility into agency compliance performance, which can influence policy attention, management priorities, and corrective action. For contracting personnel, the significance is that agencies must be able to document and summarize compliance results accurately and on schedule, so acquisition offices may need to support data gathering, recordkeeping, and internal reporting processes.
Key Rules
Periodic presidential reporting
Executive Order 12928 requires departments and agencies to provide periodic reports to the President. The purpose is to show progress in complying with the laws and requirements identified in the Executive Order.
Compliance progress focus
The reporting is about progress in compliance, not just final outcomes. Agencies must be able to show whether they are improving, where gaps remain, and how implementation is advancing over time.
Agency-level accountability
The requirement is directed at departments and agencies, meaning the obligation rests with the government organization rather than with contractors. Agencies must maintain the information needed to support the report.
Reference to EO-covered requirements
The section ties reporting to the laws and requirements named in Executive Order 12928. In practice, agencies must track the specific compliance areas covered by that Executive Order and report against them.
Responsibilities
Departments and Agencies
Collect, track, and summarize information showing progress in complying with the laws and requirements referenced in Executive Order 12928, and provide periodic reports to the President.
Agency leadership
Ensure internal compliance monitoring is in place, direct subordinate offices to gather accurate data, and use the reports to assess whether corrective actions are needed.
Contracting offices and program offices
Support agency reporting by maintaining records, supplying relevant compliance data, and coordinating with internal officials responsible for preparing the periodic report.
Contractors
No direct reporting duty is imposed by this section, but contractors may need to provide information, records, or performance data if requested by the agency to support its compliance reporting.
Practical Implications
This section is mainly an internal government reporting requirement, so contractors should not assume it creates a standalone reporting obligation for them unless the agency asks for supporting data.
Agencies need reliable data collection processes; weak recordkeeping can make it difficult to demonstrate compliance progress or respond to presidential reporting deadlines.
The focus on progress means agencies should track trends and corrective actions, not just whether a requirement is technically met at a single point in time.
A common pitfall is treating the requirement as purely administrative and not assigning clear ownership for data gathering, validation, and submission.
Contracting personnel should be prepared to support agency compliance reporting with accurate files, status updates, and documentation when the agency’s internal oversight process requires it.
Official Regulatory Text
Executive Order 12928 requires periodic reporting to the President on the progress of departments and agencies in complying with the laws and requirements mentioned in the Executive order.