Contractor, Identify Yourself!

This is humorous and weird at the same time. We had to check to make sure it wasn't April Fools day. The Department of Defense just issued interim regulations (with a solicitation for comments) requiring contractor employees to proactively identify themselves. Specifically, DFARS 211.106 states:

Agencies shall require that purchase descriptions for service contracts and resulting requirements documents, such as statements of work or performance work statements, include language to provide a clear distinction between Government employees and contractor employees. Service contracts shall require contractor employees to identify themselves as contractor personnel by introducing themselves or being introduced as contractor personnel and by displaying distinguishing badges or other visible identification for meetings with Government personnel. In addition, contracts shall require contractor personnel to appropriately identify themselves as contractor employees in telephone conversations and in formal and informal written correspondence.

DoD issued the regulation, effective immediately, due to urgent and compelling reasons. Wonder what those were? For you contractor employees out there, look for an internal memo on proper (i.e. contractually required) telephone answering techniques. Read the entire regulation here.