From the Director's Desk

Colleagues,

Our agency continues to be asked to contribute to our national defense. The latest example is LB1300, The Pacific Conflict Stress Test Act and Foreign Adversary Contracting Act. Passed near the end of the legislative session, LB1300 provides new responsibilities to DAS to help prepare for and deter against future conflict in the Pacific Theatre. I testified in favor of the bill because LB 1300 ensures our procurements align with America’s foreign policy objectives.

Among DAS’s new responsibilities under LB 1300 are the requirement to conduct an audit and submit a report with vulnerabilities in our critical procurement supply chain. It also requires us to identify critical procurements from potentially adversarial nations and prohibits Nebraska state government and political subdivisions from contracting with commercial entities affiliated with foreign adversaries. Finally, the bill appoints the head of DAS to the newly created Committee on Pacific Conflict. The committee will produce policy recommendations for the State of Nebraska and is authorized to produce a confidential report to the Governor containing information and findings useful to Nebraska’s elected leaders.

Implementing LB 1300 is in keeping with a number of initiatives DAS has been called upon to support American’s national security in recent years. In 2022, I signed an agreement for the State of Nebraska to donate surplus body armor and helmets as part of the State’s efforts to support Ukraine. In total, Nebraska donated 560 pieces of protective equipment, including 321 body armor vests and 69 Kevlar helmets.

Additionally, ensuring our procurements align with American foreign policy objectives has been a long-time focus of DAS. Last year, I testified on LB 343 which prohibits public entities from entering contracts without a certification that the company does not, and will not, engage in a boycott of Israel. Though the bill did not pass, DAS implemented a similar policy by issuing a binding guidance document that prevents DAS and the State of Nebraska from contracting with entities unless they certify that they do not boycott Israel and will not do so while the contract is in effect.

Prior to this, in 2021, I issued a Policy of Procedure regarding international ethical commitments for procurement. This policy states that DAS will not procure goods from or invest in countries and individuals that work with terrorists, terrorist organizations, narcotics traffickers, or front organizations for these groups. It also prohibits procuring materials from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or from companies owned by the CCP.

LB 1300 continues DAS’s long-standing support for American foreign policy, and I am proud that our agency is entrusted with this responsibility.

Regards,

Jason Jackson
Director, Department of Administrative Services

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