How Does HHS Electronic Payment Processing Affect Federal Vendors?

According to Acquisition.gov’s HHSAR 332.7002, the practical change for vendors is a default requirement for electronic payment-request submission. The regulation states that contracts shall require electronic submission, except for purchases paid with a Government-wide commercial purchase card and for classified contracts or purchases where electronic submission and processing could compromise classified information or national security. It also gives contracting officers limited discretion to authorize alternate procedures, but only when they make a written determination that HHS cannot receive or provide electronic acceptance, that the contractor has shown electronic submission would be unduly burdensome, or that the contractor is still transitioning and needs more time. When that transition-based authorization is used, it must set a date by which the contractor will move to electronic submission. Outside those exceptions, HHS officials shall process electronic payment submissions through the Department of the Treasury Invoice Processing Platform or a successor system. If a waiver applies, the contract or alternate payment authorization must state the form and method of submission.