Federal Prohibitions on Purchases of Certain Equipment

Section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 prohibits federal agencies from entering into contracts, including sponsored research contracts, with an entity that uses “covered telecommunications equipment or services” as a “substantial or essential component of any system” or as “critical technology as part of any system”.  Section 889 also prohibits the use of federal loan or grant funds to procure or obtain covered telecommunications equipment or services.  These prohibitions went into effective on August 13, 2020. 

Section 889 also prohibits contractors from providing to the Government any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system.  This prohibition went into effect on August 13, 2019.

“Covered telecommunications equipment or services” are:

  • Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company, ZTE Corporation, or any subsidiary or affiliate of these entities;
  • Video surveillance technology and equipment used for certain public safety, physical surveillance, or national security purposes and produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, Dahua Technology Company, or any subsidiary or affiliate of these entities;
  • Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by any of the above-named entities or using the above-described equipment; and
  • Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services of an entity that the U.S. Secretary of Defense reasonably believes to be owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the government of the People’s Republic of China.

For more information about this prohibition and to access a list of subsidiary and affiliate companies, visit Columbia’s Sanctions and Restricted Parties webpage.

For questions about NDAA Section 889, please contact:

Michelle Avallone, JD

Director of Export Controls
Office of Research Compliance and Training
212-851-9822
[email protected]u

The federal government has issued a new rule prohibiting federal contractors from purchasing or using certain foreign-made unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The prohibition goes into effect on December 22, 2025. Under the rule, the Federal Acquisition Security Council (FASC) will release a list of prohibited foreign manufacturers of drones. As of December 22, 2025, Columbia researchers who use drones on research funded under a federal contract or subcontract will not be able to:

  • operate a prohibited UAS in the performance of the federal contract, or
  • purchase a prohibited UAS in the performance of the federal contract. 

Although the FASC has not yet released its list of prohibited foreign-made UAS, the rule states that UAS manufacturers currently subject to U.S. export control restrictions will be included on the prohibited list. Foreign UAS manufacturers currently subject to U.S. restrictions include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  • DJI
  • Autel Robotics
  • Tianjin Aerospace Zhongwei Data System Technology
  • Aerospace CH UAV CO., LTD

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has developed a list of drones that can be purchased using DOD funds.  That list, called the Blue UAS List, is available here: https://www.diu.mil/blue-uas-cleared-list. 

Columbia researchers who use or plan to use UAS to conduct research under federal contracts or subcontracts should do the following:

  • Determine the UAS manufacturer;
  • Check the DOD’s Blue UAS List of allowed UAS manufacturers; and
  • Contact RCT if they currently use, or plan to purchase, a UAS from a foreign manufacturer not on the DOD’s Blue UAS List.

For more information about the use of UAS in Columbia research, please visit RCT’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle website or contact [email protected]