A House-passed bill to scrap educational requirements in federal contracting jobs cleared a key Senate panel Thursday, putting it on track for a vote before the full chamber. The Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act (H.R. The bill, led by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., would block federal solicitations from including any minimum education standards, unless the contracting officer provides a written justification on why the agency needs an exemption. “Federal contracting should reward the best person for the job,” Mace said in her Thursday statement. Instructions for contracting officers should encourage “the use of alternatives to education requirements,” per the bill text.