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| October 21, 2008 DOL Home > What DOL Buys > DOL Mission & Agency Functions |  |
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What the Department of Labor Buys III. DOL Mission and Agency Functions Created in 1913, the U.S. Department of Labor seeks to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners of the United States, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment. The Department's many activities affect virtually every man, woman, and child in our country. Such activities include protecting the wages, health and safety, employment, and pension rights of working people; promoting equal employment opportunity; providing job training, unemployment insurance and workers' compensation; strengthening free collective bargaining; and collecting, analyzing, and publishing labor statistics. Although created to help working people, the Department's services and information benefit many other groups such as employers, business organizations, civil rights groups, government agencies at all levels, and the academic community. Its enforcement activities and job training services, in particular, affect large numbers of people who are not currently working. As the Department seeks to assist all Americans who need and want work, special efforts are made to meet the unique job market requirements of older workers, youths minority group members, women, the disabled, and other groups. The Department's mission is implemented through a variety of offices and programs. Program agencies, offices and information contacts of particular significance from a procurement business perspective are presented herein.
A. Office of the Secretary of Labor B. Office of the Deputy Secretary of Labor
1. Office of Administrative Law Judges The Office of Administrative law Judges (ALJ) presides over formal hearings to determine violations of minimum wage requirements, overtime payments, compensation benefits, employee discrimination, grant performance, alien certification, employee protection, and health and safety regulations set forth under numerous statutes, Executive Orders and regulations. Information contact: Administrative Officer, TW,
The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) is responsible for providing the Department with a comprehensive information program designed to inform the public about the Department's policies, programs, and actions. It plans, directs, coordinates, and carries out information activities to ensure that all Americans can have access to Departmental programs that affect them. Information contacts: a. Administrative Officer, FPB, b. Division of Audiovisual
3. Office of Small Business Programs The Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) assists and supports the small business community in compliance with the Small Business Act as amended by Public Law 95-507, and related directive. The Office ensures that small and socio-economically disadvantaged and women-owned businesses have equal opportunity to participate in DOL acquisition activities. It provides outreach to the small business community, implements and monitors Departmental goals, assists in identifying acquisition opportunities, and gives related information. OSBP also provides small businesses with regulatory compliance assistance under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-121). In addition to its other responsibilities, the Office is the central contact and referral point for small businesses seeking information and compliance assistance on the Department's enforcement programs, and facilitates and monitors the Department's progress in meeting its requirements in this regard. Inquiries concerning specific compliance guides and assistance may be directed to this office. Information contacts: FPB, Room C-2318, FAX: 202-219-9167 a. Small Business Procurement and b. Small Business Compliance c. Advisory Committees C. Program Agencies The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is the government's principal data-gathering agency in the broad field of labor economics. It has no enforcement or regulatory functions. The agency collects, analyzes and publishes information about employment, unemployment, occupational outlook, wages and salaries, working hours, industrial relations, prices, productivity, economic growth and job safety and health. Most of the data is collected in surveys conducted by BLS, the Bureau of Census, or on a cooperative basis with state agencies. Information contacts: a. Division of Administrative Services b. Division of Financial Planning c. Division of Human Resources d. Office of Technology 5. Employee Benefits Security Administration The Employee Benefits and Security Administration (formerly PWBA) administers and enforces standards designed to protect more than 4 trillion dollars in assets of workers participating in 6.7 million private pension and benefit plans. Information contacts: a. Office of Exemption Determinations b. Office of Enforcement c. Office of Policy and Research d. Office of Health Plan Standards and Compliance Assistance e. Office of Regulations and Interpretations f. Office of Chief Accountant g. Office of Technology and Information Services h. Office of Participant Assistance i. Office of Program Planning Evaluation and Management 6. Employment Standards Administration The Employment Standards Administration (ESA) enforces labor standards laws that protect workers. Through the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, ESA administers workers' compensation programs for Federal employees, longshoremen and harbor workers, coal miners who have black lung, and other groups. The Wage and Hour Division enforces minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act; the Davis-Bacon Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; the Service Contract Act; the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act; and the Federal law limiting garnishment of workers' wages. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs enforces two statues (Rehabilitation Act, Sec. 503 and Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974) and Executive Order 11246 that directs all federal contractors and subcontractors to use equal employment opportunity and affirmative action methods in hiring and promoting workers who traditionally have been discriminated against in the job market. These workers include minorities, women, members of religious and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and Vietnam-era and special disabled veterans of all wars. Information contacts: a. Office of Federal Contract b. Office of Management c. OMAP, Branch of Training and d. OMAP, Division of Support e. Office of Workers' Compensation f. OWCP, Division of Federal g. OWCP, Division of Planning h. Wage and Hour Division 7. Employment and Training Administration The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) funds and oversees a variety of programs related to job training, employment services and unemployment insurance. ETA's responsibilities under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) include administering training programs which prepare economically disadvantaged and dislocated workers for productive employment. Training programs are carried out via block grants to the States and Territories, national programs for special targeted groups, and the Job Corps, a residential training program for disadvantaged youth. In addition, ETA's Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training formulates and promotes apprenticeship standards and the Office of Worker Retraining and Adjustment Programs performs dislocated worker program functions. Through the United States Employment Service, ETA provides assistance to States in establishing and maintaining a system of local public employment offices. The Unemployment Insurance Service provides leadership and policy guidance to State employment security agencies for the development, improvement, and operation of the Federal- State unemployment insurance system. Through these organizations and others, ETA conducts continuing programs of research, development, and evaluation related to job training, employment services, and unemployment . The ETA is also responsible for implementing the WorkForce Investment Act (WIA). Over the next several years, our country's job training system will be totally overhauled to a customer driven system which will help employers get the workers they need and empower job seekers to meet the challenges of the new century by getting training they need for the jobs they want. The WIA makes this possible through an innovative One-Stop system designed to provide a full menu of job training, education and employment services at a single neighborhood action. All of ETA's programs, including the State employment services, labor market information, unemployment insurance, welfare-to-work, job training for adults (including older and disabled individuals), dislocated workers, and youth will be delivered through the One-Stop Career centers which will be established throughout the nation. These centers will fully utilize technology breakthroughs such as America's Job and Talent Banks to help meet the needs of customers. Information contacts: a. Office of Employment and Training b. Office of Financial and Administrative Management, c. Administrative Services d. Office of Information Resources Management, e. Office of Job Corps, f. Office of Special Targeted Programs g. Office of Research Policy h. Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, i. Office of Work-Based Learning, j. Unemployment Insurance Service, k. United States Employment Service, l. ETA maintains independent procurement activities in the National and
Regional offices. m. Office of Grants and Contract Management, Regional Offices: See Section H. 8. Mine Safety and Health Administration The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is concerned with preventing accidents and work-related illnesses in the nation's mines. The agency works with management and labor to promote safe working conditions and strong safety and health training programs. Its activities include inspection, consultation, accident investigation, education, information dissemination, and technical assistance. Information contact: Directorate of Administration and Management, MSHA maintains independent procurement activities in the National and
Regional offices. a. Management Services Division, Regional Office Information contacts: b. Acquisition Management Branch, c. Acquisition Management Branch, 9. Occupational Safety and Health Administration The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for ensuring that American workplaces are as safe and healthful as possible. OSHA researches, issues and enforces workplace safety and health standards covering approximately 3.6 million worksites and 56 million workers through its Federal programs. OSHA-approved state programs cover an additional 37 million workers at 2.4 million worksites. OSHA promotes training, education, consultation, joint employer-employee-government cooperation, and voluntary initiatives to help assure safer, more healthful workplaces. Information contacts: a. Directorate of Administrative Programs b. Directorate of Administrative Programs c. Directorate of Health Standards Programs d. Directorate for Policy e. Directorate of Technical Support f. OSHA Office of Statistics g. OSHA Training Institute 10. Veterans Employment and Training Service The Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) serves as the Department focal point for Veteran programs. It provides technical assistance to State Job Services to ensure that employment and training services such as counseling, job referral and jobs are provided with preference for veterans as required by law. It also promotes and administers employment and training programs to help veterans under the Job Training Partnership Act, Homeless Veterans Reintegration Projects, and the Service Members Occupational Conversion and Training Act, and provides job search assistance to active military personnel before they leave the service. VETS also administers the program to protect re-employment rights of veterans, reservists and National Guard members. Information contact: Office of Agency, Management and Budget D. Program-Related Organizations 11. Bureau of International Labor Affairs The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) helps develop international economic and trade policies affecting American workers, conducts research on trade related employment issues, helps the State Department administer the U.S. Labor Attache Program, carries out technical assistance projects in foreign countries, and represents the U.S. government in the International Labor Organization and the Department in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Information contact: Administrative Officer The Women's Bureau (WB) seeks solutions to promote the welfare of women workers. In cooperation with public and private agencies, it explores ways to expand women's training and employment opportunities in higher-paying jobs, promotes establishment of employer-sponsored child care services for working mothers, develops models of innovative programs, and conducts research on employment-related needs of women. Information contact: Administrative Officer E. Departmental Staff and Support Activities 13. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM) has responsibility for Department-wide administrative policies and programs in personnel, equal employment opportunity, safety and health, budget and finance, procurement, information resources, and administrative services. OASAM also provides certain centralized administrative and management support services to smaller DOL agencies located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area through its Business Operations Center. Information contacts: Administrative Programs: a. Business Operations Center (BOC), b. BOC, ASC, Office of Printing c. BOC, ASC, Office of Space and Telecommunications d. BOC, ASC, Office of Facilities Management e. BOC, ASC, Office of Facilities Management DOL Central Procurement Office f. BOC, Procurement Services Center Computer Policies and Programs g. Information Technology Center Personnel Policies and Programs h. Human Resources Center i. Human Resources Center Safety and Health Policies and Programs j. Safety and Health Center 14. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy is responsible for coordinating the development of new policies affecting the Department's programs and activities. The Assistant Secretary provides both macroeconomic and microeconomic analyses of the possible effects of alternative policy actions, especially regarding regulations and legislation. The Office provides leadership in conducting short- and long-term program evaluations and economic research bearing on the welfare of American workers. Information contact: Office of Research and Technical Support 15. Office of Inspector General The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for providing comprehensive, independent, and objective audit and investigation programs to identify and report program deficiencies and improve the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of operations. The Office is also responsible for ensuring employee and program integrity through prevention and detection of criminal activity, unethical conduct, and program fraud and abuse. Information contacts: a. Office of the Assistant Inspector General for Resource Management and
Legislative Assessment b. Office of the Assistant Inspector General for Audit c. The OIG maintains an independent procurement activity: The Office of the Solicitor (SOL) provides the Secretary of Labor and Departmental officials with the legal services required to accomplish the mission of the Department and the priority goals established by the Secretary. The Solicitor directs a broad-scale litigation effort in the Federal courts pertaining to the statutes administered by the Department, including institution and prosecution of Civil Court actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1971, and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. The attorney staff represent the Department in hearings under various laws including the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the Black Lung Benefits Reform Act, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, and various government contract labor standards laws. The Solicitor of Labor also coordinates the Department's legislative program; prepares testimony and reports on proposed legislation; provides legal advice to interagency groups responsible for U.S. trade matters; participates in international organizations including the International Labor Organization; reviews rules, orders, and regulations and provides oral and written interpretations and opinions to client agencies and the public to clarify Department responsibilities. Information contact: Office of Administration, Management and Litigation Support F. Commissions/Committees 17. The President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities The President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (PCEPD) is an independent federal agency with a mission to facilitate the communication, coordination, and promotion of public and private efforts to enhance the employment of people with disabilities. The PCEPD provides information, training, and technical assistance to America's business leaders, organized labor, rehabilitation and service providers, advocacy organizations, families, and individuals with disabilities. The PCEPD reports annually to the President on the progress and problems of maximizing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The PCEPD's information programs include publications dealing with the Americans with Disabilities Act, employment issues, job accommodation, and data related to people with disabilities; the promotion of National Disability Employment Awareness Month; and a national conference on issues related to the employment and empowerment of people with disabilities. Information contact: Office of Administrative Management G. National (Washington, DC Area) Procurement Offices
H. Regional Procurement Offices (continued) Regions and Regional Offices Click on the map for a larger version.
Click on the map for a larger version.
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