skip navigational linksDOL Seal - Link to DOL Home Page
Photos representing the workforce - Digital Imagery© copyright 2001 PhotoDisc, Inc.
www.dol.gov/compliance
November 3, 2008    DOL Home > Compliance Assistance > By Law > DBRA   

The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA)


 Frequently Asked Questions

OVERVIEW

The Davis Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) requires all contractors and subcontractors performing work on federal or District of Columbia construction contracts or federally assisted contracts in excess of $2,000 to pay their laborers and mechanics not less than the prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits for corresponding classes of laborers and mechanics employed on similar projects in the area. The prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits are determined by the Secretary of Labor for inclusion in covered contracts.

In addition to the Davis Bacon Act itself, Congress added Davis-Bacon prevailing wage provisions to approximately 60 laws—"related Acts"—under which federal agencies assist construction projects through grants, loans, loan guarantees, and insurance. (Examples of the related Acts are the Federal-Aid Highway Acts, the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.) Generally, the application of prevailing wage requirements to projects receiving federal assistance under any particular "related" Act depends on the provisions of that law.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has oversight responsibilities to assure coordination of administration and consistency of enforcement of the labor standards provisions of the Davis Bacon and Related Acts. Under this authority, DOL has issued regulations establishing standards and procedures for the administration and enforcement of the Davis-Bacon labor standards provisions. Federal contracting agencies have day-to-day responsibility for administration and enforcement of the Davis-Bacon labor standards provisions in covered contracts for which they are responsibile or to which they provide federal assistance under laws they administer.

Within DOL, the Employment Standards Administration's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is responsible for administration and enforcement of the DBRA.

COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE MATERIALS

BASIC INFORMATION

POSTERS

RECORDKEEPING

Under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA), covered contractors must maintain payrolls and basic records and submit certified weekly payrolls. Although use of Form WH-347 is optional, the form will satisfy the requirements of Regulations, Parts 3 and 5 (29 CFR, Subtitle A), as to payrolls submitted in connection with contracts subject to the DBRA. Records to be maintained include:

  • Name, address, and social security number of each employee;
  • Each employee's work classification(s);
  • Hourly rate(s) of pay (including rates of contributions or costs anticipated for bona fide fringe benefits or cash equivalents thereof);
  • Daily and weekly numbers of hours worked;
  • Deductions made; and
  • Actual wages paid.

See 29 CFR 5.5(a)(3) for further information.

APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS

  • Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) - Requires payment of prevailing wages to laborers and mechanics employed on federal and federally assisted construction projects.
  • Reorganization Plan of 1950
  • 29 CFR Part 1 - Regulations describing the procedures for predetermination of wage rates.
  • 29 CFR Part 3 - Regulations regarding contractors and subcontractors on public building or public work financed in whole or in part by loans or grants from the United States.
  • 29 CFR Part 5 - Regulations regarding labor standards provisions applicable to contracts covering federally financed and assisted construction.
  • 29 CFR Part 6 - Regulations describing the Rules of Practice for administrative proceedings enforcing labor standards in federal and federally assisted construction contracts and federal service contracts.
  • 29 CFR Part 7 - Regulations describing practice before the Administrative Review Board with regard to federal and federally assisted construction contracts.

RELATED TOPICS AND LINKS

DOL CONTACTS*

  • Employment Standards Administration (ESA)
    Wage and Hour Division
    200 Constitution Avenue, NW
    Room S-3502
    Washington, DC 20210
    Contact WHD
    Tel: 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243)
    TTY: 1-877-889-5627
    Local Offices

  • For questions on other DOL laws,
    please call DOL's Toll-Free Help Line at 1-866-4-USA-DOL. Live assistance is available in English and Spanish, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Additional service is available in more than 140 languages through a translation service.
    Tel: 1-866-4-USA-DOL
    TTY: 1-877-889-5627

*Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Labor's Confidentiality Protocol for Compliance Assistance Inquiries, information provided by a telephone caller will be kept confidential within the bounds of the law. Compliance assistance inquiries will not trigger an inspection, audit, investigation, etc.



Phone Numbers