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Wage Determinations Online: Providing public access to federal wage determinations and related information

WDOL.gov is part of the Integrated Acquisition Environment, one of the E-Government initiatives in the President’s Management Agenda. It is a collaborative effort of the Office of Management and Budget, Department of Labor, Department of Defense, General Services Administration, Department of Energy, and Department of Commerce.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  Q1. What is the WDOL Site?
  Q2. Can anyone access the site?
  Q3. Who is responsible for maintaining the WDOL Site??
  Q4. What is the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA)?
  Q5. What does the Davis-Bacon Act require?
  Q6. What is the Service Contract Act?
  Q7. How can I obtain the latest SCA wage determination(s) and DBA wage decisions from the WDOL.gov website (www.wdol.gov)?
  Q8. How do I identify the county where the work will be performed?
  Q9. How can I receive automatic notifications of SCA wage determination and DBA wage decision changes via WDOL.gov?
  Q10. How can I obtain more information regarding the Davis-Bacon Act and/or the Service Contract Act?
Q11. What are the Department of Labor’s Responsibilities Relating to the SCA and DBA Databases?
Q12. How is the SCA Wage Data Appearing in WDOL Compiled?
Q13. Does the WDOL site have archived Wage Determinations available? How can I find replaced DBA WDs and SCA WDs?
Q14. What are the Contracting Agency Responsibilities when accessing SCA Wage Determinations?
Q15.Why are there two standard area SCA WDs (an odd-numbered one and an even-numbered one) for each locality? Why does the WDOL process question - "were these services previously performed under an SCA wage determination that ends in an even-number"?
Q16. What is a CBA?
Q17. Why does the WDOL SCA WD search question whether there is a CBA?
Q18. What browser(s) does the WDOL site support?
Q19. How can I receive technical assistance related to my use of the WDOL web site (i.e., cannot locate a WD, receive error messages such as page cannot be displayed, etc.).?
Q20. If you have any questions regarding any of the Integrated Acquisition Environment's other systems (i.e., FEDBIZOPPS, FPDS-NG, etc.), click here. ?

1.  What is the WDOL Site?

Officially launched in October of 2003, the Wage Determinations OnLine.gov (WDOL) site provides a single location for federal contracting officers to use in obtaining appropriate Service Contract Act (SCA) and Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) wage determinations (WDs) for each official contract action. WDOL.gov is part of the Integrated Acquisition Environment, one of the E-Government initiatives in the President’s Management Agenda. It is a collaborative effort of the Office of Management and Budget, Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Defense, General Services Administration, Department of Energy, and Department of Commerce.

2.  Can anyone access the site?

The website is available at no cost to the general public. While the primary purpose of the site is to provide access to DBA and SCA WDs, the site also provides many links to important labor standards information. For example, there is an extensive library section containing links to applicable DOL regulations and All Agency Memoranda, the Prevailing Wage Resource Manual, Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), and agency FAR supplements, sites relating to labor standards and compliance requirements; sites relating to contracting agency pre-award activities, and other useful information. 

3.  Who is responsible for maintaining the WDOL Site?

The National Technical Information Service (NTIS) is responsible for posting updated SCA and DBA WDS as directed by DOL.  DOL and the partner Federal contracting agencies are responsible for maintaining the other information contained on WDOL.

4.  What is the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA)?

Enacted in 1931, the DBA is intended to protect communities and workers from the economic disruption caused by competition arising from non-local contractors coming into an area and obtaining federal construction contracts by underbidding local wage levels.  The DBA, as amended, requires that each contract over $2,000 to which the United States or the District of Columbia is a party for the construction, alteration, and/or repair (including painting or decorating) of public buildings or public works shall contain a clause setting forth the minimum wages to be paid to various classes of laborers and mechanics employed under the contract.

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5.  What does the Davis-Bacon Act require?

Under the provisions of the DBA, contractors or their subcontractors are required to pay laborers and mechanics employed directly upon the site of the work no less than the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits paid on projects of a similar character.  The DBA directs the Department of Labor to determine such local prevailing wage rates (WDs).  The WDs, also known as “general schedules”, are then to be placed in covered contracts by Federal agency contracting officials.

In addition to the DBA itself, Congress has added prevailing wage provisions to approximately 60 statutes which assist construction projects through grants, loans, loan guarantees, and insurance.  These "related Acts" involve construction in such areas as transportation, housing, air and water pollution reduction, and health. 

The geographic scope of the DBA is limited to the 50 States and the District of Columbia.  The scope of each related Act is determined by the terms of the particular statute under which the Federal assistance is provided. 

6.  What is the Service Contract Act?

The SCA establishes standards for prevailing compensation and safety and health protections for employees performing work for contractors and subcontractors on service contracts entered into with the federal government and with the District of Columbia. SCA provisions are applicable to contracts the principal purpose of which is to provide services in the United States through the use of service employees. The SCA requires contracting agencies to incorporate new or revised SCA WDs into contracts for services for each solicitation, award, or modification to exercise an option, extend the contract, or change the scope of work (whereby labor requirements are significantly affected).  For service contracts $2,500 and under, SCA Section 2(b)(1) requires payment of the minimum wage in the Fair Labor Standards Act.   For service contracts over $2,500, the Act requires the contracting officer to incorporate into the contract a requirement to pay prevailing wages and benefits issued by DOL in the form of WDs.

7.    How can I obtain the latest SCA wage determination(s) and DBA wage decisions from the WDOL.gov website (www.wdol.gov)?

To obtain the latest SCA WDs click on the “Selecting SCA WDs” option. Respond to each SCA logic question beginning with the state and county until you have obtained the appropriate wage determination.

To obtain the latest DBA WDs click on the “Selecting DBA WDs ” option and enter the required information in any of the search fields to obtain the appropriate wage decision.

8.   How do I identify the county where the work will be performed?

If you know the city where the work will be performed, but need help in identifying the county in which that city is located, the website for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the website for the National Association of Counties (NACO) provide tools that may be helpful to identify the county.

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9.   How can I receive automatic notifications of SCA wage determination and DBA wage decision changes via WDOL.gov?

To create DBA WD and SCA WD alerts, begin from the WDOL.gov website at http://www.wdol.gov and use the following instructions:

For SCA the Alert Service:

Click on the “Selecting SCA WDs” under the “Service Contract Act” section. Respond to each logic question until you have obtained the appropriate SCA WD.

Once you have retrieved the appropriate SCA WD, select the “Sign Up for Alert Service” tab. You will be asked to enter a valid email address, an alert identifier for your SCA WD alert, and a time of duration for your alert(s); either by date or a date range.

Once you have entered the email address, alert identifier and the duration of the alert, click on “Submit Alert Service Request” to submit your SCA WD alert request.

You will then receive an email notification to the email address used to set up your alert. You must then activate your alert via this email notification per the instructions within the email.   

For the DBA Alert Service:

Click on the “Selecting DBA WDs” option under “Davis-Bacon Act” section. Enter the required information in any of the search fields on the “Selecting DBA Wage Decisions” page to obtain the appropriate DBA WD.

Once you have retrieved the appropriate DBA WD, select the “Sign Up for Alert Service” tab. You will be asked to enter a valid email address, an alert identifier for your DBA WD, and a time of duration for your alert(s); either by date or a date range.

Once you have entered the email address, alert identifier and the duration of the alert, click on “Submit Alert Service Request” to submit your DBA WD alert request.

You will then receive an email notification to the email address used to set up your alert. You must then activate your alert via this email notification per the instructions within the email.   

10.  How can I obtain more information regarding the Davis-Bacon Act and/or the Service Contract Act?

Please contact your Agency Labor Advisor (click on Agency Labor Advisors link from the WDOL.gov website for a listing of Agency Labor Advisors), or call the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243 for assistance with your inquiry. Information regarding the application of both Acts as well as related contract labor standards may be found on the WDOL’s Library page.  

11.  What are the Department of Labor’s Responsibilities Relating to the SCA and DBA Databases?

The DOL will ensure that whenever SCA and DBA WDs are revised, information regarding these revisions is provided to NTIS so that the respective Databases are updated on a weekly basis.  Note that there may be weeks during which the DOL does not revise SCA and/or DBA WDs.

12.  How is the SCA Wage Data Appearing in WDOL Compiled?

Wage determinations are developed based on available data showing the rates that are prevailing in a specific locality. Where a single rate is paid to a majority (more than 50%) of the workers in a classification of service employees engaged in similar work in a particular locality, that rate is determined to prevail. When information is used from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) or other surveys, statistical measurements of central tendency (median) and the average (mean) are considered reliable indicators
of the prevailing rate. Which of these statistical measurements will be applied in a given case will be determined after a careful analysis of the overall survey, separate classification data, patterns existing between survey periods, and the way separate classification data interrelate.

In addition, some occupational rates on the wage determination may be taken directly from the Non-Appropriated Fund schedule, Federal Wage System schedule, or the General Schedule "white collar" pay scales. Finally, several methodologies were developed to aid the analyst in developing rates for classes where no survey data exists.

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13.  Does the WDOL site have archived Wage Determinations available?   How can I find replaced DBA WDs and SCA WDs?

The WDOL system provides users with access to archived WDs. These WDs have been replaced by newer, more current WDs. Contracting Officers should be aware that these WDs are generally provided for reference purposes.

 For replaced DBA WDs click on Archived WDs under the Davis-Bacon Act section of the WDOL.gov website. Next type the DBA wage determination number you wish to retrieve and click on the search tab. (Note: Enter DBA WD numbers in the following format: two-letter abbreviation for the state, and only the last digit(s) of the WD number. For example, DBA WD "VA030009" is entered "VA9"; DBA WD "MD030057" is entered "MD57").

For replaced SCA WDs click on Archived WDs under the Service Contract Act section of the WDOL.gov website. Next type the SCA wage determination number you wish to retrieve and click on the search tab. (Note: Enter SCA WD numbers in the following format: 05-2001 or 94-2521).

14.  What are the Contracting Agency Responsibilities when accessing SCA Wage Determinations?

Contracting Offices are to follow the procedures set forth below:

  1. The contracting office will obtain the appropriate SCA WD by accessing the WDOL SCA Database prior to the issuance of a solicitation (IFB or RFP), exercise of option, contract extension, or contract modification.
  2. The contracting office will monitor the SCA Database to determine if an  applicable WD has been revised.  Wage determinations will be considered received by the Federal Agency on the date of their publication in the NTIS Database.  The provisions of 29 CFR 4.5(a)(2) shall be followed to determine whether a revised WD must be included in the solicitation and subsequent contract. Thus,
    1. For contracts which are the result of sealed bidding procedures, revisions to the WD which are published in the WDOL SCA Database 10 or more days prior to bid opening shall be effective. Any revised WD which is published in the WDOL SCA Database less than 10 days prior to bid opening shall not be effective if the contracting office determines that there is not a reasonable time still available to notify bidders of the revision.
    2. For contracts which are the result of other than sealed bidding procedures, any revision to a WD that is published in the WDOL SCA Database prior to the date of award (or the date of a specified modification having the effect of a new award) shall be effective. Any revision to a WD that is in the WDOL SCA Database after the date of award shall not be effective provided that contract performance commences within 30 days of the award date. If contract performance commences more than 30 days after award (or the specified modification), any revised WD published in the WDOL SCA Database at least 10 days prior to commencement of the work shall be effective and applicable to the contract.
  3. If it is discovered that the most current, applicable wage determination (i.e.,  covering  the appropriate locality, occupations, type of service and fringe  benefit level for the service to be performed) contained in the WDOL SCA Database system was not included in the contract, the agency is required to incorporate the applicable wage determination in the contract as provided by 29 CFR 4.5(c)(2), 29 CFR 4.101(b) and FAR 22.1015.  Therefore, the presence of a wage determination on the WD database does not determine the applicable WD for any specific contract.  Only those wage determinations placed into the contract at award or by modification are controlling.

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15.  Why are there two standard area SCA WDs (an odd-numbered one and an even-numbered one) for each locality?  Why does the WDOL process question – “were these services previously performed under an SCA wage determination that ends in an even-number”?

Department of Labor issues two wages determinations that are identical except for the fringe benefit requirements.  One of them (the even-numbered one) requires the contract to have a fringe benefit plan requiring compliance on an “average cost” basis.  This even-numbered WD allows the contractor to comply with the wage determine based on the average cost of their fringe benefit plan when calculated on the entire service employee workforce based upon total hours worked (including overtime hours, but excluding paid time off such as holiday and vacation) by all employees.  The other one (the odd-numbered one) requires the contractor to satisfy the fringe benefit requirements on a “per employee” basis and compliance must be calculated using all hours paid (including paid time off, but excluding overtime hours).  The contractor must meet the minimum fringe benefit requirement for each individual employee and is not allowed to average there fringe benefit cost over the entire workforce.  A more detailed history and explanation of these two fringe benefit methodologies can be found at the www.wdol.gov library by reviewing Department of Labor’s All Agency Memoranda #188 and #197.  If under the previous contract period, the “average cost” WD was used, DOL rules require it’s continued use under 29 CFR 4.52.

16. What is a CBA?

CBA stands for Collective Bargaining Agreement; additional information regarding CBA WDs can be found within the User Guide under Section B: Service Contract Act .

17. Why does the WDOL SCA WD search question whether there is a CBA?

Section 4(c) of the SCA provides that the wages and fringe benefits contained in a predecessor contractor’s CBA (collective bargaining agreement) will supersede any and all other wage determination requirements for the successor contract period of performance.  The CBA must be provided on a timely basis to the contracting officer and be properly executed by the signatories to the CBA (predecessor contractor and union) and be effective for wage/benefit purposes during the predecessor contract in order to control under section 4(c) of the SCA.  Therefore, the WDOL system allows the government contracting officer to establish a CBA-based wage determination for CBAs meeting those requirements.  See 29 CFR 4.1b(b) and 29 CFR 4.163.

18.   What browser(s) does the WDOL site support?

The WDOL site supports Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher, Netscape Navigator 7.1 or higher, or Mozilla Firefox 1.0 or higher with JavaScript enabled (JavaScript is commonly disabled when a browser's security level is set to "high." Lowering the security setting can automatically enable JavaScript and maintain some browsing safeguards. To adjust this feature, refer to your browser's online help for instructions).

19.  How can I receive technical assistance related to my use of the WDOL web site (i.e., cannot locate a WD, receive error messages such as page cannot be displayed, etc.).

Please select the Help option from the WDOL.gov website. Complete and submit your technical question(s) or comment(s) via email to the WDOL.gov Help Desk via the form provided. 

20.  If you have any questions regarding any of the Integrated Acquisition Environment’s other systems
(i.e., FEDBIZOPPS, FPDS-NG, etc.), click here.

 

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