U.S. Department of Labor 
Employment Standards Administration
Wage and Hour Division
Washington, D.C. 20210
MAY 17 2001
MEMORANDUM NO. 194
TO: ALL Contracting Agencies of the Federal Government and Contracting Agencies of the District of Columbia
FROM: THOMAS M. MARKEY
Acting Administrator
SUBJECT: Service Contract Act Health and Welfare Fringe Benefit Changes, and plans for Revision of the Service Contract Act Directory of Occupations
In accordance with the requirements of Section 4.52 of the Regulations, 29 CFR Part 4, The prevailing health and welfare fringe benefits issued under the  McNamara O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) will be increased on June 1, 2001. As prescribed by the Regulations the new benefit rates are derived from the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Cost Index (ECI) summary of Employer Cost for Employee Compensation. Effective June 1, 2001 the new SCA health and welfare single benefit rate will be $2.02 per hour or $80.80 per week, or $350.13 per
month.
Solicitation/Contracts Affected
All Invitation for Bids opened, or other service contracts awarded on or after June 1, 2001 must include an updated SCA wage determination (WD) issued in accordance with the regulatory health and welfare fringe benefit determination methodology. Contracting agencies may make pen and ink changes to their current WD if received for contracts beginning on or after June , and for which the updated health and welfare rates were not included. It is not required that the
contracting agency request a revised WD for only a health and welfare rate change.
Wage Determinations for the State of Hawaii
Under Section 2a)(2) of the Service Contract Act, fringe benefit payments that are required by state law many not be used to satisfy the employer's fringe benefit obligations. In Hawaii, most employers are required by law to provide health insurance coverage for their employees. Therefore, employer contributions that are made to satisfy the employer's obligations under the Hawaii mandated pre-paid Health Care Act may not be credited toward meeting the contactor's
obligations under SCA. The SCA WDs have addressed this issue in the past by excluding the health insurance portion. Currently. most Hawaii WDs specify a health and welfare benefit amount of $.70 per hour.
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Consistent with past practices, and in recognition of the fact that Hawaii law requires employers to provide health care coverage for most employees, the SCA WDs for Hawaii will continue to exclude the health insurance portion of the benefits for all employees on whose behalf the employer provides benefits pursuant to the Hawaii prepaid Health Care Act. However, all employers are not required to make and, in fact, do not make contributions for certain employees
under the Hawaii law, and the reduced fringe benefit level is not appropriate for those employees. 
Therefore, effective June 1, 2001 the new SCA health and welfare fringe benefit level for Hawaii will be $.93 per hour, or $37.20 per week, or $161.20 per month for all employees on whose behalf the contractor provides health care benefits pursuant to the Hawaii Health Care Act. For those employees who are not receiving health care benefits mandated by the Hawaii prepaid Health Care Act, the new health and welfare benefit rates will be $2.02. For information
regarding Hawaii's prepaid Health Care Act please contact the Hawaii Employer 's Council. Post Office Box 29699, Honolulu, Hawaii 96820-2099, telephone: 1-800-836-1511.
Revision of the Service Contract Act Directory of Occupations (the Directory)
Beginning later in the summer, we will undertake a review of the appropriate occupational classes in the Directory. This is your opportunity to advise the Department of any occupational classes that should be added or deleted. Please submit your suggestions with a job description and a proposed federal grade equivalent to the Branch of Service Contract Wage Determinations by
August 21, 2001.