Checklist: Pre-Construction Conferences
Need a quick breakdown of which topics should be covered at a public works pre-construction conference? Download and print this short checklist of some of the most important items that you�ll want to make sure you understand before breaking ground on your project.
Ask the Expert: March 2026
Aliecia Taormina, CCEP, MCA has over 20 years of experience in construction (including a role as a Senior Compliance Manager of a Fortune 300 contractor), accumulating extensive prevailing wage and Davis-Bacon knowledge over her career. � Learn how contractor size and project hours affect DAS 142 requirements, how wages are determined on cross-border projects and […]
News Room: Indictment Accuses New York Contractor of Willfully Underpaying Workers
A contractor based in Riverhead, New York, has been indicted for willfully failing to pay the prevailing wage on a public works contract for a renovation project in Brookhaven, New York. The charges stem from allegations of misclassifying employees� job categories on certified payrolls, resulting in over $83,000 in unpaid wages. The owner of this […]
News Room: Department of Labor Defends Prevailing Wage Rule for Truck Drivers
Following a legal challenge, the Department of Labor is defending its rule to extend prevailing wage protections to truck drivers working on federally funded projects. A federal court in Texas blocked the rule, but the DOL is now appealing the decision in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. This case highlights ongoing debates on the […]
News Room: NYDOL Registration Now Required for New York Contractors and Subcontractors
Starting December 30, 2024, contractors and subcontractors must register with NYSDOL before submitting bids or starting work on public projects or certain private projects. Registration is required to obtain a Certificate of Registration, which is necessary to avoid delays in the bidding process or construction scheduling. Click the link below to view more information about […]
News Room: Department of Labor Hosts Seminar on 2025 Prevailing Wage Rules on November 13th
The U.S. Department of Labor�s Wage and Hour Division will offer online seminars on prevailing wage requirements for fiscal year 2025, targeting contractors, agencies, unions, and workers involved in federally funded construction projects. These two-day seminars, scheduled for various dates between November 2024 and September 2025, will cover the Davis-Bacon Act, Service Contract Act, and […]
News Room: Federal Contractor in South Carolina Ordered to Pay Over $1M in Back Wages to Workers
The U.S. Department of Labor recently recovered over $1 million in back wages for 43 employees of a federal contractor in Goose Creek. These workers were being paid less than what federal law requires. Here�s what happened: After this South Carolina contractor absorbed a government service provider, they changed the job titles of quality control […]
Ask the Expert: August 2024
August�s Ask the Expert covers certified payroll review responsibilities for project owners receiving federal funds and how court rulings affect Davis-Bacon requirements for trucking work. Question We are an institution that receives federal funding through the Pell Grant Program and Direct Student Loans program. Our projects can also include funds from local taxes, bond programs, […]
The Fundamentals of Wages & Fringes on Public Works Projects
Let�s talk about the fundamental building blocks of Davis-Bacon: wages and fringes. First of all, what does the �prevailing� in prevailing wage even mean? And how are the rates determined? For many, the word �prevailing� here might seem synonymous with �minimum�. As in minimum wage. And although it�s not way off the mark � because […]
Understanding the Conformance Process from the Awarding Body�s Perspective
As the awarding body of public works construction projects, an agency should understand its responsibilities in upholding prevailing wage compliance. But their success in doing so often also hinges on the processes they put in place to not only monitor their contractors, but to help them. We�ve said it here before: one of the many […]
