News

Davis-Bacon Webinar Series Provides Training for Many Construction Contractors

On December 10, 2009, AGC completed its three-day webinar series on the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA): The Ins and Outs of Federal Prevailing Wage Law.  With nearly 400 registered participants, the series helped many current and future federal contractors by providing information necessary to understand the specific requirements of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts in a contractor-friendly manner. The three-day event was moderated by Ezequiel Arvizu, corporate compliance and diversity representative for Sundt Construction, Inc.  Attorney Glenn Schlabs of Sherman & Howard LLC, started the series with a general overview of DBRA, followed by a thorough description of the Davis-Bacon wage determinations and conformance process by Vanessa Shaw-Jennings, the U.S. Departments of Labor's (DOL) Davis-Bacon wage determinations branch chief.  The second day explained the compliance principles for contractors, both legally and practically, and was presented by Deborah Wilder, president of Contractor Compliance and Monitoring, Inc., and Timothy Helm, DOL's government contracts branch chief in the office of enforcement for the Wage & Hour Division.  Ms. Wilder and Mr. Helm closed out the series on the final day by detailing reporting requirements, including the submission of certified payroll records and subcontractor reporting, as well as enforcement initiatives and investigative procedures, including practical tips for contractors during an investigation. Many of the participants were first-time federal contractors, current federal contractors desiring a refresher course, or individuals new to administering contracts that require the payment of federal prevailing wages.  As a result, AGC received over 200 topical questions throughout the series and is currently working with each of the presenters to have the answers to those questions posted in the Labor and HR Topical Resources section of the AGC website. In addition, the AGC Bookstore will soon carry the recordings and slides for each of the three presentations for those who were not able to participate in the live sessions.