U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Announces the Acceptance of Electronic Certified Payrolls for Davis-Bacon

On June 7, 2011, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”), the division of the Army responsible for investigating, developing and maintaining the nation's water and related environmental resources, issued a Procurement Instruction Letter to its contracting officers giving the authority to use electronic systems for processing certified payroll records in Corps construction projects covered by the Davis-Bacon Act.  The letter was issued to offer guidance and to “encourage the use of an electronic, commercially available system to process and submit Davis-Bacon certified payrolls to the Government.” The Davis-Bacon Act requires contractors performing on direct federal and some federally-assisted construction contracts to certify the accuracy of and submit weekly payroll statements to contracting officers of federal construction contracts.  According to Kim D. Denver, Director, National Contracting Organization of the Army Corps of Engineers, the use of electronic software to process certified payroll reports “creates greater accuracy and efficiencies in reporting for both the contractor and the government.” Currently, the Corps lists four vendors that currently provide electronic payroll systems compliant with requirements of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, including eMars Compliant Client Software, on which AGC members and their subcontractors can receive up to 15% off of the web-based software solution to comply with the payroll reporting requirement.  The other three companies listed include Elations Systems, LCPtracker and Hill International. For additional guidance and compliance assistance tools related to the Davis-Bacon Act, purchase AGC’s new Davis-Bacon Compliance Manual for Federal & Federally Assisted Construction – Third Edition,  or visit AGC’s Labor & HR Topical Resources web page and select the main category “Compensation” and the subcategory “Davis-Bacon Act.”