Overview
This section outlines the mandatory administrative procedures for handling and routing complaints related to the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA). It establishes the specific Department of Labor entities responsible for receiving and investigating these allegations.
Key Rules
- Mandatory Forwarding: Contracting offices must forward any received complaints to the Department of Labor (DOL) following established agency procedures.
- Designated Recipients: Complaints must be sent to the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), or local/regional OFCCP and State employment offices.
- Investigative Authority: The Director of the OFCCP is the official specifically tasked with the responsibility of investigating all complaints.
Practical Implications
- Contracting Officers (COs) function as a routing conduit rather than adjudicators; they must not attempt to investigate or resolve veteran employment complaints internally.
- Contractors should be aware that any grievances filed with the contracting office will be formalised through the Department of Labor’s investigative infrastructure.