Overview
This section establishes the applicability of labor standard statutes to federal contracts for construction, alteration, or repair of public buildings and public works. It defines the $2,000 monetary threshold at which these specific regulatory requirements are triggered.
Key Rules
- Monetary Threshold: Labor standards apply to all covered contracts exceeding $2,000.
- Scope of Work: The subpart covers "construction, alteration, or repair," which explicitly includes painting and decorating.
- Applicability: Requirements are limited to work performed on "public buildings and public works."
- Regulatory Integration: While this subpart focuses on construction-specific standards, other labor requirements within FAR Part 22 (such as EEO or non-displacement rules) may also apply to the same contract.
Practical Implications
- The $2,000 threshold is significantly lower than the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT), meaning contracting officers must include Davis-Bacon Act labor standards even in very small-scale construction or repair projects.
- Contractors performing minor maintenance tasks, such as repainting an office, must comply with formal federal labor standards and wage determinations that would not typically apply to service or supply contracts of the same value.