Overview
This section outlines the specific administrative responsibilities of a Contracting Officer regarding the implementation and enforcement of the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act during contract award and performance.
Key Rules
- Employee Notification: Upon awarding a covered contract, the Contracting Officer (CO) must provide the contractor with DOL publication WH-1313, "Notice to Employees Working on Government Contracts."
- Reporting Violations: If a contractor breaches a statutory stipulation, the CO is required to notify the appropriate regional office of the Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division.
- Information Sharing: When reporting a breach, the CO must furnish all available information regarding the violation to the DOL in accordance with agency-specific procedures.
Practical Implications
- Contractors must ensure that the WH-1313 poster is prominently displayed at the worksite to remain compliant with federal labor posting requirements.
- Contracting Officers serve as a formal reporting link to the DOL; while they do not adjudicate labor violations themselves, they are mandated to trigger DOL investigations if a breach is identified.