Some, but not all, construction projects at the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) are covered under the Davis-Bacon Act. The Davis-Bacon Act requires the payment of prevailing wage rates (which are determined by the U.S. Department of Labor) to all laborers and mechanics on Federally-funded construction projects in excess of $2,000.00.

Please note that not all construction, alteration or repair work performed at CMHA is subject to prevailing wage rates. Please carefully review each Invitation for Bid (IFB), Request for Proposal (RFP) or pre-bid documents to ensure the proper minimum hourly rates are included in your proposal. Members of CMHA’s Compliance Department are available should you wish assistance in determining whether prevailing wage rates apply to a particular project.

Those CMHA construction projects which are subject to the Davis-Bacon Act will include a General Decision Number. This is a listing of various construction work classifications, such as Carpenter, Electrician, Plumber and Laborer, and their respective minimum hourly wage rates (base wage plus fringe benefits) that individuals performing work in these classifications must be paid.

General Decision Numbers are modified from time to time to keep them current. In most cases, when a contract is awarded or when construction begins, the wage decision is "locked-in" and no future modifications are applicable to the contract or project involved.

Prime Contractor Responsibilities

The prime contractor is responsible for the full compliance of all employers (itself, subcontractors, and any lower-tier subcontractors) with the labor standards provisions applicable to the project.

Contractors and/or subcontractors are required to pay all mechanics and laborers at least once a week.

The prime contractor is responsible for posting a copy of the wage decision along with a copy of the DOL Davis-Bacon poster titled "Employee Rights under the Davis-Bacon Act" (Form WH1321) at the job site in a prominent and accessible place at the work site.

All contractors, including subcontractors, are required to submit a weekly certified payroll report beginning with the first week that each company works on the project and for every week afterward until the firm has completed its work. The prime contractor is responsible for the full compliance of all subcontractors with this requirement.

CMHA uses a software package to facilitate certified payroll reports. This software coincides with the DOL’s WH-347, Payroll form. Training on this software can be found online at lcptracker.net or by contacting any staff member of the Compliance Department.

Throughout the project, every contractor must make their employees available for an interview at the job site with CMHA Compliance Department staff. Every effort will be made to ensure that these interviews cause as little disruption as possible to on-going work.

Every contractor (including subcontractors) must keep a complete set of their own payrolls and other basic records for a Davis-Bacon project for at least three (3) years after the project is completed. The prime contractor must keep a complete set of all of the payrolls for every contractor (including subcontractors) for at least three (3) years after completion of the project

CMHA Responsibilities

The CMHA Compliance Department is responsible for the proper administration and enforcement of the Federal labor standards provisions on contracts covered by Davis-Bacon requirements. Compliance Department staff members are available to provide labor standards advice and support throughout the life of your project.

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