[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 28, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36930-36935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5708]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 4, 22, 47, 52, and 53

[FAC 2005-10; FAR Case 2005-033; Item IV; Docket 2006-0020, Sequence 
11]
RIN 9000-AK47


Federal Acquisition Regulation; FAR Case 2005-033, Implementation 
of Wage Determinations OnLine (WDOL)

AGENCIES:  Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION:  Interim rule.

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SUMMARY:  The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense 
Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on an interim 
rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement the 
Wage Determinations OnLine (WDOL) internet website as the source for 
Federal contracting agencies to obtain wage determinations issued by 
the Department of Labor (DOL) for service contracts subject to the 
McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) and for construction 
contracts subject to the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA).

DATES:  Effective Date: June 28, 2006.
    Comment Date: Interested parties should submit written comments to 
the FAR Secretariat on or before August 28, 2006 to be considered in 
the formulation of a final rule.

ADDRESSES:  Submit comments identified by FAC 2005-10, FAR case 2005-
033, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Agency Web site:  http://www.acquisition.gov/far/ProposedRules/ proposed.htm. Click on the FAR case number to submit 
comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include FAC 2005-10, FAR 
case 2005-033 in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: 202-501-4067.
     Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory 
Secretariat (VIR), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4035, ATTN: Laurieann 
Duarte, Washington, DC 20405.
    Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FAC 2005-10, FAR 
case 2005-033, in all correspondence related to this case. All comments 
received will be posted without change to http://www.acquisition.gov/far/ProposedRules/comments.htm including any personal and/or business 
confidential information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For clarification of content, contact 
Ms. Gloria Sochon, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 219-0311. Please cite 
FAC 2005-10, FAR case 2005-033. For information pertaining to status or 
publication schedules, contact the FAR Secretariat at (202) 501-4755.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    In the August 26, 2005 Federal Register (70 FR 50888), the DOL 
issued a final rule to amend Title 29 CFR parts 1 and 4 to allow for 
full implementation of the Wage Determinations OnLine (WDOL) Internet 
Website (http://www.wdol.gov) as the source for Federal contracting 
agencies to use when obtaining wage determinations issued by the DOL 
for service contracts subject to the SCA and for construction contracts 
subject to the DBA. The Councils are not seeking comments on the DOL 
rule, which has already been issued in final, but are requesting 
comments as to whether the FAR policy in this rule implementing the DOL 
rule is clear. This interim rule amends FAR Part 22 to direct Federal 
contracting agencies to obtain wage determinations issued by the DOL 
for contracts subject to the SCA and DBA from the WDOL website.
    This interim rule incorporates new geographical jurisdictions for 
DOL's Wage and Hour Regional Offices and eliminates FAR references to 
the Government Printing Office (GPO) publication of general wage 
determinations. The Contracting Officer (CO) will be able to access the 
WDOL website (http://www.wdol.gov) to find the applicable wage 
determination for a contract action subject to the SCA or DBA. If the 
WDOL database does not contain the applicable wage determination for a 
SCA contract action, the CO must use the e98 process to request a wage 
determination from DOL.

[[Page 36931]]

 The e98 means a DOL approved electronic application, (also available 
at http://www.wdol.gov), whereby a CO submits pertinent information to 
the DOL and requests a wage determination directly from the Wage and 
Hour Division. If the WDOL database does not contain the applicable 
wage determination for a DBA contract action, the CO must request a 
wage determination by submitting a SF-308 to the Wage and Hour 
Division. The DOL made an administrative determination that providing 
Federal contracting agencies with an electronic submission option for 
the infrequent instances in which an agency files a SF-308 does not 
justify the considerable expense that developing such a system would 
entail. To substantiate its decision, the DOL noted that in FY 2004, it 
processed less than 100 SF-308's.
    This FAR rule eliminates the requirement for the CO to submit a 
copy of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) to the DOL for the 
purpose of obtaining a wage determination under Section 4(c) of the 
SCA, unless directed by the DOL to do so. The CO instead, is required 
to prepare a wage determination using the WDOL process, and to 
incorporate the complete CBA and all its attachments into the 
solicitation or contract action. The wage determination prepared by the 
CO is a one page document that references the CBA by the name of the 
incumbent contractor and the name of the union, and stipulates that the 
economic terms of the CBA will apply as the SCA minimum wages and 
monetary benefits for the contract resulting from the solicitation 
pursuant to DOL Regulation 29 CFR subpart 4.1b.
    This interim rule also deletes the clause at 52.222-47, SCA Minimum 
Wages and Fringe Benefits Applicable to Successor Contract Pursuant to 
Predecessor Contractor Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), because 
with the WDOL process it is no longer necessary. In addition, FAR 
clause 52.222-49, Service Contract Act-Place of Performance Unknown, is 
revised to make conforming changes to FAR references; and Standard 
Forms 98, 98a and 99 are deleted from FAR Part 53 in their entirety.
    This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, is not 
subject to review under Section 6(b) of Executive Order 12866, 
Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. The rule is 
not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This interim rule is not expected to have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., because the rule 
involves internal Government processes between the DOL and Federal 
contracting.
    During the design phase of WDOL.gov, the WDOL Task Force 
coordinated with a number of labor organizations, contractors, the 
Contract Services Association and various Federal contracting agencies 
to address and satisfy any concerns about the effect of the rule on all 
interested parties including small entities.
    Therefore, an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis has not been 
performed. The Councils will consider comments from small entities 
concerning the affected FAR parts 22, 47, 52, and 53 in accordance with 
5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must submit such comments separately 
and should cite 5 U.S.C 601, et seq. (FAC 2005-10, FAR case 2005-033), 
in correspondence.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to 
the FAR do not impose information collection requirements that require 
the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 
3501, et seq.

D. Determination to Issue an Interim Rule

    A determination has been made under the authority of the Secretary 
of Defense (DoD), The Administrator of General Services (GSA), and the 
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA) that urgent and compelling reasons exist to promulgate this 
interim rule without prior opportunity for public comment. This action 
is necessary because the rule allows agencies to use the WDOL website 
as the source for obtaining wage determinations issued by DOL for 
service contracts subject to the SCA and DBA. Thus, the rule will 
streamline and improve the internal operating procedures of the 
Government. The rule will not have a significant cost or administrative 
impact on contractors or offerors. However, pursuant to Public Law 98-
577 and FAR 1.501, the Councils will consider public comments received 
in response to this interim rule in the formation of the final rule.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 22, 47, 52, and 53

    Government procurement.

    Dated: June 20, 2006.
Ralph De Stefano,
Director, Contract Policy Division.

0
Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 4, 22, 47, 52, and 53 
as set forth below:
0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 4, 22, 47, 52, and 53 
continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 
U.S.C. 2473(c).

PART 4--ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

0
2. Amend section 4.1202 by revising paragraph (q) to read as follows:


4.1202  Solicitation provision and contract clause.

* * * * *
    (q) 52.222-48, Exemption from Application of Service Contract Act 
Provisions--Contractor Certification.
* * * * *

PART 22--APPLICATION OF LABOR LAWS TO GOVERNMENT ACQUISITIONS

0
3. Amend section 22.001 by revising the section heading, and by adding, 
in alphabetical order, the definitions ``e98'' and ``Wage 
Determinations OnLine (WDOL)'' to read as follows:


22.001  Definitions.

* * * * *
    e98 means the Department of Labor's approved electronic application 
(http://www.wdol.gov), whereby a contracting officer submits pertinent 
information to the Department of Labor and requests a Service Contract 
Act wage determination directly from the Wage and Hour Division.
    Wage Determinations OnLine (WDOL) means the Government Internet 
website for both Davis-Bacon Act and Service Contract Act wage 
determinations available at http://www.wdol.gov.
0
4. Amend section 22.102-2 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


22.102-2  Administration.

* * * * *
    (c) The U.S. Department of Labor is responsible for the 
administration and enforcement of the Occupational Safety and Health 
Act. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is responsible 
for administration and enforcement of numerous wage and hour statutes 
including Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, McNamara-O'Hara Service 
Contract Act, Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act, Copeland Act, and 
Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act. Contracting officers 
should contact the Wage and Hour Division's regional offices when

[[Page 36932]]

required by the subparts relating to these statutes unless otherwise 
specified. Addresses for these offices may be found at 29 CFR 1, 
Appendix B.
0
5. Amend section 22.404-1 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


22.404-1  Types of wage determinations.

    (a) General wage determinations. (1) A general wage determination 
contains prevailing wage rates for the types of construction designated 
in the determination, and is used in contracts performed within a 
specified geographical area. General wage determinations contain no 
expiration date and remain valid until modified, superseded, or 
canceled by the Department of Labor. Once incorporated in a contract, a 
general wage determination normally remains effective for the life of 
the contract, unless the contracting officer exercises an option to 
extend the term of the contract (see 22.404-12). These determinations 
shall be used whenever possible. They are issued at the discretion of 
the Department of Labor either upon receipt of an agency request or on 
the Department of Labor's own initiative.
    (2) General wage determinations are published on the WDOL website. 
General wage determinations are effective on the publication date of 
the wage determination or upon receipt of the wage determination by the 
contracting agency, whichever occurs first. ``Publication'' within the 
meaning of this section shall occur on the first date the wage 
determination is published on the WDOL. Archived Davis-Bacon Act 
general wage determinations that are no longer current may be accessed 
in the ``Archived DB WD'' database on WDOL for information purposes 
only. Contracting officers may not use an archived wage determination 
in a contract action without obtaining prior approval of the Department 
of Labor. To obtain prior approval, contact the Department of Labor, 
Wage and Hour Division, using http://www.dol.gov/esa, or contact the 
procurement agency labor advisor listed on http://www.wdol.gov.
* * * * *
0
6. Amend section 22.404-3 by revising paragraph (a); and the paragraph 
heading and the first sentence of the introductory text of paragraph 
(b) to read as follows:


22.404-3  Procedures for requesting wage determinations.

    (a) General wage determinations. If there is a general wage 
determination on the WDOL website applicable to the project, the agency 
may use it without notifying the Department of Labor. When necessary, a 
request for a general wage determination may be made by submitting 
Standard Form (SF) 308, Request for Determination and Response to 
Request (see 53.301-308), to the Administrator, Wage and Hour Division, 
Attention: Branch of Construction Contract Wage Determinations, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210.
    (b) Project wage determinations. If a general wage determination is 
not available on WDOL, a contracting agency shall submit requests for 
project wage determinations on SF 308 to the Department of Labor. * * *
* * * * *
0
7. Amend section 22.404-6 by--
0
a. Revising paragraph (a)(3);
0
b. Revising paragraph (b)(1)(i), the first sentence of (b)(1)(ii), 
(b)(2), and the first and second sentences of (b)(6);
0
c. Revising paragraph (c)(1); and
0
d. Revising paragraph (d)(1)(ii).
0
The revised text reads as follows:


22.404-6  Modifications of wage determinations.

    (a) General. * * *
    (3) The need for inclusion of the modification of a general wage 
determination for the primary site of the work in a solicitation is 
determined by the date the modified wage determination is published on 
the WDOL, or by the date the agency receives actual written notice of 
the modification from the Department of Labor, whichever occurs first. 
(Note the distinction between receipt by the agency (modification is 
effective) and receipt by the contracting officer, which may occur 
later.) During the course of the solicitation, the contracting officer 
shall monitor the WDOL website to determine whether the applicable wage 
determination has been revised. Revisions published on the WDOL website 
or otherwise communicated to the contracting officer within the 
timeframes prescribed at 22.404-6(b) and (c) are applicable and must be 
included in the resulting contract. Monitoring can be accomplished by 
use of the WDOL website's ``Alert Service''.
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) It is received by the contracting agency, or is published on 
the WDOL, 10 or more calendar days before the date of bid opening; or
    (ii) It is received by the contracting agency, or is published on 
the WDOL, less than 10 calendar days before the date of bid opening, 
unless the contracting officer finds that there is not reasonable time 
available before bid opening to notify the prospective bidders. * * *
    (2) All written actions modifying wage determinations received by 
the contracting agency after bid opening, or modifications to general 
wage determinations published on the WDOL after bid opening, shall not 
be effective and shall not be included in the solicitation (but see 
paragraph (b)(6) of this subsection).
* * * * *
    (6) If an award is not made within 90 days after bid opening, any 
modification to a general wage determination which is published on the 
WDOL before award, shall be effective for any resultant contract unless 
an extension of the 90-day period is obtained from the Administrator, 
Wage and Hour Division. An agency head may request such an extension 
from the Administrator. * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) All written actions modifying wage determinations received by 
the contracting agency before contract award, or modifications to 
general wage determinations published on the WDOL before award, shall 
be effective.
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) The Department of Labor publishes the modification to a 
general wage determination on the WDOL before exercise of the option.
* * * * *


22.608  [Amended]

0
8. Amend section 22.608 by removing from the parenthetical in paragraph 
(b) ``22.609'' and adding ``29 CFR part 1, Appendix B'' in its place.


22.609  [Removed and Reserved]

0
9. Remove and reserve section 22.609.


22.1001  [Amended]

0
10. Amend section 22.1001 by removing the definition ``Notice''.
0
11. Amend 22.1002-3 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


22.1002-3  Wage determinations based on collective bargaining 
agreements.

* * * * *
    (b) Paragraphs in this Subpart 22.10 which deal with this statutory 
requirement and the Department of Labor's implementing regulations are 
22.1010, concerning notification to contractors and bargaining 
representatives of procurement dates; 22.1012-2, explaining when a 
collective bargaining agreement will not apply due to late receipt by 
the contracting officer; and 22.1013 and 22.1021, explaining when the 
application of a collective bargaining agreement can be challenged

[[Page 36933]]

due to a variance with prevailing rates or lack of arm's length 
bargaining.


22.1003-4  [Amended]

0
12. Amend section 22.1003-4 at paragraph (b)(4)(ii)(D) by removing 
``22.1006(e)'' and adding ``22.1006(d)'' in its place.


22.1004  [Amended]

0
13. Amend section 22.1004 at paragraph (b) by removing ``29 CFR part 4, 
subpart B'' and inserting ``29 CFR part 4, subparts A and B'' in its 
place.


22.1006  [Amended]

0
14. Amend section 22.1006 by removing and reserving paragraph (d); and 
in paragraph (e)(1) by adding ``--Contractor Certification'' following 
``Provisions''.
0
15. Amend section 22.1007 by revising the section heading and the 
introductory paragraph; and by removing the parenthetical from the end 
of paragraph (c)(2). The revised text reads as follows:


22.1007  Requirement to obtain wage determinations.

    The contracting officer shall obtain wage determinations for the 
following service contracts:
* * * * *
0
16. Revise sections 22.1008 and 22.1008-1 to read as follows:


22.1008  Procedures for obtaining wage determinations.


22.1008-1  Obtaining wage determinations.

    (a) Contracting officers may obtain most prevailing wage 
determinations using the WDOL website. Contracting officers may also 
use the Department of Labor's e98 electronic process, located on the 
WDOL website, to request a wage determination directly from the 
Department of Labor. If the WDOL database does not contain the 
applicable prevailing wage determination for a contract action, the 
contracting officer must use the e98 process to request a wage 
determination from the Department of Labor.
    (b) In using the e98 process to obtain prevailing wage 
determinations, contracting officers shall provide as complete and 
accurate information on the e98 as possible. Contracting officers shall 
ensure that the email address submitted on an e98 request is accurate.
    (c) The contracting officer must anticipate the amount of time 
required to gather the information necessary to obtain a wage 
determination, including sufficient time, if necessary, to contact the 
Department of Labor to request wage determinations that are not 
available through use of the WDOL.
    (d) Although the WDOL website provides assistance to the 
contracting agency to select the correct wage determination, the 
contracting agency remains responsible for the wage determination 
selected. If the contracting agency has used the e98 process, the 
Department of Labor will respond to the contracting agency based on the 
information provided on the e98. The contracting agency may rely upon 
the Department of Labor response as the correct wage determination for 
the contract.
    (e) To obtain the applicable wage determination for each contract 
action, the contracting officer shall determine the following 
information concerning the service employees expected to be employed by 
the contractor and any subcontractors in performing the contract:
    (1) Determine the classes of service employees to be utilized in 
performance of the contract using the Wage and Hour Division's Service 
Contract Act Directory of Occupations (Directory). The Directory can be 
found on WDOL's Library Page, and is for sale by the Superintendent of 
Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office.
    (2) Determine the locality where the services will be performed 
(see 22.1009).
    (3) Determine whether Section 4(c) of the Act applies (see 22.1008-
2, 22.1010 and 22.1012-2).
    (4) Determine the wage rate that would be paid each class if 
employed by the agency and subject to the wage provisions of 5 U.S.C. 
5341 and/or 5332 (see 22.1016).
    (f) If the contracting officer has questions regarding the 
procedures for obtaining a wage determination, or questions regarding 
the selection of a wage determination, the contracting officer should 
request assistance from the agency labor advisor.


22.1008-2  [Removed]


22.1008-3  [Redesignated as 22.1008-2]

0
17a. Remove section 22.1008-2 and redesignate 22.1008-3 as 22.1008-2.
0
17b. In addition to the amendment above, amend the newly designated 
section 22.1008-2 by--
0
a. Revising the second sentence of paragraph (a);
0
b. Amending paragraphs (c)(2)(i)(A) and (B) by removing ``22.1012-3'' 
and adding ``22.1012-2'' in its place;
0
c. Redesignating paragraph (d) as (d)(1) and removing the last sentence 
of the paragraph; and adding paragraphs (d)(2) and (d)(3);
0
d. Redesignating paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) as (e)(i) and (e)(ii), 
respectively, and paragraph (e) as (e)(1); and adding paragraph (e)(2); 
and
0
e. Revising the introductory text of paragraph (g).
0
The revised text reads as follows:


22.1008-2  Section 4(c) successorship with incumbent contractor 
collective bargaining agreement.

    (a) * * * The contracting officer shall determine whether there is 
a predecessor contract covered by the Act and, if so, whether the 
incumbent prime contractor or its subcontractors and any of their 
employees have a collective bargaining agreement.
* * * * *
    (d)(1) * * *
    (2) If the contracting officer has timely received the collective 
bargaining agreement, the contracting officer may use the WDOL website 
to prepare a wage determination referencing the agreement and 
incorporate that wage determination, attached to a complete copy of the 
collective bargaining agreement, into the successor contract action. In 
using the WDOL process, it is not necessary to submit a copy of the 
collective bargaining agreement to the Department of Labor unless 
requested to do so.
    (3) The contracting officer may also use the e98 process on WDOL to 
request that the Department of Labor prepare the cover wage 
determination. The Department of Labor's response to the e98 may 
include a request for the contracting officer to submit a complete copy 
of the collective bargaining agreement. Any questions regarding the 
applicability of the Act to a collective bargaining agreement should be 
directed to the agency labor advisor.
    (e)(1) * * *
    (2) If the contracting officer's review (see 22.1013) indicates 
that monetary provisions of the collective bargaining agreement may be 
substantially at variance or may not have been reached as a result of 
arm's length bargaining, the contracting officer shall immediately 
contact the agency labor advisor to consider if further action is 
warranted.
* * * * *
    (g) If the collective bargaining agreement does not apply to all 
service employees under the contract, the contracting officer shall 
access WDOL to obtain the prevailing wage determination for those 
service employee classifications that are not covered by the collective 
bargaining agreement. The contracting officer shall separately list in 
the solicitation and contract the service employee classifications--
* * * * *

[[Page 36934]]

22.1008-4 through 22.1008-7  [Removed]

0
18. Remove sections 22.1008-4 through 22.1008-7.
0
19. Revise sections 22.1009-3 and 22.1009-4 to read as follows:


22.1009-3  All possible places of performance identified.

    (a) If the contracting officer can identify all the possible places 
or areas of performance (even though the actual place of performance 
will not be known until the successful offeror is chosen), the 
contracting officer shall obtain a wage determination for each locality 
where services may be performed (see 22.1008).
    (b) If the contracting officer subsequently learns of any potential 
offerors in previously unidentified places before the closing date for 
submission of offers, the contracting officer shall--
    (1) Obtain wage determinations for the additional places of 
performance and amend the solicitation to include all wage 
determinations. If necessary, the contracting officer shall extend the 
time for submission of final offers; and
    (2) Follow the procedures in 22.1009-4.


22.1009-4  All possible places of performance not identified.

    If the contracting officer believes that there may be offerors 
interested in performing in unidentified places or areas, the 
contracting officer may use the following procedures:
    (a) Include the following information in the synopsis and 
solicitation:
    (1) That the place of performance is unknown.
    (2) The possible places or areas of performance that the 
contracting officer has already identified.
    (3) That the contracting officer will obtain wage determinations 
for additional possible places of performance if asked to do so in 
writing.
    (4) The time and date by which offerors must notify the contracting 
officer of additional places of performance.
    (b) Include the information required by paragraphs (a)(2) and 
(a)(4) of this section in the clause at 52.222-49, Service Contract 
Act-Place of Performance Unknown (see 22.1006(f)). The closing date for 
receipt of offerors' requests for wage determinations for additional 
possible places of performance should allow reasonable time for 
potential offerors to review the solicitation and determine their 
interest in competing. Generally, 10 to 15 days from the date of 
issuance of the solicitation may be considered a reasonable period of 
time.
    (c) The procedures in 14.304 shall apply to late receipt of 
offerors' requests for wage determinations for additional places of 
performance. However, late receipt of an offeror's request for a wage 
determination for additional places of performance does not preclude 
the offeror's competing for the proposed acquisition.
    (d) If the contracting officer receives any timely requests for 
wage determinations for additional places of performance the 
contracting officer shall--
    (1) Obtain wage determinations for the additional places of 
performance; and
    (2) Amend the solicitation to include all wage determinations and, 
if necessary, extend the time for submission of final offers.
    (e) If the successful offeror did not make a timely request for a 
wage determination and will perform in a place of performance for which 
the contracting officer therefore did not request a wage determination, 
the contracting officer shall--
    (1) Award the contract;
    (2) Obtain a wage determination; and
    (3) Incorporate the wage determination in the contract, retroactive 
to the date of contract award and with no adjustment in contract price, 
pursuant to the clause at 52.222-49, Service Contract--Place of 
Performance Unknown.


22.1010  [Amended]

0
20. Amend section 22.1010 by removing from paragraph (b) ``22.1012-
3(a)'' and adding ``22.1012-2(a)'' in its place.


22.1011 through 22.1011-2  [Removed and Reserved]

0
21. Remove and reserve section 22.1011, which consists of 22.1011-1 and 
22.1011-2.
0
22. Revise sections 22.1012 and 22.1012-1 to read as follows:


22.1012   Applicability of revisions to wage determinations.


22.1012-1  Prevailing wage determinations.

    (a)(1) The Wage and Hour Administrator may issue revisions to 
prevailing wage determinations periodically. The need for inclusion of 
a revised prevailing wage determination in a solicitation, contract or 
contract modification (see 22.1007) is determined by the date of 
receipt of the revised prevailing wage determination by the contracting 
agency. (Note the distinction between receipt by the agency and receipt 
by the contracting officer which may occur later.)
    (i) For purposes of using WDOL, the time of receipt by the 
contracting agency shall be the first day of publication of the revised 
prevailing wage determination on the website.
    (ii) For purposes of using the e98 process, the time of receipt by 
the contracting agency shall be the date the agency receives actual 
notice of a new or revised prevailing wage determination from the 
Department of Labor as an e98 response.
    (2) In selecting a prevailing wage determination from the WDOL 
website for use in a solicitation or other contract action, the 
contracting officer shall monitor the WDOL website to determine whether 
the applicable wage determination has been revised. Revisions published 
on the WDOL website or otherwise communicated to the contracting 
officer within the timeframes prescribed at 22.1012-1(b) and (c) are 
effective and must be included in the resulting contract. Monitoring 
can be accomplished by use of the WDOL website's ``Alert Service''.
    (b) The following shall apply when contracting by sealed bidding: a 
revised prevailing wage determination shall not be effective if it is 
received by the contracting agency less than 10 days before the opening 
of bids, and the contracting officer finds that there is not reasonable 
time to incorporate the revision in the solicitation.
    (c) For contractual actions other than sealed bidding, a revised 
prevailing wage determination received by the contracting agency after 
award of a new contract or a modification as specified in 22.1007(b) 
shall not be effective provided that the start of performance is within 
30 days of the award or the specified modification. If the contract 
does not specify a start of performance date which is within 30 days of 
the award or the specified modification, and if contract performance 
does not commence within 30 days of the award or the specified 
modification, any revision received by the contracting agency not less 
than 10 days before commencement of the work shall be effective.
    (d) If the contracting officer has submitted an e98 to the 
Department of Labor requesting a prevailing wage determination and has 
not received a response within 10 days, the contracting officer shall 
contact the Wage and Hour Division by telephone to determine when the 
wage determination can be expected. (The telephone number is provided 
on the e98 website.)

[[Page 36935]]

22.1012-2  [Removed]


22.1012-3  [Redesignated as 22.1012-2]


22.1012-4 and 22.1012-5  [Removed]

0
23a. Remove sections 22.1012-2, 22.1012-4 and 22.1012-5; and 
redesignate 22.1012-3 as 22.1012-2.
0
23b. In addition to the amendment above, revise the redesignated 
section 22.1012-2 to read as follows:


22.1012-2  Wage determinations based on collective bargaining 
agreements.

    (a) In sealed bidding, a new or changed collective bargaining 
agreement shall not be effective under section 4(c) of the Act if the 
contracting agency has received notice of the terms of the new or 
changed collective bargaining agreement less than 10 days before bid 
opening and the contracting officer determines that there is not 
reasonable time to incorporate the new or changed terms of the 
collective bargaining agreement in the solicitation.
    (b) For contractual actions other than sealed bidding, a new or 
changed collective bargaining agreement shall not be effective under 
section 4(c) of the Act if notice of the terms of the new or changed 
collective bargaining agreement is received by the contracting agency 
after award of a successor contract or a modification as specified in 
22.1007(b), provided that the contract start of performance is within 
30 days of the award of the contract or of the specified modification. 
If the contract does not specify a start of performance date which is 
within 30 days of the award of the contract or of the specified 
modification, or if contract performance does not commence within 30 
days of the award of the contract or of the specified modification, any 
notice of the terms of a new or changed collective bargaining agreement 
received by the agency not less than 10 days before commencement of the 
work shall be effective for purposes of the successor contract under 
section 4(c) of the Act.
    (c) The limitations in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection 
shall apply only if timely notification required in 22.1010 has been 
given.
    (d) If the contracting officer has submitted an e98 to Department 
of Labor requesting a wage determination based on a collective 
bargaining agreement and has not received a response from the 
Department of Labor within 10 days, the contracting officer shall 
contact the Wage and Hour Division by telephone to determine when the 
wage determination can be expected. (The telephone number is provided 
on the e98 website.) If the Department of Labor is unable to provide 
the wage determination by the latest date needed to maintain the 
acquisition schedule, the contracting officer shall incorporate the 
collective bargaining agreement itself in a solicitation or other 
contract action (e.g., exercise of option) and include a wage 
determination referencing that collective bargaining agreement created 
by use of the WDOL website (see 22.1008-2(d)(2)).
0
24. Revise section 22.1014 to read as follows:


22.1014  Delay over 60 days in bid opening or commencement of work.

    If a wage determination was obtained through the e98 process, and 
bid opening, or commencement of work under a negotiated contract has 
been delayed, for whatever reason, more than 60 days from the date 
indicated on the previously submitted e98, the contracting officer 
shall submit a new e98. Any revision of a wage determination received 
by the contracting agency as a result of that communication shall 
supersede the earlier response as the wage determination applicable to 
the particular acquisition subject to the time frames in 22.1012-1(b) 
and (c).


22.1017  [Removed and Reserved]

0
25. Remove and reserve section 22.1017.

PART 47--TRANSPORTATION

0
26. Amend section 47.202 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


47.202  Presolicitation planning.

* * * * *
    (a) The Service Contract Act of 1965 (SCA) requirement to obtain a 
wage determination by accessing the Wage Determination OnLine website 
(http://www.wdol.gov) using the WDOL process or by submitting a request 
directly to the Department of Labor on this website using the e98 
process before the issuance of an invitation for bid, request for 
proposal, or commencement of negotiations for any contract exceeding 
$2,500 that may be subject to the SCA (see Subpart 22.10);
* * * * *

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES


52.212-5  [Amended]

0
27. Amend section 52.212-5 by revising the date of the clause to read 
``(JUN 2006)''; and by removing paragraph (c)(5).


52.222-47  [Removed and Reserved]

0
28. Remove and reserve section 52.222-47.
0
29. Amend section 52.222-48 by revising the section and clause headings 
as set forth below.


52.222-48  Exemption from Application of Service Contract Act 
Provisions--Contractor Certification.

* * * * *
    EXEMPTION FROM APPLICATION OF SERVICE CONTRACT ACT PROVISIONS--
CONTRACTOR CERTIFICATION (JUN 2006)
* * * * *


52.222-49  [Amended]

0
30. Amend section 52.222-49 by removing from the introductory text 
``and 22.1009-4(c)''.

PART 53--FORMS


53.222  [Amended]

0
31. Amend section 53.222 by removing ``99,'' from the section heading; 
and removing and reserving paragraph (b).


53.301  [Amended]

0
32. Remove sections 53.301-98, 53.301-98a, and 53.301-99.
    [REMOVE SF'S 98, 98A AND 99]

[FR Doc. 06-5708 Filed 6-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S