Assessment of Federal Agency Compliance With the Service Contract Act
HRD-82-59: Published: Jul 21, 1982. Publicly Released: Jul 29, 1982.
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In response to a congressional request, GAO made a followup review on a report which evaluated Federal agencies' compliance with the Service Contract Act and the Department of Labor's implementation of regulations. The Act requires that, when a Federal contract is in excess of $2,500 and its purpose is to furnish services within the United States using service employees, those employees are to be paid the minimum wages and fringe benefits prevailing in the locality.
GAO found that many procurement officials did not always comply with the Act's wage determination requirements or with the regulations, rulings, and interpretations Labor issued on the Act's coverage of Federal contracts and purchase orders. However, the review did not disclose any evidence to suggest that agencies intentionally failed to comply with statutory or regulatory provisions in not including determinations in bid solicitations and subsequent award documents. Noncompliance by procurement offices resulted primarily from: (1) reliance on the language of the Act and regulations without knowledge of the varying interpretations developed by Labor since they were first issued; and (2) misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the Act's coverage in the current regulations and of other prevailing wage and procurement laws. GAO determined that the lack of agency compliance with other administrative requirements did not significantly affect the labor standards protection for the service workers.
Feb 26, 2021
Servicemember Rights:
Mandatory Arbitration Clauses Have Affected Some Employment and Consumer Claims but the Extent of Their Effects is UnknownGAO-21-221: Published: Feb 26, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 26, 2021.
Feb 18, 2021
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Workplace Safety and Health:
Actions Needed to Improve Reporting of Summary Injury and Illness DataGAO-21-122: Published: Jan 27, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 18, 2021.
Jan 27, 2021
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Military Spouse Employment:
DOD Should Continue Assessing State Licensing Practices and Increase Awareness of ResourcesGAO-21-193: Published: Jan 27, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 27, 2021.
Oct 19, 2020
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Fair Labor Standards Act:
Observations on the Effects of the Home Care RuleGAO-21-72: Published: Oct 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 19, 2020.
Jun 22, 2020
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Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act:
Additional DOL Actions Needed to Help States and Employers Address Substance Use DisorderGAO-20-337: Published: May 21, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 22, 2020.
Apr 14, 2020
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Job Corps:
DOL Should Provide Greater Transparency in Communicating Its Rationale for Closure DecisionsGAO-20-240R: Published: Apr 14, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 14, 2020.
Feb 14, 2020
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National Mediation Board:
Additional Actions Needed to Fully Implement Prior GAO Recommendations and Improve Agency Management and OversightGAO-20-236: Published: Feb 14, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 14, 2020.
Feb 10, 2020
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National Weather Service:
Information on Contractor Selection and Work Performed for Its Operations and Workforce Analysis ProjectGAO-20-271R: Published: Jan 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Feb 10, 2020.
Sep 9, 2019
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Job Corps:
Actions Needed to Improve Planning for Center Operation ContractsGAO-19-326: Published: Aug 8, 2019. Publicly Released: Sep 9, 2019.
Apr 10, 2019
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Priority Open Recommendations:
Department of LaborGAO-19-395SP: Published: Apr 3, 2019. Publicly Released: Apr 10, 2019.
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