Labor Law Compliance Pre-Assessment Available for Companies Seeking Federal Contracts

With a final rule taking effect Oct. 25 requiring companies seeking federal contracts of $500,0o0 or more to reveal any of 14 labor law violations they've committed within the past three years, the Department of Labor (DOL) has launched a pre-assessment program. The new disclosure requirement derives from President Obama's Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order of July 2014. As a preassessment is not associated with a specific acquisition, it is a proactive and voluntary way for current and prospective government contractors be reviewed on labor compliance history, according to the DOL. Participating in a DOL preassessment:

• Provides current and prospective contractors the opportunity to be assessed on their labor law compliance history, and how it would be reviewed as part of the acquisition process
• Serves as a proactive and voluntary measure if there are labor law compliance history concerns, because the contractor can develop a labor compliance agreement and start taking steps to mitigate issues before there is a specific acquisition
• Will be considered in future acquisitions

Preassessments will continue to be offered after the start date of the new disclosure rule. To sign up, please use the DOL's online Preassessment Request Intake form.