§5.12. Debarment proceedings. — Inbound Citations

(1) No advance under a mortgage on a project subject to Davis-Bacon wage rates under paragraph (a) of this section shall be eligible for insurance under this part unless the HFA determines (in accordance with the Commissioner's administrative procedures) that the general contractor or any subcontractor or any firm, corporation, partnership or association in which the contractor or subcontractor has a substantial interest was not, on the date the contract or subcontract was executed, on the ineligible list established by the Comptroller General of the United States, pursuant to 29 CFR 5.12, issued by the Secretary of Labor.

(1) In the event of a dispute described in paragraph (a) of this section in which it appears that there are no relevant facts at issue, and where there is not at that time reasonable cause to institute debarment proceedings under § 5.12, the Administrator will notify the contractor and subcontractor, if any, by registered or certified mail to the last known address or by any other means normally assuring delivery, of the investigation findings, and will issue a ruling on any issues of law known to be in dispute.

(b) If the person and any contractors for whom the person worked or on whose behalf the person acted do not remedy the violation, the Administrator in the notification of violation findings issued under § 5.11 or § 5.12 will direct the person and any contractors for whom the person worked or on whose behalf the person acted to provide appropriate make-whole relief to affected worker(s) and job applicant(s) or take appropriate remedial action, or both, to correct the violation, and will specify the particular relief and remedial actions to be taken.

The 1964 amendments (Pub. L. 88-349) to the Davis-Bacon Act require, among other things, that the prevailing wage determined for Federal and federally assisted construction include the basic hourly rate of pay and the amount contributed by the contractor or subcontractor for certain fringe benefits (or the cost to them of such benefits). The purpose of this subpart is to explain the provisions of these amendments and make available in one place official interpretations of the fringe benefits provisions of the Davis-Bacon Act. These interpretations will guide the Department of Labor in carrying out its responsibilities under these provisions. These interpretations are intended also to provide guidance to contractors and their associations; laborers and mechanics and their organizations; and local, State, and Federal agencies. The interpretations contained in this subpart are authoritative and may be relied upon as provided for in section 10 of the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947 (29 U.S.C. 259). The omission to discuss a particular problem in this subpart or in interpretations supplementing it should not be taken to indicate the adoption of any position by the Secretary of Labor with respect to such problem or to constitute an administrative interpretation, practice, or enforcement policy. Questions on matters not fully covered by this subpart may be referred to the Secretary for interpretation as provided in § 5.13.

(iii) The contractor or subcontractor must maintain this contract or subcontract and related documents including, without limitation, bids, proposals, amendments, modifications, and extensions. The contractor or subcontractor must preserve these contracts, subcontracts, and related documents during the course of the work and for a period of 3 years after all the work on the prime contract is completed.

(a) Upon timely receipt of a request for a hearing under § 5.11 (where the Administrator has determined that relevant facts are in dispute) or § 5.12 of part 5 of this title, the Administrator shall refer the case to the Chief Administrative Law Judge by Order of Reference, to which shall be attached a copy of the notification letter to the respondent from the Administrator and response thereto, for designation of an Administrative Law Judge to conduct such hearings as may be necessary to decide the disputed matters. A copy of the Order of Reference and attachments thereto shall be served upon the respondent.

(a) Upon timely receipt of a request for a hearing under § 4.12 of part 4 or § 5.12 of part 5 of this title, where the Administrator has determined that relevant facts are in dispute, or on his/her own motion, the Administrator shall refer the case to the Chief Administrative Law Judge by Order of Reference, to which shall be attached a copy of any findings of the Administrator and response thereto, for designation of an Administrative Law Judge to conduct such hearings as may be necessary to decide the disputed matters. A copy of the Order of Reference and attachments thereto shall be served upon the person or firm requesting the hearing, if any and upon the respondents.

(i) By entering into this contract, the contractor certifies that neither it nor any person or firm who has an interest in the contractor's firm is a person or firm ineligible to be awarded Government contracts by virtue of 40 U.S.C. 3144(b) or § 5.12(a).

Upon the final decision of the Administrative Law Judge, Administrative Review Board, as appropriate, the Administrator promptly shall forward to the Comptroller General the names of any firm, corporation, partnership, or association in which a person or firm debarred pursuant to section 5(a) of the Service Contract Act or § 5.12(a) of part 5 of this title has a substantial interest; and/or the name of any firm, corporation, partnership, or association in which a person or firm debarred pursuant to section 3(a) of the Davis-Bacon Act has an interest.

(1) In the event of a dispute described in paragraph (a) of this section in which it appears that relevant facts are at issue, the Administrator will notify the affected contractor and subcontractor, if any, by registered or certified mail to the last known address or by any other means normally assuring delivery, of the investigation findings. If the Administrator determines that there is reasonable cause to believe that either the contractor, the subcontractor, or both, should also be subject to debarment under the Davis-Bacon Act or any of the other applicable statutes referenced by § 5.1, the notification will so indicate.

(i) By entering into this contract, the contractor certifies that neither it nor any person or firm who has an interest in the contractor's firm is a person or firm ineligible to be awarded Government contracts by virtue of 40 U.S.C. 3144(b) or § 5.12(a).

(2) If the respondent is found to have violated the Service Contract Act, the Administrative Law Judge shall include in his/her decision an order as to whether the respondent is to be relieved from the ineligible list as provided in section 5(a) of the Act, and, if relief is ordered, findings of the unusual circumstance, within the meaning of section 5(a) of the Act, which are the basis therefor. If respondent is found to have violated the provisions of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, the Administrative Law Judge shall issue an order as to whether the respondent is to be subject to the ineligible list as provided in § 5.12(a)(1) of part 4 of this title, including findings regarding the existence of aggravated or willful violations. If wages and/or fringe benefits are found due under the Service Contract Act and/or the Contract Work Safety Standards Act and are unpaid, no relief from the ineligible list shall be ordered except on condition that such wages and/or fringe benefits are paid.

At any time prior to the closing of the hearing record, the complaint (notification letter) or answer (response) may be amended with the permission of the Administrative Law Judge and upon such terms as he/she may approve. For proceedings pursuant to § 5.11 of part 5 of this title, such an amendment may include a statement that debarment action is warranted under § 5.12(a)(1) of part 5 of this title or under section 3(a) of the Davis-Bacon Act. Such amendments shall be allowed when justice and the presentation of the merits are served thereby, provided there is no prejudice to the objecting party's presentation on the merits. When issues not raised by the pleadings are reasonably within the scope of the original complaint and are tried by express or implied consent of the parties, they shall be treated in all respects as if they had been raised in the pleadings, and such amendments may be made as necessary to make them conform to the evidence. The presiding Administrative Law Judge may, upon reasonable notice and upon such terms as are just, permit supplemental pleadings setting forth transactions, occurrences or events which have happened since the date of the pleadings and which are relevant to any of the issues involved. A continuance in the hearing may be granted or the record left open to enable the new allegations to be addressed.

(2) If the respondent is found to have violated the labor standards provisions of any of the statutes listed in § 5.1 of part 5 of this title other than the Davis-Bacon Act, and if debarment action was requested pursuant to the complaint (notification letter) or any amendment thereto, the Administrative Law Judge shall issue an order as to whether the respondent is to be subject to the ineligible list as provided in § 5.12(a)(1) of this title, including any findings of aggravated or willful violations. If the respondent is found to have violated the Davis-Bacon Act, and if debarment action was requested, the Administrative Law Judge shall issue as a part of the order a recommendation as to whether respondent should be subject to the ineligible list pursuant to section 3(a) of the Act, including any findings regarding respondent's disregard of obligations to employees and subcontractors. If wages are found due and are unpaid, no relief from the ineligible list shall be ordered or recommended except on condition that such wages are paid.

This subpart supplements the procedures contained in § 4.12 of part 4 and § 5.12(d) of part 5 of this title, and states the rules of practice applicable to hearings to determine whether persons of firms whose names appear on the ineligible list pursuant to section 5(a) of the Service Contract Act or § 5.12(a)(1) of part 5 of this title have a substantial interest in any firm, corporation, partnership, or association other than those listed on the ineligible list; and/or to determine whether persons or firms whose names appear on the ineligible list pursuant to section 3(a) of the Davis-Bacon Act have an interest in any firm, corporation, partnership, or association other than those listed on the ineligible list.

Within 30 days after the date of the decision of the Administrative Law Judge, any party aggrieved thereby who desires review thereof shall file a petition for review of the decision with supporting reasons. Such party shall transmit the petition in writing to the Administrative Review Board pursuant to 29 CFR part 8 if the proceeding was under the Service Contract Act, or to the Administrative Review Board pursuant to 29 CFR part 7 if the proceeding was under § 5.12(a)(1) of part 5 of this title or under section 3(a) of the Davis-Bacon Act, with a copy thereof to the Chief Administrative Law Judge. The petition for review shall refer to the specific findings of fact, conclusions of law, or order at issue.

(d) If a timely response to the Administrator's findings or ruling is not made or a timely petition for review is not filed, the Administrator's findings or ruling will be final, except that with respect to debarment under the Davis-Bacon Act, the Administrator will advise the Comptroller General of the Administrator's recommendation in accordance with § 5.12(a)(2). If a timely response or petition for review is filed, the findings or ruling of the Administrator will be inoperative unless and until the decision is upheld by the Administrative Law Judge or the Administrative Review Board.

(b) The notification letter from the Administrator and response thereto shall be given the effect of a complaint and answer, respectively, for purposes of the administrative proceedings. The notification letter and response shall be in accordance with the provisions of § 5.11 or § 5.12(b)(1) of part 5 of this title, as appropriate.

This subpart supplements the procedures contained in § 4.12 of part 4 and § 5.12(d) of part 5 of this title, and states the rules of practice applicable to hearings to determine whether persons of firms whose names appear on the ineligible list pursuant to section 5(a) of the Service Contract Act or § 5.12(a)(1) of part 5 of this title have a substantial interest in any firm, corporation, partnership, or association other than those listed on the ineligible list; and/or to determine whether persons or firms whose names appear on the ineligible list pursuant to section 3(a) of the Davis-Bacon Act have an interest in any firm, corporation, partnership, or association other than those listed on the ineligible list.