Davis-Bacon Compliance for Small Federal Contractors
Jun 4, 2026
The Davis-Bacon Act has no small business exemption. Any contractor — regardless of size — working on a covered federal construction contract must comply. For small contractors new to federal work, here's a practical compliance checklist.
Before Bidding
- Locate the applicable wage determination for the project county and construction type
- Build prevailing wage rates (base + fringe) into your labor cost estimates
- Confirm which fringe benefits you will provide (cash, benefits, or combination)
During Performance
- Post the WD at the job site
- Submit Form WH-347 certified payrolls every week
- Keep time records showing which workers performed which classification of work
Resources
The DOL WHD provides free compliance assistance for contractors. Small businesses can request a pre-award compliance review to identify potential issues before they become violations.