(a) Purpose. This part contains the Department of Labor's rules relating to the administration of Executive Order 14026 (Executive Order or the Order), “Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors,” and implements the enforcement provisions of the Executive Order. The Executive Order assigns responsibility for investigating potential violations of and obtaining compliance with the Executive Order to the Department of Labor.

(b) Policy. Executive Order 14026 states that the Federal Government's procurement interests in economy and efficiency are promoted when the Federal Government contracts with sources that adequately compensate their workers. Specifically, the Order explains that raising the minimum wage enhances worker productivity and generates higher-quality work by boosting workers' health, morale, and effort; reducing absenteeism and turnover; and lowering supervisory and training costs. Accordingly, Executive Order 14026 sets forth a general position of the Federal Government that increasing the hourly minimum wage paid by Federal contractors to $15.00 beginning January 30, 2022, (with future annual increases based on inflation) will lead to improved economy and efficiency in Federal procurement. The Order provides that executive departments and agencies, including independent establishments subject to the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, shall, to the extent permitted by law, ensure that new covered contracts, contract-like instruments, and solicitations (collectively referred to as “contracts”) include a clause, which the contractor and any covered subcontractors shall incorporate into lower-tier subcontracts, specifying, as a condition of payment, that the minimum wage to be paid to workers, including workers whose wages are calculated pursuant to special certificates issued under 29 U.S.C. 214(c), performing work on or in connection with the contract or any covered subcontract thereunder, shall be at least:

(1) $15.00 per hour beginning January 30, 2022; and

(2) Beginning January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, an amount determined by the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) pursuant to the Order. Nothing in Executive Order 14026 or this part shall excuse noncompliance with any applicable Federal or state prevailing wage law or any applicable law or municipal ordinance establishing a minimum wage higher than the minimum wage established under the Order.

(c) Scope. Neither Executive Order 14026 nor this part creates or changes any rights under the Contract Disputes Act, 41 U.S.C. 7101 et seq., or any private right of action that may exist under other applicable laws. The Executive Order provides that disputes regarding whether a contractor has paid the minimum wages prescribed by the Order, to the extent permitted by law, shall be disposed of only as provided by the Secretary in regulations issued under the Order. However, nothing in the Order or this part is intended to limit or preclude a civil action under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. 3730, or criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1001. The Order similarly does not preclude judicial review of final decisions by the Secretary in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 701 et seq.

For purposes of this part:

Administrative Review Board (ARB or Board) means the Administrative Review Board, U.S. Department of Labor.

Administrator means the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division and includes any official of the Wage and Hour Division authorized to perform any of the functions of the Administrator under this part.

Agency head means the Secretary, Attorney General, Administrator, Governor, Chairperson, or other chief official of an executive agency, unless otherwise indicated, including any deputy or assistant chief official of an executive agency or any persons authorized to act on behalf of the agency head.

Concessions contract or contract for concessions means a contract under which the Federal Government grants a right to use Federal property, including land or facilities, for furnishing services. The term concessions contract includes but is not limited to a contract the principal purpose of which is to furnish food, lodging, automobile fuel, souvenirs, newspaper stands, and/or recreational equipment, regardless of whether the services are of direct benefit to the Government, its personnel, or the general public.

Contract or contract-like instrument means an agreement between two or more parties creating obligations that are enforceable or otherwise recognizable at law. This definition includes, but is not limited to, a mutually binding legal relationship obligating one party to furnish services (including construction) and another party to pay for them. The term contract includes all contracts and any subcontracts of any tier thereunder, whether negotiated or advertised, including any procurement actions, lease agreements, cooperative agreements, provider agreements, intergovernmental service agreements, service agreements, licenses, permits, or any other type of agreement, regardless of nomenclature, type, or particular form, and whether entered into verbally or in writing. The term contract shall be interpreted broadly as to include, but not be limited to, any contract within the definition provided in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 48 CFR chapter 1 or applicable Federal statutes. This definition includes, but is not limited to, any contract that may be covered under any Federal procurement statute. Contracts may be the result of competitive bidding or awarded to a single source under applicable authority to do so. In addition to bilateral instruments, contracts include, but are not limited to, awards and notices of awards; job orders or task letters issued under basic ordering agreements; letter contracts; orders, such as purchase orders, under which the contract becomes effective by written acceptance or performance; exercised contract options; and bilateral contract modifications. The term contract includes contracts covered by the Service Contract Act, contracts covered by the Davis-Bacon Act, concessions contracts not otherwise subject to the Service Contract Act, and contracts in connection with Federal property or land and related to offering services for Federal employees, their dependents, or the general public.

Contracting officer means a person with the authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings. This term includes certain authorized representatives of the contracting officer acting within the limits of their authority as delegated by the contracting officer.

Contractor means any individual or other legal entity that is awarded a Federal Government contract or subcontract under a Federal Government contract. The term contractor refers to both a prime contractor and all of its subcontractors of any tier on a contract with the Federal Government. The term contractor includes lessors and lessees, as well as employers of workers performing on or in connection with covered Federal contracts whose wages are calculated pursuant to special certificates issued under 29 U.S.C. 214(c). The term employer is used interchangeably with the terms contractor and subcontractor in various sections of this part. The U.S. Government, its agencies, and instrumentalities are not contractors, subcontractors, employers, or joint employers for purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Executive Order.

Davis-Bacon Act means the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931, as amended, 40 U.S.C. 3141 et seq., and the implementing regulations in this chapter.

Executive departments and agencies means executive departments, military departments, or any independent establishments within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 101, 102, and 104(1), respectively, and any wholly owned Government corporation within the meaning of 31 U.S.C. 9101.

Executive Order 13658 means Executive Order 13658 of February 12, 2014, “Establishing a Minimum Wage for Contractors,” 3 CFR, 2014 Comp., p. 219, and its implementing regulations at 29 CFR part 10.

Executive Order 14026 minimum wage means a wage that is at least:

(1) $15.00 per hour beginning January 30, 2022; and

(2) Beginning January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, an amount determined by the Secretary pursuant to section 2 of the Executive Order.

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) means the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, 29 U.S.C. 201 et seq., and the implementing regulations in this title.

Federal Government means an agency or instrumentality of the United States that enters into a contract pursuant to authority derived from the Constitution or the laws of the United States. For purposes of the Executive Order and this part, this definition does not include the District of Columbia or any Territory or possession of the United States.

New contract means a contract that is entered into on or after January 30, 2022, or a contract that is renewed or extended (pursuant to an exercised option or otherwise) on or after January 30, 2022. For purposes of the Executive Order, a contract that is entered into prior to January 30, 2022 will constitute a new contract if, on or after January 30, 2022:

(1) The contract is renewed;

(2) The contract is extended; or

(3) An option on the contract is exercised.

Office of Administrative Law Judges means the Office of Administrative Law Judges, U.S. Department of Labor.

Option means a unilateral right in a contract by which, for a specified time, the Government may elect to purchase additional supplies or services called for by the contract, or may elect to extend the term of the contract.

Procurement contract for construction means a procurement contract for the construction, alteration, or repair (including painting and decorating) of public buildings or public works and which requires or involves the employment of mechanics or laborers, and any subcontract of any tier thereunder. The term procurement contract for construction includes any contract subject to the provisions of the Davis-Bacon Act, as amended, and the implementing regulations in this chapter.

Procurement contract for services means a procurement contract the principal purpose of which is to furnish services in the United States through the use of service employees, and any subcontract of any tier thereunder. The term procurement contract for services includes any contract subject to the provisions of the Service Contract Act, as amended, and the implementing regulations in this chapter.

Service Contract Act means the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act of 1965, as amended, 41 U.S.C. 6701 et seq., and the implementing regulations in this chapter.

Solicitation means any request to submit offers, bids, or quotations to the Federal Government.

Tipped employee means any employee engaged in an occupation in which the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. For purposes of the Executive Order, a worker performing on or in connection with a contract covered by the Executive Order who meets this definition is a tipped employee.

United States means the United States and all executive departments, independent establishments, administrative agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States, including corporations of which all or substantially all of the stock is owned by the United States, by the foregoing departments, establishments, agencies, instrumentalities, and including nonappropriated fund instrumentalities. When used in a geographic sense, the United States means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Outer Continental Shelf lands as defined in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Wake Island, and Johnston Island.

Wage and Hour Division means the Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Department of Labor.

Wage determination includes any determination of minimum hourly wage rates or fringe benefits made by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to the provisions of the Service Contract Act or the Davis-Bacon Act. This term includes the original determination and any subsequent determinations modifying, superseding, correcting, or otherwise changing the provisions of the original determination.

Worker means any person engaged in performing work on or in connection with a contract covered by the Executive Order, and whose wages under such contract are governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Service Contract Act, or the Davis-Bacon Act, other than individuals employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity, as those terms are defined in 29 CFR part 541, regardless of the contractual relationship alleged to exist between the individual and the employer. The term worker includes workers performing on or in connection with a covered contract whose wages are calculated pursuant to special certificates issued under 29 U.S.C. 214(c), as well as any person working on or in connection with a covered contract and individually registered in a bona fide apprenticeship or training program registered with the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, Office of Apprenticeship, or with a State Apprenticeship Agency recognized by the Office of Apprenticeship. A worker performs “on” a contract if the worker directly performs the specific services called for by the contract. A worker performs “in connection with” a contract if the worker's work activities are necessary to the performance of a contract but are not the specific services called for by the contract.

(a) This part applies to any new contract, as defined in § 23.20, with the Federal Government, unless excluded by § 23.40, provided that:

(1)(i) It is a procurement contract for construction covered by the Davis-Bacon Act;

(ii) It is a contract for services covered by the Service Contract Act;

(iii) It is a contract for concessions, including any concessions contract excluded from coverage under the Service Contract Act by Department of Labor regulations at 29 CFR 4.133(b); or

(iv) It is a contract entered into with the Federal Government in connection with Federal property or lands and related to offering services for Federal employees, their dependents, or the general public; and

(2) The wages of workers under such contract are governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Service Contract Act, or the Davis-Bacon Act.

(b) For contracts covered by the Service Contract Act or the Davis-Bacon Act, this part applies to prime contracts only at the thresholds specified in those statutes. For procurement contracts where workers' wages are governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act, this part applies when the prime contract exceeds the micro-purchase threshold, as defined in 41 U.S.C. 1902(a).

(c) This part only applies to contracts with the Federal Government requiring performance in whole or in part within the United States, which when used in a geographic sense in this part means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Outer Continental Shelf lands as defined in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Wake Island, and Johnston Island. If a contract with the Federal Government is to be performed in part within and in part outside the United States and is otherwise covered by the Executive Order and this part, the minimum wage requirements of the Order and this part would apply with respect to that part of the contract that is performed within the United States.

(d) This part does not apply to contracts for the manufacturing or furnishing of materials, supplies, articles, or equipment to the Federal Government, including those that are subject to the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act, 41 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.

(a) Grants. The requirements of this part do not apply to grants within the meaning of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act, as amended, 31 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.

(b) Contracts or agreements with Indian Tribes. This part does not apply to contracts or agreements with Indian Tribes under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, as amended, 25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.

(c) Procurement contracts for construction that are excluded from coverage of the Davis-Bacon Act. Procurement contracts for construction that are not covered by the Davis-Bacon Act are not subject to this part.

(d) Contracts for services that are exempted from coverage under the Service Contract Act. Service contracts, except for those expressly covered by § 23.30(a)(1)(iii) or (iv), that are exempt from coverage of the Service Contract Act pursuant to its statutory language at 41 U.S.C. 6702(b) or its implementing regulations, including those at 29 CFR 4.115 through 4.122 and 29 CFR 4.123(d) and (e), are not subject to this part.

(e) Employees who are exempt from the minimum wage requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act under 29 U.S.C. 213(a) and 214(a)-(b). Except for workers who are otherwise covered by the Davis-Bacon Act or the Service Contract Act, this part does not apply to employees who are not entitled to the minimum wage set forth at 29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 213(a) and 214(a)-(b). Pursuant to the exclusion in this paragraph (e), individuals that are not subject to the requirements of this part include but are not limited to:

(1) Learners, apprentices, or messengers. This part does not apply to learners, apprentices, or messengers whose wages are calculated pursuant to special certificates issued under 29 U.S.C. 214(a).

(2) Students. This part does not apply to student workers whose wages are calculated pursuant to special certificates issued under 29 U.S.C. 214(b).

(3) Individuals employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity. This part does not apply to workers who are employed by Federal contractors in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity, as those terms are defined and delimited in 29 CFR part 541.

(f) FLSA-covered workers performing in connection with covered contracts for less than 20 percent of their work hours in a given workweek. This part does not apply to FLSA-covered workers performing in connection with covered contracts, i.e., those workers who perform work duties necessary to the performance of the contract but who are not directly engaged in performing the specific work called for by the contract, that spend less than 20 percent of their hours worked in a particular workweek performing in connection with such contracts. The exclusion in this paragraph (f) is inapplicable to covered workers performing on covered contracts, i.e., those workers directly engaged in performing the specific work called for by the contract.

(g) Contracts that result from a solicitation issued before January 30, 2022, and that are entered into on or between January 30, 2022 and March 30, 2022. This part does not apply to contracts that result from a solicitation issued prior to January 30, 2022 and that are entered into on or between January 30, 2022 and March 30, 2022. However, if such a contract is subsequently extended or renewed, or an option is subsequently exercised under that contract, the Executive Order and this part shall apply to that extension, renewal, or option.

(a) General. Pursuant to Executive Order 14026, the minimum hourly wage rate required to be paid to workers performing on or in connection with covered contracts with the Federal Government is at least:

(1) $15.00 per hour beginning January 30, 2022; and

(2) Beginning January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, an amount determined by the Secretary pursuant to section 2 of Executive Order 14026. In accordance with section 2 of the Order, the Secretary will determine the applicable minimum wage rate to be paid to workers performing on or in connection with covered contracts on an annual basis beginning at least 90 days before any new minimum wage is to take effect.

(b) Method for determining the applicable Executive Order minimum wage for workers. The minimum wage to be paid to workers, including workers whose wages are calculated pursuant to special certificates issued under 29 U.S.C. 214(c), in the performance of a covered contract shall be at least:

(1) $15.00 per hour beginning January 30, 2022; and

(2) An amount determined by the Secretary, beginning January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter. The applicable minimum wage determined for each calendar year by the Secretary shall be:

(i) Not less than the amount in effect on the date of such determination;

(ii) Increased from such amount by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (United States city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted), or its successor publication, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and

(iii) Rounded to the nearest multiple of $0.05. In calculating the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for purposes of this section, the Secretary shall compare such Consumer Price Index for the most recent year available with the Consumer Price Index for the preceding year.

(c) Relation to other laws. Nothing in the Executive Order or this part shall excuse noncompliance with any applicable Federal or state prevailing wage law or any applicable law or municipal ordinance, or any applicable contract, establishing a minimum wage higher than the minimum wage established under the Executive Order and this part.

(d) Relation to Executive Order 13658. As of January 30, 2022, Executive Order 13658 is superseded to the extent that it is inconsistent with Executive Order 14026 and this part. Unless otherwise excluded by § 23.40, workers performing on or in connection with a covered new contract, as defined in § 23.20, must be paid at least the minimum hourly wage rate established by Executive Order 14026 and this part rather than the lower hourly minimum wage rate established by Executive Order 13658 and its implementing regulations in 29 CFR part 10.

It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any worker because such worker has filed any complaint or instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding under or related to Executive Order 14026 or this part, or has testified or is about to testify in any such proceeding.

Workers cannot waive, nor may contractors induce workers to waive, their rights under Executive Order 14026 or this part.

If any provision of this part is held to be invalid or unenforceable by its terms, or as applied to any person or circumstance, or stayed pending further agency action, the provision shall be construed so as to continue to give the maximum effect to the provision permitted by law, unless such holding shall be one of utter invalidity or unenforceability, in which event the provision shall be severable from this part and shall not affect the remainder thereof.