XL EagleWage Determination Attachment
Wage Determination Attachment. A wage determination is a Department of Labor schedule of minimum wage rates and fringe benefits for specific job categories in a specific area. It is attached to federal service contracts covered by the Service Contract Labor Standards (formerly the Service Contract Act) and construction contracts covered by Davis-Bacon and related acts.
Service contract coverage generally applies to contracts over $2,500 whose main purpose is services performed by service employees, and Davis-Bacon applies to construction contracts over $2,000. Current wage determinations are published on SAM.gov.
Why it matters to a small contractor
Price your labor from the attached wage determination, not from what you pay today. Include the hourly rate plus health and welfare, vacation and holidays it requires. Underpricing these rates can mean back wages owed out of your own pocket later.
Example
A janitorial RFQ attaches a wage determination listing a janitor at a set hourly rate plus a health and welfare amount per hour. The contractor's pricing spreadsheet uses both figures for every labor hour.
Wage Determination Attachment: common questions
Where do I find the wage determination?
It is usually attached to the solicitation and can also be looked up on SAM.gov by number, state and county.
What if my workers' job is not listed?
The contracting officer may need to add a classification through the conformance process. Raise it early so your price is accurate.
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