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IV. Davis-Bacon Wage Surveys
When is data from federal projects included in Davis-Bacon wage surveys?
The purpose of a Davis-Bacon wage survey is to collect information on wage
and fringe benefits rates paid to mechanics
and laborers working on construction projects of a similar character in
a predetermined geographic area and during a specified calendar period.
Established criteria are used to ensure surveys properly observe established
time frames, construction types, geographic areas, classifications, area
practices, and accepted procedures for data computation and survey notification.
In addition, the criteria cover adequacy of the survey data. Survey
data adequacy is examined through use of the overall usable response rate
and employment criteria for individual classes. In general, only private
construction wage data are used wherever possible on building
and residential construction wage surveys.
Federal wage data are always included in heavy
and highway wage surveys.
However, whenever the private construction survey response rate for a county
is less than 25 percent, or the private construction data are insufficient
to determine prevailing wage rates for one half of the key classes expected
to be required for the construction covered, Federal construction wage data
will be used pursuant to the Wage Appeals Board (WAB)
ruling in Appeal of General Wage Determination Nos. ID85-5013 and ID86-0004,
State of Idaho, WAB Case Number
86-22. If there is still insufficient data to develop a wage determination,
private construction wage data from an adjoining similar county will be
combined with the private data from the first county. If this procedure
still does not yield sufficient private construction wage data, Federal
construction data will be considered. The review described above will
continue until a wage determination is developed.
Because there is no method to accurately forecast the amount of wage data
which will be voluntarily submitted by interested parties, all wage data
whether federal or private is requested. As stated above, the wage
data from Federal construction are not commingled until it is determined
that the private wage data are insufficient.
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