Subpart 22.6 - Contracts for Materials,

Supplies, Articles, and Equipment

Parent topic: Part 22 - Application of Labor Laws to Government Acquisitions

22.601 [Reserved]

22.602 Statutory requirements.

Except for the exemptions at 22.604, all contracts subject to 41 U.S.C.chapter 65, (the statute), and

entered into by any executive department, independent establishment, or other agency or

instrumentality of the United States, or by the District of Columbia, or by any corporation (all the

stock of which is beneficially owned by the United States) for the manufacture or furnishing of

materials, supplies, articles, and equipment (referred to in this subpart as supplies) in any amount

exceeding $15,000, shall include or incorporate by reference the stipulations required by the statute

pertaining to such matters as minimum wages, maximum hours, child labor, convict labor, and safe

and sanitary working conditions.

22.603 Applicability.

The requirements in 22.602 apply to contracts (including for this purpose, indefinite-delivery

contracts, basic ordering agreements, and blanket purchase agreements) and subcontracts under

Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act, for the manufacture or furnishing of supplies that-

(a) Will be performed in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands;

(b) Exceed or may exceed $15,000; and

(c) Are not exempt under 22.604.

22.604 Exemptions.

22.604-1 Statutory exemptions.

Contracts for acquisition of the following supplies are exempt from the statute:

(a) Any item in those situations where the contracting officer is authorized by the express language

of a statute to purchase "in the open market" generally (such as commercial products and

commercial services, see part 12); or where a specific purchase is made under the conditions

described in 6.302-2 in circumstances where immediate delivery is required by the public exigency.

(b) Perishables, including dairy, livestock, and nursery products.
(c) Agricultural or farm products processed for first sale by the original producers.

(d) Agricultural commodities or the products thereof purchased under contract by the Secretary of

Agriculture.

22.604-2 Regulatory exemptions.

(a) Contracts for the following acquisitions are fully exempt from the statute (see 41

CFR50-201.603):

(1) Public utility services.

(2) Supplies manufactured outside the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

(3) Purchases against the account of a defaulting contractor where the stipulations of the statute

were not included in the defaulted contract.

(4) Newspapers, magazines, or periodicals, contracted for with sales agents or publisher

representatives, which are to be delivered by the publishers thereof.

(b)

(1) Upon the request of the agency head, the Secretary of Labor may exempt specific contracts or

classes of contracts from the inclusion or application of one or more of the Act’s stipulations;

provided, that the request includes a finding by the agency head stating the reasons why the

conduct of Government business will be seriously impaired unless the exemption is granted.

(2) Those requests for exemption that relate solely to safety and health standards shall be

transmitted to theAssistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health U.S. Department of Labor Washington, DC

202 l0.

All other requests shall be transmitted to theAdministrator of the Wage and Hour Division U.S. Department of Labor Washington, DC 202 l0.

22.605 Rulings and interpretations of the statute.

(a) As authorized by the Act, the Secretary of Labor has issued rulings and interpretations

concerning the administration of the statute (see 41 CFR50-206). The substance of certain rulings

and interpretations is as follows:

(1) If a contract for $15,000 or less is subsequently modified to exceed $15,000, the contract

becomes subject to the statute for work performed after the date of the modification.

(2) If a contract for more than $15,000 is subsequently modified by mutual agreement to $15,000 or

less, the contract is not subject to the statute for work performed after the date of the modification.
(3) If a contract awarded to a prime contractor contains a provision whereby the prime contractor is

made an agent of the Government, the prime contractor is required to include the stipulations of the

statute in contracts in excess of $15,000 awarded for and on behalf of the Government for supplies

that are to be used in the construction and equipment of Government facilities.

(4) If a contract subject to the statute is awarded to a contractor operating Government-owned

facilities, the stipulations of the statute affect the employees of that contractor the same as

employees of contractors operating privately owned facilities.

(5) Indefinite-delivery contracts, including basic ordering agreements and blanket purchase

agreements, are subject to the statute unless it can be determined in advance that the aggregate

amount of all orders estimated to be placed thereunder for 1 year after the effective date of the

agreement will not exceed $15,000. A determination shall be made annually thereafter if the

contract or agreement is extended, and the contract or agreement modified if necessary.

(b) [Reserved]

22.606 [Reserved]

22.607 [Reserved]

22.608 Procedures.

(a) Award. When a contract subject to the statute is awarded, the contracting officer, in accordance

with regulations or instructions issued by the Secretary of Labor and individual agency procedures,

shall furnish to the contractor DOL publication WH-1313, Notice to Employees Working on

Government Contracts.

(b) Breach of stipulation. In the event of a violation of a stipulation required under the statute, the

contracting officer shall, in accordance with agency procedures, notify the appropriate regional

office of the DOL, Wage and Hour Division (see 29 CFR Part 1, Appendix B), and furnish any

information available.

22.609 [Reserved]

22.610 Contract clause.

The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.222-20, Contracts for Materials, Supplies,

Articles, and Equipment, in solicitations and contracts covered by the statute (see 22.603, 22.604,

and 22.605).