New federal regulations impact construction firms doing business with Uncle Sam
By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor
Federal contractors may be subject to several new rules in 2015 that impact how they are selected for contracts and how they do business with the federal government.
Among the recent proposals is one stemming from a presidential executive order that instructs bureaucrats to determine whether a business is responsible enough to receive a federal contract based on a review of each company’s recent compliance history with labor and safety laws. Contractors would have to disclose any violations of 14 federal and equivalent state and local workplace laws committed within the past three years when competing for and completing federal contracts worth more than $500,000.
A proposal would prohibit federal contractors from retaliating against employees who discuss their compensation with fellow employees. Another proposed rule would require contractors and subcontractors to submit USDOL summary data on compensation paid to their employees, including data by sex and race.
One proposed rule applies specifically to the construction industry and their hiring practices regarding individuals with disabilities and veterans.