Finding Text
2024-005 Wage Rate Requirements - Review of Certified Payroll Reports ALN and Title: 20.106 - Airport Improvement Program Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation Pass Through Entity: Georgia Department of Transportation Identifying Number: 313SBGP0582023 Award Year: 2023 Special Tests and Provisions-Wage Rate Requirements Criteria or Specific Requirement - 2 CFR 200.303(a) requires non-Federal entities expending Federal awards to establish and maintain effective internal controls over compliance with Federal statues, regulations, and the terms and conditions of Federal awards. All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors to work on construction contracts in excess of $2,000 financed by federal assistance funds must be paid wages not less than those established for the locality of the project (prevailing wage rates) by the Department of Labor (DOL) (40 USC 3141-3144, 3146, and 3147. This includes a requirement for the contractor or subcontractor to submit to the nonfederal entity weekly, for each week in which any contract work is performed, a copy of the payroll and a statement of compliance (certified payrolls) (29 CFR sections 5.5 and 5.6; the A-102 Common Rule (section 36(i)(5)); 0MB Circular A-110 (2 CFR Part 215, Appendix A, Contract Provisions); 2 CFR Part 176, Subpart C; and 2 CFR section 200.326). Condition - For each week in which work was performed under the contract or subcontract, the required certified payroll reports were not formally reviewed. Cause of Condition - The County did not have in place formal procedures to ensure that a suitable County official independently reviewed the certified payrolls that were submitted by the construction contractor and reviewed by the County's contracted engineering firm. Effect of Condition - The County did not ensure that construction workers were paid in accordance with the appropriate prevailing wage rates. Questioned Costs - Undetermined Response of Management - Management concurs with this finding and will develop and implement policies to ensure the required certified payroll reports are formally reviewed.