When does FAR 52.222-6 apply?

Is the contract over $2,000 for construction, alteration, or repair? If yes, the Davis-Bacon clause applies. Even maintenance work that involves alteration or substantial repair (replacement of major systems, structural work) is covered. Is there a wage determination incorporated into the solicitation? Davis-Bacon coverage requires a wage determination for the locality. Confirm it is current as of contract award and modified as required at significant contract amendments. Wage determinations are at sam.gov/wage-determinations. Is the work performed "on the site of the work" as defined in 29 CFR 5.2? Davis-Bacon applies to laborers and mechanics on the construction site itself plus dedicated batch plants, borrow pits, and similar facilities. Work at a permanent off-site shop is generally not covered.

What are the most common contractor pitfalls under FAR 52.222-6?

Misclassification of laborers across wage-determination categories: Paying a journeyman rate to someone performing apprentice work, or vice versa, is a top DOL finding. The work performed determines the classification, not the contractor's job title. Failing to update wage determinations at modifications: When a contract is modified to extend the period of performance or add scope, an updated wage determination may be required. Continuing on the original WD when an update applies is a back-wage exposure. Inaccurate certified payrolls: WH-347 must reflect actual hours and rates paid. Discrepancies between payroll and the certified report are DOL findings and FCA exposure. Apprentice ratios must match the registered program. Site-of-the-work mistakes on prefabrication and modular construction: Modular components built off-site and transported to the project may or may not be Davis-Bacon covered, depending on whether the off-site facility is dedicated to the contract. Get a written DOL coverage determination when there is doubt.

What audit-flag patterns are associated with FAR 52.222-6?

Auditors and contracting officers commonly flag: Certified payrolls signed by someone other than an officer or principal of the firm; Apprentice hours exceeding the registered program's journeyman:apprentice ratio; Fringe benefit cash payments below the wage-determination fringe rate without bona fide plan offset; Worker classifications absent from the wage determination (conformance request not submitted); Payroll covering site work but with no Davis-Bacon flag in the contractor's timekeeping system.

FAR

FAR 52.222-6 — Construction Wage Rate Requirements

The Davis-Bacon Act flowdown for federal and federally-assisted construction contracts over $2,000. Requires payment of locally-prevailing wages and fringe benefits to laborers and mechanics, with weekly certified payrolls submitted to the contracting officer.

Citation: 48 C.F.R. § 52.222-6 · Live text on acquisition.gov · eCFR

What this clause does

FAR 52.222-6 implements the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. § 3141 et seq.) and the Davis-Bacon Related Acts on covered construction. Every contract over $2,000 for construction, alteration, or repair (including painting and decorating) of public buildings or public works carries the clause. The wage determination, issued by the Department of Labor and incorporated into the solicitation, sets minimum hourly wage and fringe benefit rates for each labor classification on the project.

The contractor must pay all laborers and mechanics employed directly upon the site at least the wage determination rates for the classifications they perform. Weekly certified payrolls (Form WH-347 or equivalent) document compliance and flow to the contracting officer. Apprentices and trainees may be paid below journeyman rates only if registered in a DOL-approved program. Site of the work is defined narrowly: the construction site itself plus closely-adjacent dedicated facilities.

DOL Wage and Hour Division enforces. Underpayment triggers back-wage liability, debarment exposure under 40 U.S.C. § 3144, and False Claims Act risk if certified payrolls misstate hours or rates.

Does this clause apply to my contract?

Three tests resolve applicability. Read each in order; the first "no" usually means the clause does not flow.

1.Is the contract over $2,000 for construction, alteration, or repair?
If yes, the Davis-Bacon clause applies. Even maintenance work that involves alteration or substantial repair (replacement of major systems, structural work) is covered.
2.Is there a wage determination incorporated into the solicitation?
Davis-Bacon coverage requires a wage determination for the locality. Confirm it is current as of contract award and modified as required at significant contract amendments. Wage determinations are at sam.gov/wage-determinations.
3.Is the work performed "on the site of the work" as defined in 29 CFR 5.2?
Davis-Bacon applies to laborers and mechanics on the construction site itself plus dedicated batch plants, borrow pits, and similar facilities. Work at a permanent off-site shop is generally not covered.

Common contractor pitfalls

Patterns that produce questioned costs, back-wage liability, or False Claims Act exposure under this clause.

Misclassification of laborers across wage-determination categories
Paying a journeyman rate to someone performing apprentice work, or vice versa, is a top DOL finding. The work performed determines the classification, not the contractor's job title.
Failing to update wage determinations at modifications
When a contract is modified to extend the period of performance or add scope, an updated wage determination may be required. Continuing on the original WD when an update applies is a back-wage exposure.
Inaccurate certified payrolls
WH-347 must reflect actual hours and rates paid. Discrepancies between payroll and the certified report are DOL findings and FCA exposure. Apprentice ratios must match the registered program.
Site-of-the-work mistakes on prefabrication and modular construction
Modular components built off-site and transported to the project may or may not be Davis-Bacon covered, depending on whether the off-site facility is dedicated to the contract. Get a written DOL coverage determination when there is doubt.

Audit-flag patterns

Specific signals that contracting officers, DCAA, and agency IGs use to surface noncompliance.

Certified payrolls signed by someone other than an officer or principal of the firm
Apprentice hours exceeding the registered program's journeyman:apprentice ratio
Fringe benefit cash payments below the wage-determination fringe rate without bona fide plan offset
Worker classifications absent from the wage determination (conformance request not submitted)
Payroll covering site work but with no Davis-Bacon flag in the contractor's timekeeping system

How FieldLedger helps

FieldLedger's signed timekeeping captures classification, fringe-vs-cash split, and site-of-work indicators per timecard. The Davis-Bacon add-on produces WH-347 weekly certified payroll reports directly from time entries, with classification mapped to the contract's wage determination.

DCAA compliance →Indirect Rate Engine →DCAA readiness check →

Related clauses

Clauses that flow alongside or interact with FAR 52.222-6.

Frequently asked

What does FAR 52.222-6 require?: The Davis-Bacon Act flowdown for federal and federally-assisted construction contracts over $2,000. Requires payment of locally-prevailing wages and fringe benefits to laborers and mechanics, with weekly certified payrolls submitted to the contracting officer.
When does FAR 52.222-6 apply?: Is the contract over $2,000 for construction, alteration, or repair? If yes, the Davis-Bacon clause applies. Even maintenance work that involves alteration or substantial repair (replacement of major systems, structural work) is covered. Is there a wage determination incorporated into the solicitation? Davis-Bacon coverage requires a wage determination for the locality. Confirm it is current as of contract award and modified as required at significant contract amendments. Wage determinations are at sam.gov/wage-determinations. Is the work performed "on the site of the work" as defined in 29 CFR 5.2? Davis-Bacon applies to laborers and mechanics on the construction site itself plus dedicated batch plants, borrow pits, and similar facilities. Work at a permanent off-site shop is generally not covered.
What are the most common contractor pitfalls under FAR 52.222-6?: Misclassification of laborers across wage-determination categories: Paying a journeyman rate to someone performing apprentice work, or vice versa, is a top DOL finding. The work performed determines the classification, not the contractor's job title. Failing to update wage determinations at modifications: When a contract is modified to extend the period of performance or add scope, an updated wage determination may be required. Continuing on the original WD when an update applies is a back-wage exposure. Inaccurate certified payrolls: WH-347 must reflect actual hours and rates paid. Discrepancies between payroll and the certified report are DOL findings and FCA exposure. Apprentice ratios must match the registered program. Site-of-the-work mistakes on prefabrication and modular construction: Modular components built off-site and transported to the project may or may not be Davis-Bacon covered, depending on whether the off-site facility is dedicated to the contract. Get a written DOL coverage determination when there is doubt.
What audit-flag patterns are associated with FAR 52.222-6?: Auditors and contracting officers commonly flag: Certified payrolls signed by someone other than an officer or principal of the firm; Apprentice hours exceeding the registered program's journeyman:apprentice ratio; Fringe benefit cash payments below the wage-determination fringe rate without bona fide plan offset; Worker classifications absent from the wage determination (conformance request not submitted); Payroll covering site work but with no Davis-Bacon flag in the contractor's timekeeping system.
How does FieldLedger help with FAR 52.222-6?: FieldLedger's signed timekeeping captures classification, fringe-vs-cash split, and site-of-work indicators per timecard. The Davis-Bacon add-on produces WH-347 weekly certified payroll reports directly from time entries, with classification mapped to the contract's wage determination.

Sources

FAR clause text — acquisition.gov/far/52.222-6
Live regulatory text — eCFR (Title 48)
DCAA Contract Audit Manual — dcaa.mil/Guidance/CAM
Plain-English methodology — FieldLedger methodology

Snapshot date: 2026-05-08. Clause text is binding only as of the version incorporated into your specific contract — check acquisition.gov for the live regulatory text.