DC applies federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates to public construction contracts exceeding $2,000. Additionally, DC has its own living wage requirements for service contracts. The DC government requires contractors to comply with both federal and local wage standards.
District of Columbia has an active prevailing wage law (DC Wage-Hour Laws and Davis-Bacon Related Acts). Administered by DC Department of Employment Services (DOES), Office of Wage-Hour Compliance. Certified payroll is required. Federal Davis-Bacon applies to all federal projects.
The District of Columbia layers two wage regimes onto public work, so bidders must price both. Under DC's Wage-Hour Laws and Davis-Bacon Related Acts, administered by the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES), Office of Wage-Hour Compliance, federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates apply to public construction contracts exceeding $2,000. That low threshold means nearly every meaningful public construction contract in the District is covered, so labor pricing should default to the applicable Davis-Bacon determination rather than market rates.
Beyond construction prevailing wages, DC maintains its own living wage requirement that applies to service contracts of $100,000 or more. Contractors bidding bundled or service-heavy scopes must determine which standard governs each portion of the work and may have to comply with both federal Davis-Bacon construction rates and DC's local wage standards on the same award. Map your scope to the correct standard before pricing; assuming a single rate set across mixed work is a common estimating mistake in the District.
Certified payroll submission is required on public works projects, documenting classifications, hours, base rates, and fringes for each worker. Because DC requires compliance with both federal and local wage laws, your payroll and recordkeeping system must satisfy both reviewers. Non-compliance can result in contract termination, debarment from future contracts, back wage payments, and civil penalties administered by the Office of Wage-Hour Compliance. Build dual-standard compliance, accurate worker classification, and payroll administration into your bid so the cost of meeting both regimes is captured up front rather than absorbed after award.
The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to all federally funded or federally assisted construction contracts over $2,000 in District of Columbia. This includes projects funded by federal agencies, FHWA highway projects, HUD housing, and projects receiving federal grants.
Non-compliance may result in contract termination, debarment from future contracts, back wage payments, and civil penalties administered by the DC Office of Wage-Hour Compliance.