Why does the DBA apply to the DOE Weatherization Assistance Program?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provided approximately $5 billion in funding for DOE’s weatherization program. Section 1606 of ARRA specifies that laborers and mechanics employed by contractors and subcontractors on construction projects funded directly by or assisted in whole or in part under ARRA, which includes the DOE-funded weatherization program, must be paid at least the wages rates prevailing in the locality in accordance with the DBA. State and local units of government are not considered contractors under the DBA when the construction is performed by their own employees. Community Action Agencies (CAAs) and other local non-profit groups are covered by DBA when their employees are used to perform the weatherization work. In addition, contractors and subcontractors of State and local units of government and CAAs are also DBA-covered.
