THIRD-PARTY LABOR COMPLIANCE MONITORINGLarge federal construction now comes with a union agreement attached.
Direct federal construction projects valued at $35 million or more require a project labor agreement before award, with limited exceptions. Non-union contractors can still bid, but they have to work under its terms for the life of the project.
We help contractors understand what a PLA actually requires on their project and monitor compliance with its terms alongside their other labor obligations.
30+ years
MONITORING PUBLIC WORKS50 states
COVERAGEFederal & State
DUAL JURISDICTIONWhich projects this applies to
Executive Order 14063 requires a PLA on direct federal construction contracts of $35 million or more, where a federal agency like GSA, DoD, or the VA is the contracting party. The requirement applies to the total cost to the government, so a large project isn't exempt just because it's split across multiple contracts or phases. Agencies can also require a PLA on smaller projects at their discretion.
A PLA is a pre-hire agreement. It's negotiated and signed before any workers are hired, and it sets the terms of employment for the entire project.What a PLA changes for you
Union Contractors
A PLA layers on top of your existing collective bargaining agreement for the duration of the project. You don't sign a new union contract, but you do operate under the PLA's specific project terms.
Non-Union Contractors
You can still bid and win the work, but you have to follow the PLA's terms and the relevant local union's agreement for that project only. It doesn't extend to any of your other non-covered work.
What happens if you miss it
A PLA typically sets wages and benefits that still have to meet or exceed Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates, along with dispute resolution procedures and no-strike, no-lockout clauses. Falling short on any of these terms is a contract compliance issue, not just a labor relations one.
Because a PLA sits on top of Davis-Bacon and other federal labor requirements rather than replacing them, projects under a PLA usually have more moving pieces to track, not fewer. Missing one obligation while focused on another is the most common way contractors get into trouble here.
We monitor it so you don’t have to guess
We review your PLA's specific terms alongside your certified payroll and prevailing wage obligations, so nothing falls through the gap between the union agreement and your federal compliance requirements.