FAR 22.6—Subpart 22.6

[Reserved]

Statutory requirements.

FAR 22.602 explains when federal supply contracts must include the labor standards clauses required by 41 U.S.C. chapter 65, commonly associated with the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act. It applies to contracts for the manufacture or furnishing of materials, supplies, articles, and equipment—called “supplies” in this subpart—when the contract is over $20,000 and is entered into by an executive department, independent establishment, other U.S. agency or instrumentality, the District of Columbia, or a corporation wholly owned by the United States. The section also makes clear that these requirements apply only unless an exemption in FAR 22.604 applies. In practice, this means contracting officers must identify covered supply contracts and ensure the required statutory stipulations are included directly or by reference. The required stipulations address minimum wages, maximum hours, child labor, convict labor, and safe and sanitary working conditions, so the section is a gateway provision that triggers important labor compliance obligations for contractors performing covered federal supply work.

Applicability.

FAR 22.603 explains when the labor standards requirements in FAR 22.602 apply. It covers contracts and subcontracts under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act for the manufacture or furnishing of supplies, and it expressly includes indefinite-delivery contracts, basic ordering agreements, and blanket purchase agreements for this purpose. The section limits coverage to work performed in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, and only when the contract or subcontract exceeds, or may exceed, $20,000. It also makes clear that the rule applies only if the action is not exempt under FAR 22.604. In practice, this section is the threshold test for deciding whether the applicable labor standards must be flowed into an 8(a) supply procurement or subcontract, so contracting officers and contractors must check the place of performance, dollar value, contract type, and exemption status before assuming coverage.

Exemptions.

Rulings and interpretations of the statute.

FAR 22.605 explains how the Department of Labor’s rulings and interpretations apply the underlying labor statute to real contracting situations. It covers five specific topics: what happens when a contract at or below $20,000 is later modified above that threshold, what happens when a contract above $20,000 is later reduced to $20,000 or less, how the statute applies when a prime contractor acts as the Government’s agent, how it applies to contractors operating Government-owned facilities, and how to treat indefinite-delivery arrangements such as basic ordering agreements and blanket purchase agreements. The section exists to make clear when the statute’s labor stipulations must be included and when they stop applying, especially as contract value or structure changes over time. In practice, this section is important because coverage can turn on timing, modification, and the estimated aggregate value of orders, not just the original award amount. Contracting officers and contractors must therefore monitor contract changes and ordering patterns closely to avoid missing required labor clauses or applying them when they no longer fit. The reserved paragraph (b) indicates there is no additional regulatory text in that subsection.

[Reserved]

[Reserved]

Procedures.

FAR 22.608 sets out the basic administrative procedures for enforcing the labor standards statute covered by this subpart. It addresses two specific topics: what the contracting officer must do at award by providing the contractor with DOL publication WH-1313, Notice to Employees Working on Government Contracts, and what the contracting officer must do if there is a violation of a required stipulation under the statute by notifying the appropriate Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division regional office and supplying available information. The section ties these actions to Department of Labor regulations and instructions, as well as agency-specific procedures, so the exact mechanics may vary by agency but the core duties do not. In practice, this provision ensures employees receive the required notice and that suspected or actual breaches are promptly elevated to DOL for enforcement. For contractors and contracting officers, it is a reminder that labor standards compliance is not just a contract administration issue; it also triggers coordination with DOL when problems arise.

[Reserved]

Contract clause.

FAR 22.610 is a clause-insertion rule for the labor standards requirements addressed in this subpart. It tells the contracting officer to include the clause at 52.222-20, Contracts for Materials, Supplies, Articles, and Equipment, in any solicitation and resulting contract that is covered by the underlying statute, with coverage determined by the related provisions at FAR 22.603, 22.604, and 22.605. In practical terms, this section does not create the substantive labor standard itself; instead, it ensures the contract contains the required contractual language so the Government can enforce the statute and the contractor is on notice of its obligations. The section matters because omission of a required clause can create compliance, administration, and enforceability problems, especially where the contract involves covered materials, supplies, articles, or equipment. For contracting officers, it is a mandatory checklist item tied to coverage determinations; for contractors, it is a signal that the contract is subject to the statute’s requirements and associated performance expectations.