Listed below is additional information on the program areas that the Contract Compliance Office oversees. More information on the state and federal programs can be located on other agency websites. Links have been included where possible.
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Pierce County shares the responsibility for administration of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program with the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
The FHWA provides Pierce County with funding for road, bridge, and municipal construction. As a recipient of this federal-aid, Pierce County must take steps to ensure that Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) have full access to contracting opportunities. In addition, this funding is provided on the basis of maximum opportunity for DBEs and the nondiscrimination policy set forth below.
It is the policy of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) that Disadvantaged Business Enterprises as defined in 49 CFR 26 and parts of 49 CFR 23 have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of federal-aid contracts. In support of that policy, Pierce County assures that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, or sex as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Civil Rights Restoration Act 1987 (P.L. 100.259) be excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of county programs and activities.
The Contract Compliance Office is available to help contractors find qualified DBE firms that may be utilized on federal-aid contracts. Only DBE firms that are currently certified through the Washington State Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE) may be used by prospective bidders to meet DBE Goals on Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), or Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funded projects.
The OMWBE certifies small business firms independently owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged persons. Directories are available at the Contract Compliance Office or from OMWBE in Olympia.
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Pierce County encourages all parties seeking to do business with the county to maintain fair and equitable employment practices (EEO). Suggestions for reasonable steps toward fair practices include, but are not limited to:
- making employment opportunities available to all employees
- posting in-house notices on company bulletin boards
- posting in-house notices in newsletters and emails
- placing advertisements in the news media
- contacting community-based organizations
- using recruitment sources and employment agencies
In addition, the contracting community is encouraged to seek and employ local residents, including minorities and women in their firms.
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Pierce County Title VI Notice to the Public:
Pierce County hereby gives public notice that it is the County's policy to assure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 , the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities.
Pierce County's Title VI Plan (PDF 230 KB) was updated in 2004 and approved by the Washington State Department of Transportation in September of 2005.
Title VI requires that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity.
Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI has a right to file a formal complaint with Pierce County. Any such complaint must be in writing and filed with the Pierce County Title VI Coordinator within one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the alleged discriminatory occurrence. Title VI Discrimination Complaint Forms may be obtained from the Contract Compliance Office at no cost to the complainant by calling (253) 798-3171 or contact us for more information pccontcomp@co.pierce.wa.us.
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The 1945 Washington State Public Works Act, also known as the prevailing wage law, protects the employees of contractors from substandard earnings, and preserves local wage standards. This law requires workers be paid prevailing wages when employed on public works projects and public building service contracts.
The Contract Compliance Office works to ensure that correct prevailing wage rates are paid to workers employed on public works projects as required by RCW 39.12. Public works projects in this state are subject to prevailing wage rates determined by the Department of Labor & Industries. Additionally, federally-funded public works projects are subject to Federal Wage Rates established by the U.S. Department of Labor under the Davis-Bacon Act. Projects funded with both local and federal funds are required to pay the higher of the two wage rates.
If you have any questions regarding the type of funding or wage rates required on any Pierce County Public Works project, please contact the Contract Compliance Office at (253) 798-7250 or email us at pccontcomp@co.pierce.wa.us.
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