As you should be aware, effective with all projects starting with those let in the May 2, 2008, letting MDOT has implemented revised prevailing wage oversight procedures that define new roles and responsibilities for the engineer (owner representative) and the prime contractor. These roles and responsibilities are defined in the following contract and reference documents:
(03NB10) NOTICE TO BIDDERS – CERTIFIED PAYROLLS
(03NB14) NOTICE TO BIDDERS – LABOR COMPLIANCE
BOHIM 2008-06 – Prevailing Wage Oversight Procedures
Although not a new responsibility in terms of the applicable federal prevailing wage regulations, these revised procedures require that the prime contractor review and submit to the engineer certified payrolls for themselves, each subcontractor, and each lower-tiered subcontractor. This responsibility is a change from the long-standing industry practice where subcontractors and lower-tiered subcontractors often submitted their certified payrolls directly to the engineer.
A new part of the prime contractors responsibility related to the review and submittal of all subcontractor certified payrolls is the requirement that the Contractor Certified Payroll Report (MDOT Form 1955) be completed, signed, and submitted.
A prime contractor’s indication on Form 1955 that the listed certified payrolls have been “accepted” is his/her acknowledgement that a clerical review has been performed to determine whether an information entry is present for each information category specified in the “Instructions for MDOT Form 1955 – Contractor’s Certified Payroll”. The prime contractors indication that the listed certified payrolls have been “accepted” is not a “re-certification” or testament as to the accuracy or validity of the information entries reflected on the certified payrolls submitted.
In an effort to consistently convey the depth and extent of a prime contractors review (as described above) of the certified payrolls “accepted” and submitted with MDOT Form 1955, we have developed the MDOT FORM 1955 TRANSMITTAL COVER SHEET. We recommend all MITA member prime contractors use this cover sheet when submitting Form 1955 and the associated certified payrolls.
If you have any questions or comments contact Glenn Bukoski at glennbukoski@mi-ita.com or Doug Needham at douglasneedham@mi-ita.com or call them at the MITA office at 517-347-8336.
