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I check your subs' certified payrolls

On a Davis-Bacon job, the prime turns in every sub's WH-347 and can be held liable for their mistakes. I read each one against the wage determination before it goes in, and tell you which subs need a fix.

Why a sub's payroll is your problem

The 2023 Davis-Bacon rule took effect October 23, 2023. The contract clause it revised, 29 CFR 5.5, puts three things on the prime:

• You are responsible for the submission of all certified payrolls by all subcontractors.
• You are liable for unpaid wages owed to workers of lower-tier subs, with interest.
• The agency can withhold money from this contract, or from any other covered contract you hold, to pay those wages.

So one sub who misreads the wage determination can hold up your draw on a different job. More on that in what a violation costs.

What I check

Every sub WH-347 you send me gets read by hand against the wage determination on your contract. I check the trade each worker is paid under, the base rate and fringe, the overtime split, apprentice rates, deductions, and the Statement of Compliance on page 2. I also flag any week a sub worked and sent nothing.

What you get each week

One note. A clean sub gets one line. A sub that needs a fix gets the row that is wrong and the number it should read. If you want, I send the fix straight to the sub and copy you, so you are not the one chasing it.

Your subs keep signing their own Statement of Compliance. I never sign anything. I just check the forms.

What it costs

One flat price per job, set by how many subs file and how many weeks are left. Most jobs land between $1,500 and $4,000. You get the number in writing before any work starts.

Who reads them

Me, Nick Kaufman, in Georgetown, Texas. The Texas Department of Agriculture certified me as a TxCDBG administrator for 2025 to 2026, and that test covers Davis-Bacon labor standards on federally funded city projects.

Questions primes ask

Does the prime contractor have to check sub payrolls?

The contract clause at 29 CFR 5.5 makes the prime responsible for submitting every sub's certified payroll and liable for unpaid wages owed to workers of lower-tier subs. It does not say how you check them. It does put the money risk on the prime.

Can the agency hold my payment for a sub's mistake?

Yes. Under 29 CFR 5.5(a)(2) the agency can withhold from this contract, or from any other federal or federally assisted Davis-Bacon contract held by the same prime, to cover wages owed by the prime or any sub.

Can a sub hire you directly instead?

Yes. A sub can use the free first check, the $99 single check, or the $299 weekly plan on the home page.