Physical Facilities

Alterations and renovations are not normally an allowable cost unless specified in the sponsored agreement. This includes changes in:

• electrical
• plumbing
• heating
• venting
• air conditioning systems
• carpet
• changes in walls, windows and doors
• changing the use of space

Requests for alterations and renovation service allowable to the project must:

• first be submitted on a Renovation/Construction Services Request form (formerly an Ohio State Renovation/Construction Estimate Form 6540) to the Office of Facility Planning (OFP)
• upon approval by OFP either the Department Physical Facilities or the Office of Architecture will complete the “cost estimate” portion of the Renovation/Construction Services Request form and return it to the originator
• The PI then prepares a 1303 requisition for the agreed upon services and sends it along with the approved Renovation/Construction Services Request form to Purchasing.
• purchasing will then issue a purchase order to OFP

For additional information regarding alteration and renovation services, visit Facilities Operations and Development.

Building repairs and routine maintenance are not normally allowable costs unless specified in the sponsor agreement. Requests for building repairs or maintenance, if allowable to the project, should be submitted to Purchasing on a 1303 requisition for review and subsequent submission to the Department of Physical Facilities Operations Division. If an estimate is required, indicate this on the requisition.

For addition information regarding maintenance services, visit Facilities Operations and Development.

Davis-Bacon Act

The Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 276a to a-7), states that all construction contracts of more than $2,000 awarded to recipients and subrecipients shall include a provision for compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act and as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR part 5, “Labor Standards Provisions Applicable to Contracts Governing Federally Finances and Assisted Construction”). Under this Act, contractors shall be required to pay wages to laborers and mechanics at a rate not less than the minimum wages specified in a wage determination made by the Secretary of Labor. In addition, contractors shall be required to pay wages not less than once a week. The recipient shall place a copy of the current prevailing wage determination issued by the Department of Labor in each solicitation and the award of a contract shall be conditioned upon the acceptance of the wage determination. The recipient shall report all suspected or reported violations to the federal awarding agency.

Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards

Where applicable, all contracts awarded by recipients in excess of $2,000 for construction contracts and in excess of $2,500 for other contracts that involve the employment of mechanics or laborers shall include a provision for compliance with Section’s 102 and 107 of the Contract work Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. 327-333), as supplemented by Department of Labor regulations (29 CFR part 5). Under Section 102 of the Act, each contractor shall be required to compute the wages of every mechanic and laborer on the basis of a standard work week of 40 hours. Work in excess of the standard work week is permissible provided that the worker is compensated at a rate of not less than 1.5 times the basic rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours in the work week. Section 107 of the Act is applicable to construction work and provides that no laborer or mechanic shall be required to work in surroundings or under working conditions, which are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous. These requirements do not apply to purchases of supplies or materials or articles ordinarily available on the open market, or contracts for transportation or transmission of intelligence.