Complaint procedures
Contracting offices must promptly forward complaints about veteran employment obligations to the appropriate authority for investigation, ensuring compliance with federal requirements.
Overview
FAR 22.1308 outlines the procedures for handling complaints related to the administration of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) within federal contracts. When a complaint is received regarding a contractor's compliance with veteran employment obligations, the contracting office must follow agency procedures to forward the complaint to the appropriate authority. Complaints can be sent to the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) of the Department of Labor, the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), or any OFCCP regional, district, or area office. Alternatively, complaints may be submitted through the local Veterans’ Employment Representative at the state employment office. The OFCCP Director is responsible for investigating these complaints.
Key Rules
- Complaint Forwarding
- Contracting offices must promptly forward any complaints received about VEVRAA administration to the designated authorities following agency procedures.
- Investigation Responsibility
- The OFCCP Director is tasked with investigating all forwarded complaints.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must ensure complaints are forwarded to the correct authority per agency procedures.
- Contractors: Should be aware that complaints about their compliance may be investigated by OFCCP.
- Agencies: Must have procedures in place for handling and forwarding complaints.
Practical Implications
- This section ensures that complaints about veteran employment obligations are properly routed and investigated, promoting accountability.
- Contracting professionals must be familiar with agency-specific procedures for complaint handling.
- Failure to forward complaints appropriately can result in compliance issues or delays in investigations.