About Us

What We Do

The Fair Contracting Foundation (FCF) promotes fair competition in the public construction industry by monitoring compliance with prevailing wage laws.  Compliance and enforcement protects quality contractors and the integrity of public bidding against contractors who are willing to violate the wage laws to gain an unlawful advantage.  Our mission also includes educating and assisting awarding authorities on these legal requirements that help preserve local standards and provide a quality construction workforce.

FCF enhances bidding opportunities for responsible contractors, advocates for the legally required payment of prevailing wages and protects Minnesota taxpayers’ dollars.

Areas of Emphasis

Education

FCF educates public bodies of the increased competition, improved quality of projects and investment in local economics that result from the use of the prevailing wage laws. We share empirical peer-reviewed studies that support the array of benefits of prevailing wages and successfully refute prevailing wage myths.  FCF also educates contractors and construction managers on standard compliance issues and payroll review.

Complaints

Since its inception, FCF has worked with enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Department of Labor and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry to provide credible evidence of violations on public projects. County attorneys, city officials and the Minnesota Department of Transportation are also among the dedicated enforcement bodies who have welcomed FCF’s thorough investigations and complaints.

Monitoring

FCF’s legal investigators monitor thousands of public construction jobs in Minnesota every year. We investigate employee complaints, suspiciously low bids and pattern violators so that the law-abiding contractors can compete on a level playing field. When possible, FCF will attend pre-bid meetings or consult with architects, contract managers or project owners to rectify wage problems.

Follow-Up

FCF complaints are tracked so that when violations are upheld, the competing contractors know that there is follow through and accountability when other contractors cheat. FCF also shares public information of the most egregious cases to let “buyers beware” when spending public tax dollars.

After only five full years in operation, FCF has recovered over $1,000,000 from contractors who were out of compliance. Many contractors have corrected their practices and are now competing fairly with others in the public bidding arena.

Who We Are

FCF is a labor-management organization funded equally by over 1,300 contractors and 15 construction trade unions. With a staff of licensed attorneys and support staff, FCF monitors public construction across the 87 counties in Minnesota to assist in the legal enforcement of applicable laws to ensure quality contractors have the opportunity to compete fairly. We proudly serve the construction industry and Minnesota communities.