Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
Encyclopedia
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is part of the U.S. Department of Labor. OFCCP is responsible for ensuring that employers doing business with the Federal government comply with the laws and regulations requiring nondiscrimination. This mission is based on the underlying principle that employment opportunities generated by Federal dollars should be available to all Americans on an equitable and fair basis.
, as amended; Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act
of 1974, as amended, 38 U.S.C. 4212. These authorities prohibit Federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and protected veteran status. They also require Federal contractors and subcontractors to take affirmative action to ensure equal employment opportunity in their employment processes. Its regulations can be found at CFR Title 41 Chapter 60: Public Contracts and Property Management
.
OFCCP, as it is today, was created in 1978 with Executive Order 12086
by President Jimmy Carter
through a consolidation of all the Affirmative Action enforcement responsibilities at each federal agency with Executive Order 11246 to the United States Secretary of Labor
.
The origins of the agency trace back to President Franklin D. Roosevelt
and World War II
when he signed Executive Order 8802
, preventing discrimination based on race by government contractors.
In 1953 President Dwight D. Eisenhower
created the President’s Committee on Government Contracts with Executive Order 10479
. The order was a follow-up to Executive Order 10308
signed by President Harry S. Truman
in 1951 establishing the anti-discrimination Committee on Government Contract Compliance.
In 1961 President Kennedy issued Executive Order 10925
which created the President’s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. This called for people to take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are hired and employees are treated during employment without regards to race, creed, color or national origin.
On September 24, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson
signed EO 11246 transferring responsibility for supervising and coordinating the Federal Contract Compliance from the President’s Committee to the Secretary of Labor who established the Office of Federal Contract Compliance (OFCC).
Executive Order 11375
by President Richard Nixon
in 1968 added sex discrimination to OFCCP’s mandate. In 1975 the name was changed from OFCC to OFCCP by President Gerald Ford
. This reflected the addition of the responsibility to enforce laws prohibiting discrimination against the disabled and veterans.
The agency has recently helped develop new applicant and record keeping regulations covering internet applicants.
In the national office there are four divisions: Management & Administrative, Policy, Planning & Program Development, Program Operations, and Statistical Analysis and Information Technology.
Statutes and Executive Orders
OFCCP administers and enforces three legal authorities that require equal employment opportunity: Executive Order 11246Executive Order 11246
Executive Order 11246, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 24, 1965 required Equal Employment Opportunity. The Order "prohibits federal contractors and federally assisted construction contractors and subcontractors, who do over $10,000 in Government business in one year from...
, as amended; Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act
Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act
The Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 is an Act of Congress in reference to Vietnam era veterans, disabled veterans, and any veterans who served active duty time during a war event that qualifies for a campaign badge.-Overview:The law requires that employers with Federal...
of 1974, as amended, 38 U.S.C. 4212. These authorities prohibit Federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and protected veteran status. They also require Federal contractors and subcontractors to take affirmative action to ensure equal employment opportunity in their employment processes. Its regulations can be found at CFR Title 41 Chapter 60: Public Contracts and Property Management
Title 41 of the Code of Federal Regulations
Title 41 is the portion of the Code of Federal Regulations that governs public contracts.-CHAPTER:*50 PUBLIC CONTRACTS, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR*51 COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED...
.
Agency history
Executive Order 12086
Executive Order 12086, signed by President Jimmy Carter on October 5, 1978, in order to provide for the transfer to the Department of Labor of certain contract compliance functions relating to equal employment opportunity.-External links:...
by President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
through a consolidation of all the Affirmative Action enforcement responsibilities at each federal agency with Executive Order 11246 to the United States Secretary of Labor
United States Secretary of Labor
The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the Department of Labor who exercises control over the department and enforces and suggests laws involving unions, the workplace, and all other issues involving any form of business-person controversies....
.
The origins of the agency trace back to President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when he signed Executive Order 8802
Executive Order 8802
Executive Order 8802 was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 25, 1941, to prohibit racial discrimination in the national defense industry...
, preventing discrimination based on race by government contractors.
In 1953 President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
created the President’s Committee on Government Contracts with Executive Order 10479
Executive Order 10479
Executive Order 10479 was a presidential order signed by President Dwight Eisenhower on August 13, 1953 that created the Government Contract Committee. The committee was established to help insure compliance with, and successful execution of, the equal employment opportunity program of the United...
. The order was a follow-up to Executive Order 10308
Executive Order 10308
Executive Order 10308 , signed by President Harry S. Truman on December 3, 1951 revoked Executive Order 10479. It was titled Improving the Means for Obtaining Compliance With the Nondiscrimination Provisions of Federal Contracts.-External links:...
signed by President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
in 1951 establishing the anti-discrimination Committee on Government Contract Compliance.
In 1961 President Kennedy issued Executive Order 10925
Executive Order 10925
Executive Order 10925 was signed by President John F. Kennedy on March 6, 1961, requiring government contractors to "take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin." It...
which created the President’s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. This called for people to take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are hired and employees are treated during employment without regards to race, creed, color or national origin.
On September 24, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
signed EO 11246 transferring responsibility for supervising and coordinating the Federal Contract Compliance from the President’s Committee to the Secretary of Labor who established the Office of Federal Contract Compliance (OFCC).
Executive Order 11375
Executive Order 11375
Executive Order 11375, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 13, 1967 amended Executive Order 11246.In this executive order, President Johnson justifies his measure, by claiming the following in the preamble of the order:...
by President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
in 1968 added sex discrimination to OFCCP’s mandate. In 1975 the name was changed from OFCC to OFCCP by President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
. This reflected the addition of the responsibility to enforce laws prohibiting discrimination against the disabled and veterans.
The agency has recently helped develop new applicant and record keeping regulations covering internet applicants.
Organization
There are six Regional Offices: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific, Southeast, and Southwest and Rocky Mountain (SWaRM).In the national office there are four divisions: Management & Administrative, Policy, Planning & Program Development, Program Operations, and Statistical Analysis and Information Technology.
Constituency groups
- National Industrial Liaison Groups
- Affirmative Action Association of America
- National Urban LeagueNational Urban LeagueThe National Urban League , formerly known as the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, is a nonpartisan civil rights organization based in New York City that advocates on behalf of African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States. It is the oldest and largest...
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored PeopleNational Association for the Advancement of Colored PeopleThe National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
- League of United Latin American CitizensLeague of United Latin American CitizensThe League of United Latin American Citizens was created to combat the discrimination that Hispanics face in the United States. Established February 17, 1929 in Corpus Christi, Texas, LULAC was a consolidation of smaller, like-minded civil rights groups already in existence...
- Center for Corporate Equality
See also
- List of OFCCP Deputy Assistant Secretaries
- Equal Opportunity EmploymentEqual Opportunity EmploymentTitle VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was the first federal law designed to protect most U.S. employees from employment discrimination based upon that employee's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin . The Title also established the U.S...