Federal Davis-Bacon is not the only rule that applies here. Applies to public works contracts of $25,000 or more, well above the federal $2,000 threshold. That runs on top of, not instead of, the federal WH-347 whenever the project also has federal money in it.
Montana at a glance
- The Montana Public Works Contracts Act (Mont. Code Ann. §§ 18-2-401 to 432) sets the state's own prevailing wage requirements.
- Applies to public works contracts of $25,000 or more, well above the federal $2,000 threshold.
- Certified payroll must itemize any cash-paid fringe benefits separately from the base wage, not bundled together.
- At least 50% of each contractor's workforce on the job is required to be bona fide Montana residents.
- Rates are set and enforced by the Department of Labor & Industry's Compliance and Investigations Bureau, separate from federal Davis-Bacon rates.
What this means for your paperwork
Federal money on a Montana job does not excuse the WH-347. It runs alongside whatever Montana itself requires. Certified Payroll only handles the federal side: it checks the rate against the live SAM.gov wage determination and fills out the WH-347 with its Statement of Compliance. It does not file Montana's own state form, so budget for that as a separate step if this project needs it.
Frequently asked
Does Montana have its own prevailing wage law?+
Yes. The Montana Public Works Contracts Act (Mont. Code Ann. §§ 18-2-401 to 432) sets the state's own prevailing wage requirements.
Does Certified Payroll file Montana's state certified payroll form?+
No. Certified Payroll files the federal WH-347 under Davis-Bacon, not Montana's own state form. The moment a Montana project is also federally funded, it checks the rate and fills out the WH-347 automatically. The state form is still a separate filing.
This is a general informational summary, not legal advice, and covers state-level rules only. Verify current requirements with Montana's labor department or a qualified compliance advisor before relying on it.