Article contributed by Mark Adams
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced that its certification portal would open for 2024 certifications starting on March 31st with contractors having until June 29th to complete this certification process.
Established in 2022, the portal (which can be found here) is one of OFCCP’s initiatives to better ensure that federal contractors are meeting their obligations when it comes to developing and maintaining federal affirmative action programs.
The portal allows for employers to set up a company account (using their FEIN number, and EEO-1 number company information) and once established to then certify that they have a plan in place that covers their various establishments that they have.
For employers that completed the exercise last year, they can log back into the portal with their account login information that they established last year and simply complete the certification steps. [However, the portal does have a section that allows for employers to update their company profile on any changes that may have transpired over the past year.]
For new federal contractors (or those who failed to undertake this responsibility last year), both the account set up and certification steps would be required. A full user guide as well as abbreviated step by step power point presentations chronicling the registration process and the certification process are available.
Federal contractors that do not certify may be susceptible to having their affirmative action plan audited by the OFCCP.
Remember if you are a federal contractor in need of an affirmative action plan, EANE can help. For more information, contact Mark Adams at madams@eane.org.