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Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship (PWA) Compliance Services   

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law on August 16, 2022 includes several enhanced clean energy tax incentives available to taxpayers who meet certain prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.  

To meet the prevailing wage requirements of the IRA, taxpayers must ensure that all laborers and mechanics who perform construction, alteration, or repair with respect to a qualified facility are paid wages at rates that are not less than the applicable Davis-Bacon prevailing rates, as determined by the Department of Labor.  


To meet the apprenticeship requirements of the IRA, taxpayers must ensure that both the participation requirement and the labor-hours requirement are met. Under the participation requirement, any taxpayer, contractor, or subcontractor that employs 4 or more individuals at any time during the course of the construction, alteration, or repair of the facility must hire at least one qualified apprentice. Under the labor hours requirement, the taxpayer must ensure that a minimum percentage of the total labor hours performed on the construction, alteration, or repair of a facility are performed by qualified apprentices from a registered apprenticeship program. The taxpayer must also ensure that the applicable ratio of apprentices to journeyworkers established by the registered apprenticeship program(s) is met for apprentices working on the facility each day.  

The U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service issued the final rule for satisfying the IRA’s prevailing wage and apprenticeship (PWA) requirements on June 25, 2024. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed on July 4, 2025, accelerated the phase-outs for 48E projects while continuing tax incentives for other energy projects and retaining the PWA requirements. 

Do you have a PWA Compliance Strategy?

Navigating PWA regulations covered by three federal agencies is a daily exercise. Project owners must ensure each laborer and mechanic is properly classified, paid no less than prevailing wage and fringe rates, and notified of their rights. To meet apprenticeship requirements owners must ensure daily compliance of applicable ratios and ensure qualified apprentices perform at least 15% of the entire project’s labor hours. Additionally, each contractor and subcontractor employing four or more workers on a project must employ at least one qualified apprentice.   

Launch Your Compliance Strategy with the Nation’s Largest Energy Sector Apprenticeship Intermediary   

Adaptive Construction Solutions, Inc. (ACS) is a trusted leader in prevailing wage compliance and registered apprenticeship programs for the construction and energy sectors. Our team of over 100 labor compliance and workforce development professionals collaborate with project owners, contractors, and subcontractors to deliver tailored strategies and integrated software solutions that ensure prevailing wage compliance and delivery of apprenticeship requirements. 

ACS currently supports prevailing wage and apprenticeship services on over 80 projects nationwide, representing 18 GWdc of energy facilities subject to the IRA requirements for tax incentives. These projects involve over 30 million labor hours performed by laborers and mechanics, with more than 5,000 qualified apprentices employed to meet apprenticeship requirements and prevailing wage standards, supporting project success and regulatory compliance.   

PREVAILING WAGE SERVICES


WAGE DETERMINATIONS & CONFORMANCE REQUESTS 
 • Analyze and advise on applicable wage determinations 
• Assist with identifying correct labor classifications 
• Develop and submit needed conformance requests 
• Prepare labor classification exhibits for project 

IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPLIANCE SOFTWARE 
 • Administer and manage utilization of compliance software 
• Collect evidence to substantiate prevailing wage compliance 
• Report past due submissions of payroll and other records 
• Train and assist each contractor and subcontractor 

MONITOR PREVAILING WAGE & FRINGE PAYMENTS 
 • Inspect certified payrolls and related compliance records 
• Review for payroll related administrative discrepancies 
• Assist with accurate and timely correction payments 
• Perform detailed monthly and quarterly payroll reviews 

SITE VISITS & WORKER CLASSIFICATION REVIEWS 
 • Evaluate timekeeping and payroll reporting practices 
• Observe if tasks performed on site are correctly classified 
• Interview workers to verify classifications, wages, and hours 
• Monitor prevailing wage and fringe rates are correctly posted 

REGULATORY GUIDANCE & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
 • Communicate best practices to satisfy requirements 
• Review applicability of prevailing wage requirements 
• Provide guidance related to prevailing wage regulations 
• Deliver compliance training to project staff and subcontractors 

PROJECT COMPLIANCE CLOSE OUT & RECORDKEEPING 
 • Confirm receipt of payroll files and reconcile reported hours 
• Verify corrections and resolution of any compliance issues 
• Prepare summary reports for each contractor and subcontractor 
• Assist with archiving of records to meet retention requirements  

APPRENTICESHIP SERVICES


SPONSOR OF REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS 
 • Grant signatory employer status and communicate responsibilities 
• Respond to “valid” requests for apprentices within 5 business days 
• Investigate complaints and monitor program-specific compliance 
• Manage and respond to registration agency requests and reviews 

ENROLLMENT OF APPRENTICES & QUALIFYING OF JOURNEYWORKERS 
 • Evaluate and enroll new apprentices into registration agency database 
• Process Davis Bacon Certifications for prevailing wage projects 
• Provide documents related to prescribed ratios and wage schedules 
• Designate journeyworkers based on labor regulatory requirements 

ADMINISTRATION OF REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP 
 • Track on-the-job learning, skills gained, and delivery of related instruction 
• Record evidence for any award of advanced standing or credit 
• Conduct periodic reviews of each apprentice’s continued progress 
• Process cancellations, suspensions, transfers, and completions 

DELIVERY OF FLEXIBLE RELATED INSTRUCTION 
 • Utilize curriculum that aligns with worksite needs and industry standards 
• Deliver training through combination of in-person and virtual instruction 
• Manage apprentice training records and awarding of credentials 
• Mentor apprentices by providing regular feedback and support 

COMPLIANCE WITH APPRENTICESHIP REQUIREMENTS 
 • Review requests for apprentices and evaluate Good Faith Effort 
• Verify if apprentices meet “qualified” apprentice requirements Identify apprentices either misclassified or working in excess of ratio 
• Track labor hours that contribute towards apprenticeship requirements 

RECORDKEEPING FOR APPRENTICESHIP REQUIREMENTS 
 • Collect apprenticeship standards, agreements, and program records 
• Produce reports as evidence of daily compliance with applicable ratios 
• Track and report on labor hours worked by qualified apprentices 
• Produce detailed labor hours reports as evidence of compliance  

Awards and Recognitions

Awards and Recognitions

Our team is driven by a shared mission. We believe our impact is represented through the numerous awards from our partners and government agencies.

2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion

For employing, training and retaining veterans (5x winner)

– U.S. Department of Labor

2021 – 2022
We Hire Ability

For hiring people with disabilities and creating an inclusive workforce

– Texas Workforce Commission

2021
Workforce Employer of the Year

For partnering with the workforce system to create impact in their community

– National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP)

Stay Informed

Latest News, Stories, and Studies

ACS and Global Apprenticeship Network

Adaptive Construction Solutions Joins GAN Global Board of Directors

Adaptive Construction Solutions is honored to announce its acceptance to the Board of Directors and Governance Council of the GAN Global Apprenticeship Network. Our mission to increase the quality of life of apprentices through the dignity of work is core to developing quality apprenticeship frameworks. We are proud to further our mission in partnership with GAN Global!

National News Segment

Battlefields to solar fields: How veterans are finding careers in renewable energy

SPECTRUM NEWS – Quinn Young, a 23-year-old Army veteran, stepped out to a podium planted amid the scrub grass. It was early fall in northeast Texas, and he and hundreds of others had just about completed a solar farm the size of 1,500 football fields. Now, the company and local leaders were toasting him and others on the

Grant Award Notice

U.S. DOL Awards $1.5M Grant to Adaptive Construction Solutions, Inc.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced funding of $1,561,667 for a National Dislocated Worker Grant for Adaptive Construction Solutions Inc. to support employment and training services to eligible transitioning military service members in Texas communities harmed significantly by the pandemic.

Veterans in Apprenticeship

McCarthy and Adaptive Construction Solutions partner to train veterans

As a tight labor market continues to make it difficult to meet the increasing construction labor demand, McCarthy Building Companies partnered with Adaptive Construction Solutions to hire and train veterans for solar and renewable energy projects. McCarthy piloted an Adaptive Construction Solutions program

Case Study

Gulf Coast Workforce Development Board and Adaptive Construction Solutions

The Board works closely with an array of employers, including for example, Adaptive Construction Solutions, a RAP sponsor with main offices in Houston, Texas. The ACS program is a group, non-joint RAP, which means ACS is a non-union program that has agreements with multiple employers to hire individuals as apprentices.