A Practice Note providing an overview of the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA), which requires federal contractors and subcontractors to pay the prevailing wage rate to all laborers and mechanics working on construction sites for public buildings and public works. This Note explains when the DBA applies to a project, briefly describes related acts that supplement the DBA and apply DBA labor standards to other federal projects, and summarizes requirements for compliance with the DBA and related acts (DBRAs).