Don’t Miss the Deadline: Federal Contractors Must Certify AAP Compliance by June 29, 2023

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is opening the Contractor Portal on March 31, 2023. You must certify compliance no later than June 29, 2023. Don’t miss the deadline—certification is crucial to avoid potential complications, including increased risk of audit down the road.

Why Certification Matters

As a covered federal contractor or subcontractor, it’s your responsibility to ensure each establishment and/or functional/business unit complies with AAP requirements. By certifying your compliance through the Contractor Portal between March 31 and June 29, 2023, you are affirming your company is compliant with federal affirmative action regulations.

Quick Tip for April 1 Through June 29 AAP Contractors

Assuming the certification language from OFCCP is the same as last year, contractors with an April 1 AAP should certify on the day the portal opens, March 31^st, 2023. This would allow you to certify your current completed AAP (2022-2023 Year Plan) and avoid worrying about completing your April 1, 2023 (2023-2024 Year Plan) by June 29, 2023. The same process should be followed for May and June 1 AAPs, certifying compliance prior to the expiration of your affirmative action plan. Please note, OFCCP’s update could change its guidance/requirement on which AAP is certified, see the Certification Feature Update section directly below. We hope OFCCP will clarify during their March 29^th, 2023, webinar. While Kairos attempted to confirm with the OFCCP help desk, they were unhelpful as the news of this announcement was news to them.

Certification Feature Update

The certification feature on the Contractor Portal has been enhanced. Contractors must now report their “AAP Coverage Period” when certifying, meaning you need to specify your plan cycle, such as January 1, April 1, etc.

Keep in mind that contractors who neglect to certify by the June 29 deadline face a higher likelihood of appearing on the OFCCP’s audit scheduling list, which could lead to unwelcome scrutiny.

New Contractors: Your Timeline is Different

If you’re a new contractor (meaning, you just became a federal contractor based on new contracts), don’t worry—your timeline for certification is slightly different. You have 120 days to develop your AAP and must register and certify compliance within 90 days of creating your AAP. The Contractor Portal will remain open after the June 29, 2023, deadline to accommodate your needs.

Navigating the Certification Process

To guide you through the certification process, the OFCCP will post a pre-recorded webinar on the Contractor Portal landing page by March 29, 2023. This valuable resource will demonstrate how you can enter your establishment and/or functional/business unit’s AAP start date and certify compliance through the Contractor Portal.

Important Links from OFCCP:

Instructions for registering and certifying for the Contractor Portal

• How-to Videos
• User Guide

Additional resources and materials can be found at the following links

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Contractor Portal landing page
• Contractor Portal Webinar OFCCP presented on March 31, 2022.

Please contact OFCCP with any questions and/or comments about the Contractor Portal at OFCCPAppsSupport@dol.gov or call the OFCCP Help Desk at 1-800-397-6251.