On March 21, 2014, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced that it is launching two new databases to assist federal contractors and subcontractors. The new databases are intended to help contractors and subcontractors meet the OFCCP’s new veteran regulations implementing the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and the updated regulations under section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. These new regulatory requirements become effective on March 24, 2014.

OFCCP released the “Disability and Veterans Community Resources Directory” to offer assistance to the contracting community in locating resources for recruiting veterans and individuals with disabilities. The database is a “non-exhaustive directory of groups and organizations that are available” to assist covered contractors with “training, recruiting, and hiring veterans and individuals with disabilities.”

The “VEVRAA Benchmark Database” will assist covered contractors in complying with the new VEVRAA hiring benchmark requirements. The new regulations allow covered contractors to do so by adopting the national benchmark provided by OFCCP or by establishing their own hiring benchmark. OFCCP touts the VEVRAA Benchmark Database as a resource that provides information regarding the establishment of hiring benchmarks and “easy access to the national and State data that may be needed to establish these benchmarks.”

Contractors should utilize these resources to meet the obligations imposed by the new regulations.

Ogletree Deakins’ Affirmative Action and OFCCP Compliance Practice Group has prepared an Implementation Checklist and Guide to assist its clients in complying with the obligations imposed by OFCCP’s new veteran and disability regulations that became effective today, March 24, 2014. The Implementation Checklist is a quick tool to use to identify key requirements of the regulations.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of the Implementation Guide, which provides a thorough examination of the regulatory requirements with practical insights and pointers, sample forms, and links to different resources, please email us at OFCCPInfo@ogletreedeakins.com.