CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE DISTRICT’S SWEAT-FREE PROCUREMENT POLICY a. DISTRICT POLICY It is the policy of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) that all products and/or services purchased by the District be manufactured and supplied in compliance with applicable labor and wage laws governing the countries of its origin. For the purposes of establishing a non-poverty wage, the LAUSD uses the definition of non- poverty wages as formulated by the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE), utilizing the Department of Health and Human Services’ guidelines to determine non-poverty wages domestically. Internationally, the LAUSD recognizes the World Bank’s Gross National Income Per Capita Purchasing Power Parity figures to determine comparable wages in other countries. Purchases by the LAUSD will be restricted to only those products and/or services that have been manufactured without the illegal use of “sweatshop” (including exploitive “child,” “forced,” “convict,” and “indentured”) labor. Prior to any award, the LAUSD will require its bidders/contractors to certify adherence to the provisions of the District’s Sweat-Free Procurement Policy. This Sweat-Free Procurement Policy includes the following principles/requirements: ▪ Safe and healthy working conditions ▪ Prohibition of child labor ▪ Disclosure of manufacturing plant locations ▪ Verification and enforcement mechanisms ▪ Compliance with applicable codes ▪ Penalties for violations ▪ Responsible bidder forms ▪ Non-poverty wage standard (domestic and international) Contractors will denote compliance to these provisions by signing a Sweat-Free Procurement Policy certification, which will extend to their subcontractors. The consequence of any violation by the contractor to the aforementioned laws and provisions may result in action being taken by the District against the contractor. Through Memorandums of Understanding (MOU), information will be exchanged with various government-based investigative agencies. The District will adopt the investigative agency’s findings to take appropriate actions against the contractor. The action may include, but is not limited to, agreed upon liquidated damages, contract cancellation, vendor default, and/or vendor debarment. The LAUSD will continuously educate the vendors to raise their level of awareness about the “sweat-free” procurement policy.
CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE DISTRICT’S SWEAT-FREE PROCUREMENT POLICY continued
