A prevailing wage rate including basic hourly rate and any fringe benefits) determined under State law shall be inapplicable to a contract or PHA-performed work item for the development, maintenance, and modernization of a project whenever:

The contract or work item: (i) Is otherwise subject to State law requiring the payment of wage rates determined by a State or local government or agency to be prevailing and (ii) is assisted with funds for low-income public housing under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, as amended; and

The wage rate determined under State law to be prevailing with respect to an employee in any trade or position employed in the development, maintenance, and modernization of a project exceeds whichever of the following Federal wage rates is applicable:

The wage rate determined by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 276a et seq.) to be prevailing in the locality with respect to such trade;

An applicable apprentice wage rate based thereon specified in an apprenticeship program registered with the Department of Labor or a DOL-recognized State Apprenticeship Agency;

An applicable trainee wage rate based thereon specified in a DOL-certified trainee program; or

The wage rate determined by the Secretary of HUD to be prevailing in the locality with respect to such trade or position.

For the purpose of ascertaining whether a wage rate determined under State law for a trade or position exceeds the Federal wage rate: (A) Where a rate determined by the Secretary of Labor or an apprentice or trainee wage rate based thereon is applicable, the total wage rate determined under State law, including fringe benefits (if any) and basic hourly rate, shall be compared to the total wage rate determined by the Secretary of Labor or apprentice or trainee wage rate; and (B) where a rate determined by the Secretary of HUD is applicable, any fringe benefits determined under State law shall be excluded from the comparison with the rate determined by the Secretary of HUD.

Whenever paragraph (a)(1) of this section is applicable:

Any solicitation of bids or proposals issued by the PHA and any contract executed by the PHA for development, maintenance, and modernization of the project shall include a statement that any prevailing wage rate (including basic hourly rate and any fringe benefits) determined under State law to be prevailing with respect to an employee in any trade or position employed under the contract is inapplicable to the contract and shall not be enforced against the contractor or any subcontractor with respect to employees engaged under the contract whenever either of the following occurs:

Such nonfederal prevailing wage rate exceeds: (A) The applicable wage rate determined by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 276a et seq.) to be prevailing in the locality with respect to such trade; (B) an applicable apprentice wage rate based thereon specified in an apprenticeship program registered with the Department of Labor or a DOL-recognized State Apprenticeship Agency or (C) an applicable trainee wage rate based thereon specified in a DOL-certified trainee program; or

Such nonfederal prevailing wage rate, exclusive of any fringe benefits, exceeds the applicable wage rate determined by the Secretary of HUD to be prevailing in the locality with respect to such trade or position.

The PHA itself shall not be required to pay the basic hourly rate or any fringe benefits comprising a prevailing wage rate determined under State law and described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section to any of its own employees who may be engaged in the work item for development, maintenance, and modernization of the project; and

Neither the basic hourly rate nor any fringe benefits comprising a prevailing wage rate determined under State law and described in paragraph (a)(2) shall be enforced against the PHA or any of its contractors or subcontractors with respect to employees engaged in the contract or PHA-performed work item for development, maintenance, and modernization of the project.

Nothing in this section shall affect the applicability of any wage rate established in a collective bargaining agreement with a PHA or its contractors or subcontractors where such wage rate equals or exceeds the applicable Federal wage rate referred to in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, nor does this section impose a ceiling on wage rates a PHA or its contractors or subcontractors may choose to pay independent of State law.

The provisions of this section shall be applicable to work performed under any prime contract entered into as a result of a solicitation of bids or proposals issued on or after October 6, 1988 and to any work performed by employees of a PHA on or after October 6, 1988, but not to work or contracts administered by Indian Housing Authorities (for which, see part 905 of this chapter).