Reversing an earlier decision, the Bush administration has reinstated the Davis-Bacon Act requirement that contractors pay prevailing wages on hurricane recovery contracts.

The policy is effective Nov. 8. The suspension of Davis-Bacon had drawn criticism in Congress and from unions.

Two leaders of the federal acquisition community received the Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Executive, a rank reserved for 1% of the Senior Executive Service.

Deidre Lee, former director of defense procurement and acquisition policy, and Gregory Rothwell, chief procurement officer for the Department of Homeland Security, were among 55 winners. Each receives a bonus of 35% of their annual salary.

Lee is now assistant commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service.

President Bush has nominated Alexandria, VA, prosecutor Paul McNulty to be deputy attorney general, the second-highest position in the Justice Department.

As U.S. attorney in Alexandria, McNulty formed a procurement fraud working group earlier this year to improve interagency cooperation in investigating contracting abuses. The department said he will continue to serve as U.S. attorney until he is confirmed for his new post.