Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, each contractor or subcontractor awarded a covered contract shall: be affiliated with a registered apprenticeship program; and use apprentices from a registered apprenticeship program for each craft or trade in which the contractor or subcontractor employs persons to complete the covered contract; make payments to the Fund; or make payments in amounts determined under § 17–6A–03 of this subtitle to a registered apprenticeship program for the purpose of supporting the program. A contractor or subcontractor is not subject to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section if there are no registered apprenticeship programs for the craft or trade in which the contractor or subcontractor employs persons to complete the covered contract.