As organized labor heads into a potentially dismal negotiation season this year, unions received a big boost in February when President Barack Obama made good on his campaign promise to reverse the ban on project labor agreements for federally funded projects. As billions of dollars in federal work begins to filter out through the stimulus package, federal contracting agencies could opt to use project labor agreements on its major construction projects. Photo: AP/Wideworld Related Links: Inflation Reverses Course As Recession Floors Prices Renegotiations Make Bad Times Worse Finding Cost Data on the Internet What Drives ENR’s Cost Indexes How To
Small contractors may see expanded bonding opportunities as they pursue work under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The measure temporarily increases guarantees in the Small Business Administration bond program and offers more enticing conditions for sureties to work with the program. The stimulus boosts SBA guarantee limits from $2 million to $5 million and gives SBA contracting agents authority to hike the limit up to $10 million. The changes are effective only through Sept. 30, 2010. The legislation also adds $15 million to SBA’s surety-bond revolving fund. The measure also allows larger construction firms to qualify for
In an effort to move forward quickly with stimulus funds, federal agencies targeted to receive construction funds for buildings will focus heavily on greening existing inventory and pushing projects with designs in place. While the specific definition of "shovel-ready" remains uncertain, it’s clear from the bill that speed is the order of the day. The General Services Administration will see $5.55 billion in funds from the bill with a major emphasis placed on green building. As a result, projects that upgrade existing facilities will trump new construction. While $750 million would go to federal buildings, such as U.S. courthouses, and
As Congress negotiates billions of dollars in potential federal funds for construction through the economic stimulus bill, President Barack Obama moved to bring back union-only project labor agreements as an option on federally funded projects. The president on Feb. 6 issued an executive order overturning a Bush administration ban on federal PLAs and opened the door to such pacts on projects of $25 million or more. The order fulfills a promise made during the presidential campaign to unions to advocate for their interests. Getting the PLA ban reversed was cited by union officials as a high priority on its wish
As Congress negotiates billions of dollars in potential federal funds for construction through the economic stimulus bill, President Barack Obama moved to bring project labor agreements back as an option on federally funded projects. The president issued an executive order Feb. 6 overturning a Bush administration ban on federal PLAs and opened the door to such pacts on projects of $25 million or more. Photo: Obama Campaign President Barack Obama Related Links: Full text of the Executive Order Three Executive Orders Good News for Labor Photo: New York State Huge infrastructure projects, such as the planned replacement of New York’s
In light of billions of dollars in waste identified during U.S.-led Iraq reconstruction efforts, investigators are recommending sweeping changes in how the military administers and oversees contracts. On Feb. 2, the Office of Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, led by Inspector General Stuart Bowen, presented a 357-page report to the first hearing of the bipartisan Commission on Wartime Contracting. The report, titled “Hard Lessons: The Iraq Reconstruction Experience,” chronicles how the military executed its rebuilding efforts after the fall of Baghdad, highlighting missteps in planning and execution. Bowen told the commission the U.S. government must strengthen its ability to
Driven by a need for speedy delivery and an overarching demand for energy-efficient systems, federal buildings appear ready for a significant facelift in the near future, if proposed stimulus funds come through. Photo courtesy of Sunpower Corp. Energized. Projects like adding photovoltaics to Dept. of Energy headquarters are likely winners. Related Links: Proposal in House Fires Up Debate Does Massive Spending Help or Hurt in Long Run? Modest Program Favors Jump-Start Fix-up Effort Highway Aid Has Some Strings Attached Advocates Hope To Fly, Sail or Roll To Reform Funds Will Energize Long-Delayed Projects A Big Drop, But It’s A Really
A major water main serving the Washington, D.C., metro area broke on the morning of Dec. 23, disrupting service and stranding motorists along a busy suburban artery for several hours. A 66-in pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe burst along a section that neighbors State Route 190 in the D.C. suburb of Bethesda, Md., at 8 a.m. Several commuters were traveling the four-lane highway during the morning rush hour when the pipe burst. Photo: AP/Wideworld Motorist stranded by water main break in Washington, D.C., suburbs Dec. 23. The pipe, which carries 135-million gallons of water per minute, sent torrents rushing down a
One construction worker was killed and 17 were injured during a suspension bridge collapse at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens Dec. 19. Crews were working on a new 600-ft-long 40-ft-tall pedestrian bridge when portions of the structure collapsed at approximately 9 am. Concrete pours were under way at the time. Atlanta Fire Capt. Gregory Shinkle said that scaffolding being used during the pour collapsed, according to the Associated Press. Photo: AP/Wideworld An unidentified worker sits on a wall at the Atlanta Botanical Garden shortly after a pedestrian bridge under construction collapsed Dec. 19. Hardin Construction of Atlanta is the general contractor
The U.S. Dept. of Energy’s “Super Energy Savings Performance Contracts” initiative is heading overseas. The State Dept. announced on Dec. 8 that it is joining with DOE to use its ESPC delivery mechanism for energy audits and implement systems upgrades at U.S. embassies worldwide. The Super ESPC vehicle is a public-private partnership that enables companies to conduct energy assessments and carry out upgrades at federal buildings with no initial cost to the agencies. Firms get regular payments that equal savings realized from the improvements until the contract’s full value is paid back. DOE has teamed with several agencies over the
