The American Council of Engineering Companies has released what it says is a “landmark” study of how qualifications-based selection (QBS) for design, rather than low-bid, can ensure positive project outcomes, particularly on large and technically complex jobs. The detailed, university-conducted analysis of 41 projects in 23 states, all but 5% of which were public-sector jobs, says the approach resulted in only 3% construction cost growth and virtually universal owner satisfaction in buying engineering services. But researchers noted limits in the survey as well as cost-linked challenges to QBS in some states. The American Public Works Association collaborated in the $90,000
Rear Adm. Christopher J. Mossey was named commander of the U.S. Navy's Naval Facilities Engineering Command and chief of civil engineers, based in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Defense Dept. said Dec. 28, 2009. He will take over next May from Adm. Wayne "Greg" Shear, who is retiring after serving in those roles since 2006 and in the Navy since receiving his commission in 1979. Mossey, who does not need U.S. Senate confirmation for the post, is currently director of the Ashore Readiness Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and vice commander for the Navy Installations Command.
Offshore oil-and-gas and nuclear- power construction giant McDermott International Inc. is splitting off two key subsidiaries into new, publicly traded companies to avoid risk to one unit’s future federal contracts because of the parent’s overseas incorporation. JOHNSON McDermott, incorporated in Panama but based in Houston, announced the change earlier this month. With the separation, to be completed in nine to 12 months, Babcock & Wilcox Co. (B&W), the nuclear- and government-business unit incorporated in Delaware, will relocate its base to Charlotte, N.C. The parent firm then will take the name of its offshore energy unit, J. Ray McDermott S.A (J.
Three of four contractor teams prequalified to bid the second major leg of an $8.7-billion transit tunnel under the Hudson River between New Jersey and Manhattan submitted bids that were opened by the owner, New Jersey Transit, on Dec. 15. The project, to dig 5,200-ft-long twin bored tunnels through New Jersey's Palisades rock formation to a river access point in Hoboken, N.J., had been estimated to cost $250 million. A Secaucus, N.J., joint venture of Schiavone Construction Co., Skanska Civil and J.F. Shea was the low bidder at $258.8 million; a joint venture of OHL USA Inc., Davie, Fla., and
The National Science Foundation confirmed on Dec. 15 that it will delay until next summer award of a long-term contract, worth at least $2 billion, to manage support logistics for the federal governments’s huge polar research program in Antarctica. Raytheon Co., site contractor since 1999, will continue under its existing contract but is not proposing this round. The new contract, originally set for award this fall and about 12.5 years in duration, has generated proposals from seven teams, including those led by AECOM Technology Corp., CH2M Hill Cos., KBR Inc. and Fluor Corp. Parsons Corp. and EG&G Inc., a unit
John F. Donohoe, chairman of Moretrench American Corp., a major geotechnical construction firm based in Rockaway, N.J., and industry activist and innovator, died suddenly of a heart attack Dec. 2 while addressing an employee gathering at the company office, officials say. He was 67. DONOHOE Donohoe, a civil engineer and 45-year Moretrench veteran, had served as the company’s president from 1982 until 2002 and as CEO as well from 1995 until 2007. He was also current president of the General Contractors Association of New York (GCANY) and winner of the 2009 OPAL award last spring for construction innovation and excellence
Transportation industry executives and lobbyists clearly are frustrated at not being able to gain Washington’s attention to enact long-term funding legislation they claim is critical to improving the sector’s dire outlook, as reflected in new market statistics released on Nov. 13. Related Links: States’ Fiscal Crunch Could Stretch to 2012 The results were released by the Transportation Construction Coalition, a group of 28 contractor and supplier associations and unions in the transportation construction sector. They show that even with this year’s $27-billion federal stimulus infusion for transportation, 63% of 527 sector-company respondents say they have laid off permanent staff this
Every three years, construction industry attorneys meet to educate themselves on “big-picture” issues affecting the industry. This year, at the triennial conference of the American College of Construction Lawyers, members were told of the challenges facing design and construction from the growing economic impact of dwindling natural resources. Photo: Frank Wojciechowski / ACCL George Smitherman, deputy minister of Ontario’s new Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, told attendees at the Nov. 5-6 conference at Princeton University, Princeton, N.J., that the province’s push to reduce coal-fired power and ramp up alternative energy is “North America’s largest climate-change initiative.” He said the effort
Fast-moving environmental, political and workplace trends are boosting civil engineering to a critical new role, even if its practitioners and academics aren’t totally ready, according to speakers and attendees at the annual meeting of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The Oct. 29-31 meeting in Kansas City drew nearly 1,000 attendees, including a large contingent of students. Photo: David Hathcox / Asceput From left, CEOs Rodman and Graves and educator Nelson say civils must “stand up.” “The world needs the profession to deal with issues that extend beyond civil engineering,” said Priscilla Nelson, a professor and former provost at
Gainesville, Fla., may be warm most of the time, but the job market facing students at the University of Florida’s M.E. Rinker School of Building Construction has been downright chilly. Only 50 industry firms showed up at its fall job fair, down from 115 with 15 on a waiting list in spring 2007. In years past, the school placed 95% of graduating seniors and master’s students, but only 50% so far in 2009. Industry programs face recession impacts but see a silver lining Photo: Clemson University Dept. of Construction Science and Management Clemson U. Construction Students School saw internship and
