Julie Huval, Beck Technology
The acronym BIM is showing up more and more in our industry. Owners are requiring it on projects, countries are setting standards for it, and firms are touting expertise in it. But what is Building Information Modeling (BIM) and, as marketers and business developers, why should we care?
Mike Clancy, Cynthia Paul, FMI Corporation
Contractors get work departments can be like a car with a bad alignment. While everyone is working hard to get where they want to go, some of the effort is being pulled toward the ditch of low hit rates, missed opportunities and undeveloped client relationships. All that is needed are a few key adjustments to win your fair share of work.
Go in depth on the troubles facing multiemployer pension plans, what is being done to address the growing problems, and what it all means for the construction industry and the economy at large on the latest episode of the ConstructorCast
<p>A new <a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-05-31/pdf/2016-12494.pdf"><u>rule</u> </a>by the Small Business Administration makes several changes to small business contracting regulations. These changes, set to go into effect June 30, are aimed at increasing small-business competition and enabling small businesses to potentially obtain larger contracts without increasing compliance costs. In April, 酴圖弝け <a href="http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/agcleg/downloads/酴圖弝け%20Comments%20on%20SBA%20Performance%20of%20Work%20Prop%20Rule.pdf"><u>submitted comments</u></a> on the proposed rule.</p>
<p>The U.S. Supreme Court issued a <a href="http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/united-states-army-corps-of-engineers-v-hawkes-co-inc/"><u>ruling</u> </a>that will allow landowners to challenge a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determination that a jurisdictional Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) is present on property where they want to build. A jurisdictional determination significantly impacts how land may be used, dramatically raises costs, and often reduces the feasibility of constructing critical infrastructure. 酴圖弝け submitted a joint friend of the court brief in the case, US Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., making a strong case for why it is vital for contractors to know with certainty whether their property contains a WOTUS. The Courts findings closely track the points 酴圖弝け argued in <u><a href="http://www.scotusblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/15-290-bsac-American-Farm-Bureau-Federation.pdf">its joint amicus brie</a>f</u>. 酴圖弝け was the only trade association to advance the commercial construction industrys interest in the outcome of this case and, once again, 酴圖弝け has succeeded in changing facts on the ground. This decision will have a material impact on the way that the Section 404 permit program actually functions.</p>
This week, 132 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Ranking Democrat Sander Levin (Mich.) in support of fixing the Highway Trust Fund as part of comprehensive tax reform. Thanks to the 酴圖弝け members who met with their representatives during the TCC Fly-In or contacted their representatives asking them to sign the letter.
<p>On May 17, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee unanimously approved 酴圖弝け-supported <a href="https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5199/BILLS-114hr5199ih.pdf"><u>legislation</u> </a>that would (1) require civilian federal agenciesnon-Department of Defense agenciesto utilize the two-step design-build selection process for design-build projects greater than $3 million, thereby limiting one-step design-build procurements; and (2) help prohibit reverse auctions for certain construction services. Introduced by Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), the billH.R. 5199is nearly identical to the <a href="/news/2016/02/11/agc-backed-procurement-legislation-passes-senate-panel"><u>酴圖弝け-backed legislation</u></a> passed by a Senate Committee in February. 酴圖弝け will continue to push for enactment of these procurement reforms.</p>
<p>In what may be a 12-round bout, 酴圖弝け has scored another victory on the path to expunging President Obamas <u><a href="/news/2015/08/28/agc-submits-comments-opposing-blacklisting-executive-order">Blacklisting Executive Order</a>.</u> On May 19, the House of Representatives approved legislation that includes an 酴圖弝け-backed provision to the National Defense Authorization Acta bill that has been annually enacted into law for 54 consecutive yearsthat ensures the EO would not apply to Department of Defense and National Nuclear Security Administration contracts. 酴圖弝け will work with Congress to limit the Executive Order.</p>
The House of Representatives today failedon a vote of 209-216to pass 酴圖弝け-supported legislation that would block further implementation of President Obamas 2009 executive order encouraging federal agencies to consider government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on construction projects. 酴圖弝け, along with other industry allies, urged members of the House to support this initiative and will continue to advocate against government-mandated PLAs.
<p>On May 18, the U.S. Department of Labor released its <a href="https://www.dol.gov/featured/overtime"><u>final rule</u></a> implementing changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime regulations. The most significant change is a doubling of the standard salary threshold for exempt employees from $455 per week ($23,660 per year) to $913 per week ($47,476 per year). The rule takes effect on Dec. 1, 2016. In 2015, 酴圖弝け sent both <a href="/sites/default/files/Files/Labor%20%26%20HR%20%28public%29/酴圖弝け%20Comments%20to%20Overtime%20NPRM%20-%20Final_2.pdf"><u>individual comments</u></a> and signed onto <a href="/sites/default/files/Files/Labor%20%26%20HR%20%28public%29/PPWO%20Comments%20Overtime_1.pdf"><u>coalition comments</u></a> on the proposed rule. These comments raised strong concerns that the proposed salary threshold of $970 per week ($50,440 per year) would be too large an increase for employers to absorb all at once. While not all of 酴圖弝けs and the coalitions recommendations were accepted, the final rule does establish a lower salary threshold than originally proposed. The final rules concession for bonuses and commissions and its abstinence from changing the duties test are also consistent with 酴圖弝けs recommendations.</p>