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Vol. XXIV, Number 23 June 20, 2003 1015 15th Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 202-347-7474 Fax 202-898-0068 www.acec.org E-mail acec@acec.org Alan D. Crockett, Director, PR Ann Brandstadter, Editor/Designer |
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Business
USDA Featured At June ACEC Market Forecast SeriesJoin ACEC members on June 26, and hear Gary J. Morgan, P.E., Assistant Administrator and Glendon D. Deal, P.E., Director of Engineering and Environmental Staff at the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Water and Environmental Programs, discuss procurement opportunities for engineering services and construction services, as part of the next Market Forecast Series.USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Water and Environmental Programs provide more than $1.5 billion annually to rural areas and cities and towns of 10,000 or less. Click here to register or contact Sandrine Mailli at (202) 682-4338 or Education@acec.org.
New CASE Guideline Addresses Quality in Structural DocumentsA new Council of American Structural Engineers (CASE) document entitled, A Guideline Addressing Coordination and Completeness of Structural Construction Documents, has just been completed and distributed to CASE members.Written by the National Guidelines Committee, this guideline was designed to assist structural engineering firms improve the quality of its projects, and develop quality management plans. Topics include the aspects of design relationships, communication and dimensioning, as well as a checklist identifying the key elements concerning coordination and completeness. The publication is available from ACEC for $30 (Plus $3 S&H). Ask for CASE Document # 962 D. To order, fax Rina Lee at 202-789-7220.
This Week’s Featured Contract Set:Funding Agency Editions, Complete Set/F-990Receive all three funding agency edition documents with just the click of a button! All are available for immediate download in this special combined offer.Suggested Form of Agreement Between Owner & Contractor for Construction Contract—Stipulated Price, Funding Agency Edition (C-521; 2002); Standard General Conditions of the Construction Contract, Funding Agency Edition (1910-8-FA; 1997), Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner & Engineer for Professional Services, Funding Agency Edition (1910-1-FA; 1997) Members $275/Non-members $550 Visit www.acec.org/publications and use keyword “F-990,” or call the bookstore at 202-347-7474 to order now!
Featured PublicationArt of Juggling: Two Approaches to Staff Allocation and Scheduling in Project Management, David A. StoneAre you having a difficult time finding competent people to staff projects? It can be challenging to conduct business as staff size fluctuates, people move between projects, or become involved with other assignments. With this book, you’ll learn successful planning methods— and avoid missed deadlines and budget overruns! Members $29/Non-members $35 OR receive Art of Juggling free of charge when you order three or more ACEC publications. To view ACEC titles, and to order, visit www.acec.org/publications.
E-Communications Topic At Next Best Practices SeminarPlease join us for ACEC’s next Best Practices online seminar, “Managing Projects Using E-mail: Some Legal Issues & Practical Tips” on June 25. The seminar will help your firm or project management team become more efficient and time effective in electronic communications. It will also help you address critical questions concerning the potential liability and legal concerns of the use of e-mail messages and other electronic files. Click here to register.Other upcoming online seminars:
Enroll in FedEx Member Discount Program Win! Enroll during the month of June, and you will be automatically entered to win ACEC merchandise. Enrollment in the program is free for ACEC members. Click here to request an enrollment form. To view and order ACEC Merchandise, visit www.acec.org/store. |
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Health Plan Legislation Passes House—Benefits ACEC Members; Tough Battle Expected In Senate
ACEC members have been contacting members of Congress urging support for the legislation, and this grassroots action has paid dividends. Debate on the legislation will now move to the Senate, where identical legislation has been introduced by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME). The Senate bill, S. 545, is expected to meet stiffer opposition than its counterpart in the House. The bill creates uniform regulations for all states and allows firms of all sizes to be covered. ACEC currently offers its members the benefits of an Association Health Plan, but individual state regulations can cause higher insurance rates and often deny access for member firms. “Under the current scheme, firms in Maryland with less than 50 employees are excluded from participating in the ACEC Health Plan”, said Jim Otradovec, ACEC/Maryland’s Executive Director. “By passing H.R. 660, Congress is improving access for small businesses, creating an additional option for affordable, quality healthcare for our membership.” It is important that ACEC members contact their Senators and urge their support. Click here for a sample letter to your Senator.
ACEC Seeking To Kill Another Anti-Outsourcing AmendmentThe Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior has introduced an anti-outsourcing provision for the F.Y. ‘04 Interior Appropriations bill. The provision prohibits all agencies within the Department of Interior from moving forward with the Administration’s competitive sourcing plan.The Administration plan compels agencies to compete work that is available in private industry. Sources say that the provision was part of a deal struck by Congressman Jim Moran (D-Va.) and Congressman Charles Taylor (R-NC), who chairs the subcommittee. The provision is particularly harmful to the engineering industry as the Bush plan would help to stop unfair competition ACEC members face from agencies within the Department of Interior, including the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geological Survey. The full Appropriations Committee is marking up the bill next Wednesday. ACEC is working with the Bush Adminstration and industry allies to have the language removed.
House Backs ACEC-Supported Death Tax Repeal
The federal tax on estates can run as high as 55%, and has historically been a major burden for small business owners seeking to pass along the family business to their children. ACEC led a successful campaign two years ago with others in the construction industry to advocate for the repeal of the death tax, a campaign that culminated in the passage of the “Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001.” The new law is currently scheduled to “sunset”, or expire in 2010, prompting calls from ACEC and others in the business community for a permanent repeal. “The death tax hits family-owned businesses particularly hard,” said ACEC Small Firms Council Chairman Kenneth White, Jr. “Congress recognized this fact when passing the tax reform legislation in 2001, and it only makes sense now to finish the job and eliminate the death tax permanently.” Similar legislation awaits consideration in the Senate.
Associated General Contractors Join EJCDC
“The process of producing quality documents requires input from the various stakeholders in the industry and EJCDC has always taken steps to make sure the right people are represented at the table,” said Jim Brown, Contract Documents Committee chairman. “AGC joining EJCDC as a supporting organization demonstrates our continuing commitment to broadening our stakeholder base.” EJCDC is the major contract document writing entity for the engineering and construction industry, with more than 80 different documents available. The documents are constantly reviewed and revised to reflect the latest trends and laws in the construction industry. To see a list of available EJCDC documents, go to www.acec.org and click on publications.
Organizational Peer Reviews: Expertise At HandYour firm has the know-how to encourage efficient, effective and profitable project management, but how many of your firm’s project managers are using it?ACEC’s Organizational Peer Review Program (OPR) focuses on seven management areas: General Management, Human Resources and Professional Development, Financial Management, Project Management, Business Development and Quality Management. A team of trained reviewers will help you find out answers to questions such as: “Is the scope of work well understood by the project team?”, “Do we promote the development and use of up-to-date standard design techniques?” and “Do we check formally that all concepts, technical calculations, report drafts, analyses, drawings, etc., conform to our firm’s standards at appropriate milestones?” Over 1,100 firms benefit from the expertise of OPR. To schedule a review or to find out more information contact Kevin Wilson at (202) 682-4320 or peerreview@acec.org.
Workshop On Project Management Helps Managers Re-Focus/ Re-EnergizeAs a critical component in every successful job, project managers must possess strong leadership skills and effective collaboration techniques. “Project Management: The Road to Profitability” is a comprehensive workshop focused on the integral role of project management in an organization.Three opportunities in three great locations are available for design professionals to develop valuable project management skills that can be implemented on your next project. Jason G. Downs, Vice President, Warren & Panzer Engineers, New York, N.Y. said, “I thought very highly of ACEC’s project management seminar. After 10 years of practice, I’m was ready to re-focus and try out new ideas! I’d recommend this seminar to anyone looking to re-energize their project teams!” Click here and register today!
ACEC’s “Marketing: Raising The Bar” Is Coming To San Francisco!On September 17-18, participants of the “Marketing: Raising the Bar” workshop will utilize three unique modules that demonstrate how a well-structured marketing plan eliminates poor opportunities and aligns your firm’s resources toward success.From researching new prospects to maintaining good client relations, these three interactive workshops will instruct you how to:
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