Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) speaks with ACEC Chairman Bill Howard (right) and ACEC President Dave Raymond (left), prior to the final TEA-21 conference meeting before Congress adjourns for the summer.

Just minutes prior to a crucial TEA-21 House-Senate conference meeting, ACEC Chairman Bill Howard and President Dave Raymond encouraged Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) to hang tough on achieving the highest funding level possible.

Howard and Raymond met with the Senator moments before he attended the last meeting of TEA-21 conferees prior to Congress' adjournment for the summer.

Inhofe, who chairs the conference, agreed with ACEC and stressed the importance of securing a final funding level that assures a fair return for every state. He vowed to resist efforts to lowball the nation's transportation infrastructure needs.

"He's fighting the good fight, and we reiterated ACEC's commitment to support him in this effort," said Howard.

Inhofe announced earlier this week he intended to offer House conferees a $289 funding package, essentially splitting the difference between the original House and Senate positions. House leaders countered with $284 billion in guaranteed funding. Just prior to the Thursday's meeting with ACEC, Inhofe canvassed Senate leaders on the House offer and later informed ACEC officials that the Senate would likely reject the House offer and hold out for higher funding.

Following the conference meeting, House and Senate leaders agreed to continue working through the summer recess to examine the competing funding proposals and related policy issues in an attempt to arrive at a compromise.

Corps Lays Out $15 Billion Construction Plans

Don Basham, Chief of the Engineering and Construction for the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), outlined for ACEC members the Corps' $15 billion F.Y. '05 military and civil works programs. Both have remained at stable funding levels for the past several years.

Don Basham of the Army Corps of Engineers discusses business opportunities with ACEC members during the July Market Forecast series event.

The Corps anticipates a $11.2 billion military program, including $738 million for engineering, $416 million for Superfund and $375 million for environmental projects.

According to Basham, the civil works program faces challenges in the coming years from declining Congressional appropriations and the considerable requirements on our nation's water resources. Basham estimates that the Corps F.Y. '05 civil works appropriations will be close to the $4.5 billion it received last year.

Basham stressed that the Corps will continue to rely on private contractors to execute most of its work. Although the Corps workforce has declined in the past decade by 20 percent, its program has grown by 70 percent.

"We are contracting out about 75 percent of our military planning, engineering and design work, and about 50 percent in the civil works area...about $1 billion in A/E fees annually," said Basham.

Basham also underscored his agency's commitment to working with ACEC to enhance the role of QBS in selecting design-build teams.

ACEC and the Corps have undertaken a joint project that would allow federal agencies to select design-build teams based on qualifications, a move that would significantly reduce the costs associated with pursuing design-build projects. Both organizations are working towards passage of legislation next year.

July/August Engineering Inc. Features Institute For Business Management Fall Catalog; 2005 EEA Call For Entries The catalog for ACEC's Institute For Business Management's Fall semester, and the 2005 Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) Call for Entries application brochure, are now both in the mail to members as part of the July/August Engineering Inc. The Institute catalog details more than 90 course offerings for the upcoming Fall semester, course delivery options, and the latest business publications and resources for members. The 2005 EEA Call for Entries begins the process which results in outstanding engineering achievements by ACEC member firms being recognized at the 2005 EEA Gala—known as the "Academy Awards" of the engineering industry—held Monday, April 11, 2005 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington D.C. Additional copies of the Institute catalog or the Call for Entries application brochure are available by contacting ACEC Communications Director Alan D. Crockett at acrockett@acec.org or 202-347-7474.

QBS, Government Competition Tops ACEC's 2005 Procurement Agenda

A major priority of ACEC's Procurement Advocacy Committee is the advancement of legislation that allows federal agencies to select design-build teams based on qualifications as opposed to "best value."

Committee member Jim Blake noted during this week's Committee meeting that if successful, the initiative would tremendously benefit the engineering industry as it would "reduce the up-front costs associated with design-build proposals."

Competition from federal agencies was also discussed at the meeting, particularly from agencies such as the Bureau of Reclamation and the US Geological Survey. The committee vowed to press forward with legislative proposals to further restrict the ability of these agencies to compete with the private sector. The committee also discussed needed reforms to the federal competitive sourcing initiative and will work with the Administration to advance these reforms.

The meeting also featured a breakfast meeting and fundraiser for Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), the chairman of the House Government Reform Committee. Davis, who has long been a champion of the engineering industry and Qualifications-Based Selection, briefed attendees on key procurement priorities before his committee.

House Committee Rejects FLSA Challenge

The House Appropriations Committee rejected an amendment in a party line vote that would have gutted the new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations set to take effect on August 23.

The amendment, offered by the ranking committee Democrat, Rep. David Obey (D-WI), to the F.Y. '05 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill, sought to deny funding to the Department of Labor for implementation of the new regulations. ACEC joined with industry allies in opposition to the Obey Amendment.

ACEC lobbyists are gearing up for the next fight, which will likely take place when the appropriations bill heads to the House floor in September.

Special Online Seminar New FLSA Regulations: How Will They Affect Your Practice? Jason Schwartz, Esq., Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP July 27       1:30pm-3:00pm EDT New Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations that govern "White Collar" exemptions to the Department of Labor's overtime pay requirements will take effect on August 23. Leading expert Jason Schwartz will explain what the changes are and how they are likely to affect your business. Schwartz will also offer practical tips on how to be sure you're in compliance, and how best to work with your regional DoL office. Schwartz's firm, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, has extensive experience with litigation under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the wage and hour laws of California and other states. The firm also has served as counsel in many of the most important FLSA and state wage and hour law collective, class and representative actions. Click here to register and for more information.

Registration With ACEC Makes "Citizen Lobbyists" Stronger

Want to keep ACEC's "Citizen Lobbyists" an effective component of ACEC's overall legislative initiative? Do you also want to provide all your firm's employees with access to important educational opportunities?

Simply make sure all your firm's employees are registered with ACEC.

"Citizen Lobbyists" are called on to respond to ACEC's "Action Alerts" regarding impending legislation that has a direct impact on the engineering business climate. The more "Citizen Lobbyists" registered, the stronger the ACEC voice.

ACEC also offers a wealth of business education courses and resources for firm employees through its Institute for Business Management—more than 90 courses in the upcoming Fall semester.

Terry Neimeyer of KCI Technologies is convinced of the advantages of having all employees register with ACEC: "First, registration allows employees seamless access to educational and profit-making educational opportunities. Second, firm employees help defend and protect our industries interests through grassroots lobbying.

"Having accurate lists helps ACEC contact them to let them know when their voices need to be heard. Finally, it educates employees to all the battles ACEC is fighting on their behalf in Washington."

If you want your firms' employees listed with ACEC, send a staff list that includes: name; location; e-mail address and title for all employees to pbrookover@acec.org or fax ACEC at 202-898-0068. Please note: ACEC never sells your firms e-mail addresses.

Copyright © 2004 by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). All rights reserved. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced, stored in any form of retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, photographic, or other means without the prior written permission of ACEC.

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