ACEC Launches Grassroots Campaign To Support $375 Billion Transportation Measure

ACEC is undertaking a comprehensive grassroots campaign in support of the $375 billion highway and transit reauthorization bill, introduced Nov. 19 by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA LU), H.R. 3550, provides a 72 percent increase over TEA-21, with each state guaranteed an eventual 95 percent return on their tax contribution. Under the bill, the highway program is funded at $298.7 billion and transit at $69.2 billion over six years.

"Enough of simply doing the minimal to maintain our deteriorating infrastructure," said ACEC President Dave Raymond. "We need $375 billion now to address the real demands of our transportation system - especially if we are to have any hope for a sound economic recovery."

ACEC members are advised to contact their Representatives and urge them to co-sponsor H.R. 3550.

For more details on H.R. 3550, go to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee website at http://www.house.gov/transportation.

ACEC Convinces USAID To Reverse Non-QBS Procurement Policy

ACEC has successfully persuaded the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to reverse its intended procurement of engineering services for two key international projects using non-QBS procedures.

In October, the agency advertised that it intended to use GSA Schedules instead of QBS procedures for Water Resources Management and Coastal Management engineering services. In a letter to USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios and follow-up exchanges, ACEC highlighted the engineering nature of these two programs and the requirement under the Brooks Act and the FAR that such services must be procured using QBS.

In announcing this week that it is reversing course, USAID recognized the engineering nature of the two programs and indicated that it will use qualifications-based Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IQC).

"This is a significant victory for ACEC," said ACEC Chairman-Elect Bill Howard who has been active in ACEC's international programs.

ACEC Advocates Payroll Deduction To Boost ACEC/PAC; Submits Comments To FEC

ACEC has submitted comments to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) advocating changes that will make it easier for member firms to support ACEC/PAC.

ACEC's comments are in support of a petition before the FEC urging the agency to initiate a rulemaking to permit trade associations to use payroll deductions to facilitate contributions to their federal political action committee (PAC).

The Federal Election Campaign Act permits trade associations such as ACEC to raise funds on behalf of their PAC from certain employees of member firms. The Act is silent on the method of payment or the manner in which payments are made. Despite this, the FEC has taken the position against giving employees the option of making regular payroll deductions to support their national PAC, much in the same way they would use deductions to support a favorite charity or make a mortgage payment.

In its letter to the FEC, the Council argues that there is ample basis in federal law to support payroll deductions for the PAC. The FEC already permits corporations and unions to use this method of payment under certain conditions, and employees may also opt to permit deductions from their personal bank accounts to support their national PAC. ACEC contends that treating payroll deductions differently is "arbitrary and capricious."

"This represents a very common sense reform that will give us yet another tool for achieving our goal of a $1 million national PAC," said former ACEC Chairman Steve Goddard. "Fairness demands that ACEC has the same tools available to it to support our PAC that the unions currently use."

NAVFAC Showcases $8 Billion 2004 Program; Predicts "Robust" Spending Jim Wright, of NAVFAC, discusses his agency's $8 billion program to a sold-out crowd at ACEC headquarters in November. Speaking to a full house at ACEC's Market Forecast event, Jim Wright, chief engineer at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) discussed his agency's $8 billion program for $2004. Nearly $6 billion is in operations and maintenance, with over $1 billion in funds for military construction and $300 million for environmental restoration. Wright predicted robust spending on NAVFAC programs through the next several years. Wright stressed that NAVFAC will continue to use the private sector to execute its mission. "NAVFAC is not interested in building staff," said Wright, "but will maintain a sufficient in-house capability to leverage contracts." Currently, NAVFAC outsources 90 percent of its engineering work. Wright also fielded questions from ACEC members on the agency's design-build policy. Stating that design-build is the preferred contract vehicle at NAVFAC, Wright explained that there must be a compelling reason not to use it. NAVFAC is considering the use of stipends on major design-build projects to address the concerns of the high proposal costs associated with pursuing such projects.

Deadline for 2003 Professional Liability Survey Extended to Dec. 19

The deadline for member firms to respond to ACEC's online Professional Liability Survey has been extended to Friday, December 19. This annual survey collects information on member firms' professional liability insurance, claims experience, and the impact of the potential threat of litigation.

A new e-mail with a link to the survey will go out on Friday, December 5, to member firm key principals requesting that they or their designee log on to the survey web site and fill out the form. The results of the survey will be compiled and a summary published in Last Word in January 2004, with a more detailed article to follow in the March/April 2004 edition of Engineering Inc. All member firms are encouraged to participate in the survey.

New SF330 Form Seminar

Don Evick (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) & Tom Williams (GSA)
December 16     11:00-12:30pm EST
Washington, D.C. or online

The SF330 form should be released next week, replacing the current SF254 and SF255 forms, which are required for all federal A/E proposals. Hear from two authors of SF330 on how to complete the new form, with an explanation on how it differs from the SF254 and SF255.

Click here to register.

Market Forecast Series

Dave DeAngelis, Department of Homeland Security (Invited)
December 11     12:30pm to 1:30pm EST
Washington, D.C. or online

Dave DeAngelis, deputy division director, Protective Security Division (PSD), Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate (IAIP) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is known as "the engineer of the organization."

DeAngelis manages a $1 billion grant program for the Office of Domestic Preparedness. He will discuss their budget, the selection criteria for projects, how to apply, and key contacts. Learn from a leading specialist from the DHS about the opportunities ahead for engineering firms.

Click here to register.

Webinars

How to Lead a Resilient Firm Without Losing Your Mind
Po-Sun Chen, ZweigWhite
December 10     1:30pm to 3:00pm EST
Washington, D.C. or online

The best in-house strategic business planning efforts may make running a successful firm look like a straight path from A to Z—but the reality is that it's not a neat, sequential process. Whether you're looking to grow, break into a new market, or survive a down period, effective leaders must often make things messy before they make them better. Join Po-Sun Chen, ZweigWhite principal and head of the firm's West Coast management consulting group, for a Webinar session that focuses on the leadership, facilitation, coaching, and effective decision-making skills necessary to lead a resilient firm.

Members $199/non-members $249. Click here to register.

Ownership Transition: Options and Strategies
Paul Lurie, Schiff, Hardin & Waite and Lowell Getz, Lowell Getz Company
December 17     1:30pm to 3:00pm EST
Washington, D.C. or online

If you missed this highly popular session at ACEC's Fall Conference in Phoenix last month, or attended this session and want even more strategies, then don't miss out on Paul Lurie and Lowell Getz's dynamic seminar on ownership transition.

Learn the advantages and disadvantages of an internal ownership transition, understand the options available in transferring ownership, and explore the principles of a merger or acquisition in order to gain the most benefits at such an important time.

Members $199/non-members $249. Click here to register.

Click here to review past editions of the Last Word.