AGC Meeting Brings Contractors, Agencies Together

AGC’s 2012 Federal Contractors Conference attracted nearly 400 people to Washington, D.C., this week to meet with 20 federal agencies and review procurement and contracting issues. While the meeting continued on Thursday with participation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the week was packed with productive face-to-face exchanges. The Federal Owners Advisory Council, brought together contractors and representatives from over a dozen federal agencies in one room to talk about construction industry concerns from project labor agreements (PLAs) and small business contracting goals to operating in difficult budgetary times.  The following agencies joined AGC members in the Council meeting: USACE, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Energy, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Small Business Administration (SBA), the Office of Federal Lands Highway, the National Resources Conservation Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. AGC and the Corps, NAVFAC and Air Force met throughout the week to discuss safety, best value contracting, sustainability, PLAs, Building Information Modeling, and past performance evaluations. AGC and the General Services Administration (GSA) focused on budgetary challenges, current facilities disposal management programs, the prospect of a "civilian BRAC" process, and PLA implementation, as the agency continues to press for their use for construction jobs. The Department of Veterans Affairs the meeting focused on the ways in which AGC and the Department could partner to help improve its contracting mission. AGC's Small Business Forum convened with representatives from the SBA and small business representatives from the major federal construction agencies, including GSA, NAVFAC, USACE, and VA to discuss the new changes to the 8(a) program; how to pursue teaming arrangements and joint ventures; and details on lower tier subcontracting. The AGC International Construction Forum had record attendance and included discussion on the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations’ new initiative for Design Excellence in Embassy Construction and the steps they are taking to increase the use of best-value and early contractor involvement project delivery vehicles. Senior Department of Transportation representatives from the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Aviation Administration and Federal Railroad Administration briefed participants on their construction budgets for the coming fiscal year and other program highlights. Participants also discussed transportation reauthorization legislation, procurement issues - in particular the Construction Management/General Contractor (CMGC) project delivery method. Representative Reed Ribble (R-Wisc.), a member of both the House Budget and the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committees, addressed conference attendees and discussed the need to maintain and improve America's infrastructure, even during these austere federal budgetary times.  Other members of Congress attended a reception at the AGC townhouse. During the conference, AGC members launched an all out offensive on the legislative front with a series of organized Capitol Hill visits to provide information on the need for multi-year infrastructure investment authorizations of transportation, federal facilities and water programs and federal regulation reform. For more information, contact Jimmy Christianson at (703) 837-5325 orchristiansonj@agc.org.