On Jan. 16, Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) introduced bipartisan, AGC-backed legislation to prohibit federal agencies from using reverse auctions on federal construction contracts. On Dec. 19, the Senate unanimously passed a companion bill to this measure. Reverse auctions in federal contracts typically require contractors to bid against each other in real time with ever-increasing lower prices in order to win a particular contract. Several federal agencies have advised against this practice due to the administrative burden it requires, as well as acknowledging that the guaranteed low price at time of bidding often does not mean the project will be lower in cost at the close. AGC supports common-sense procurement reform to improve the delivery of federal construction projects.

 

For more information, contact Jordan Howard at jordan.howard@agc.org or (703) 837-5368.

 

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of the House Democrat leadership recently released a framework for addressing the Nation’s infrastructure needs, calling for an investment of $760 billion over five years. The framework breaks out this investment into specific infrastructure categories but leaves the question of how to pay for the investment unanswered for now. 

On Jan. 29, the House Committee on Ways and Means, which has jurisdiction over federal financing tools and revenue raising measures, held a hearing on infrastructure financing options. The hearing ran in conjunction with the House Democrats releasing their framework for a broad infrastructure bill. The committee heard from a broad swath of witnesses who reiterated the need for a long-term federally supported surface transportation bill and stated that demand for bond financing in the private sector and amongst investors far outstripped the supply of available bonds. AGC expects the committee, in the coming months, to produce legislation or guidance on how to build on existing and/or expired infrastructure financing tools, such as Private Activity Bonds (PABs) and Build America Bonds, as well as explore revenue options for the highway and transit trust funds. AGC will continue to work with the committee on funding options.
 

For more information, contact Matt Turkstra at matt.turkstra@agc.org or (202) 547-4733.

 

The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Overseas Building Operations Director Tad Davis will be among the many great speakers at AGC’s 2020 Convention in Las Vegas this March. Davis will speak on the new initiatives and outreach the Bureau is undertaking for construction contractors. As head of the State Department’s embassy construction arm, Director Davis has responsibility for a portfolio of over 25,200 assets valued at over $90 billion at 285 U.S. missions abroad.

 

Major General Scott A. Spellmon has been nominated to be the next Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). If confirmed by the Senate, Maj. Gen. Spellmon will replace the current commander, Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, whose term expires on May 19, 2020. In his current role as Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, he has been pivotal in overseeing the implementation of billions of dollars in natural disaster-related construction recovery efforts. Confirmation hearings on this nomination are expected in the coming months. If confirmed, AGC looks forward to continuing to work closely with Maj. Gen. Spellmon and USACE.

 

For more information, contact Jordan Howard at jordan.howard@agc.org or (703) 837-5368.

 

On January 31, the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OSD) released final version of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). The Department of Defense (DOD) will begin including the final CMMC model as “go/no go” in new solicitations starting in late summer/early fall of 2020. On the same day, defense officials held a news conference discussing the final version of CMMC.

 

On Jan. 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finalized an AGC-supported rule to define “waters of the United States” – providing clarity when a federal permit is needed for work in or near federal waters. The new Navigable Waters Protection Rule better identifies federal waters, respects states’ primary role in land use and pollution prevention, and balances major case law from the last couple of decades.

There are less than 30 days left until we kick off this year's convention! Jumpstart your business planning and preparation, and make the connections that are going to be most valuable in your career in the years ahead at the 2020 AGC Convention. Don't miss out on taking the next step in preparing for the industry of tomorrow. Register today.

 

AGC of America is committed to ensuring that you and the association's more than 27,000 members are well represented in Washington, DC and throughout the country. To aid our team in advancing your interests, we need more photographs to utilize for the association’s social media posts, electronic communications, and websites. Photographs tell a story; they show the many skills and challenges our members face on a day to day basis. Help us by submitting your company’s best photos on a construction jobsite and enter to win a free YETI tumbler.

 

Construction employment grew in 211, or 59 percent, out of 358 metro areas between December 2018 and December 2019, declined in 73 and was unchanged in 74, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released recently by AGC of America. Association officials said that many firms report they are having a hard time finding enough qualified workers to hire, which likely undermined employment gains in some parts of the country.