On June 3, AGC’s general counsel testified in Congress in support of H.R. 735, the Government Neutrality in Contracting Act.

On June 2, key officials from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Air Force, Army Corps of Engineers and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command held an open industry forum to discuss their plans to create an evaluation factor for Total Ownership Costs (TOC) of certain types of facility construction. 

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will hold a hearing June 3 on the Government Neutrality in Contracting Act, sponsored by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.).

On May 27, Congressional leaders in both the Senate and House of Representatives introduced legislation to prohibit federal agencies from collecting or using information about political contributions made by small, family-owned businesses or larger companies that wish to do business with the federal government.

On June 1, the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Council issued an interim rule that changes procurement regulations to meet the goals of President Obama's October 2009 Executive Order. The interim rule also incorporates parts of a similar Executive Order issued by President Bush in March 2007.

On May 20, 2011, AGC sent a letter to the Hawaii District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers providing comment on their solicitation regarding the potential use of project labor agreements (PLAs) for the FY11 PN65650 USARPAC Command and Control Facility, Phase 1, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, project.

An “above average” hurricane season is expected for the Atlantic Basin -- which includes the entire East Coast and Gulf Coast of the United States -- this year according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center – a division of the National Weather Service.

The House approved an amendment by Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) to the FY 2010 Defense Authorization bill that would bar federal agencies from requiring the corporate disclosure of campaign donations as a condition for getting federal contracts.

AGC noted that the success of federal flood control systems is a reminder of the value and savings of long-term federal investments in infrastructure.

On May 18, AGC held the second joint meeting with representatives from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Air Force, Army Corps of Engineers and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, who have formed a special Tri-Service working group on creating an evaluation factor for Total Ownership Costs (TOC) of certain types of facility construction.