It's not too early to start planning for 2010!  AGC's 2010 Annual Convention will be held March 17-20, 2010, in Orlando, Fla.In addition to the SCC Executive Committee meeting on March 18, a Specialty Contractors Council Reception, open to all specialty contractors (additional fee required), will be held from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm that evening.  The Specialty Contractors Council Session will be held on Friday March 19, from 9:30 am to 11:00 am.  You won't want to miss joining in this discussion of the important issues that impact your business. For more information about AGC's 91st Annual Convention, visit convention.agc.org.

The Specialty Contractor’s Subforum of the AGC BIMForum has created the MEP Spatial Coordination Team Requirements for Building Information Modeling.  This document provides guidance to companies and individuals involved in 3D MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection) spatial coordination.  Its aim is to help the MEP spatial coordination process using 3D and BIM technology and to assist in developing team structures, definition of roles and responsibilities, recommendations for technical and IT considerations, social structure, and accountability.The document will later be available at www.bimforum.org.

AGC has compiled all of its project delivery resources in to one document to provide an easy, "one stop shop" reference for its members.  From contract documents and bookstore offerings to webinar and web resources...you can take a look at AGC's entire project delivery library by clicking here.  You will see that each resource has an Internet link bringing you directly to that particular product. For more about project delivery, please visit www.agc.org/projectdelivery.

Join us January 20-22, 2010 in San Juan, Puerto RicoJoin leaders from top building construction firms, owners, specialty contractors and service and supply companies at the next AGC Building Contractors Conference at the Caribe Hilton in downtown San Juan, Puerto Rico January 20-22, 2010.Building construction professionals, owners, specialty contractors, service and supply firms and anyone who wishes to contribute to the industry and benefit from valuable information and best practices cannot afford to miss this conference.  The practical guidance and networking opportunities found at the Building Contractors Conference are crucial and necessary in these tough times.

Recognize the advantages and disadvantages of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and identify best practices at AGC's latest IPD webinar.The webinar will include a discussion and explanation of IPD, the advantages and disadvantages of IPD from the Owner perspective, IPD best practices and why Owners choose multi-party agreements.All registrants will receive a free sample of the ConsensusDOCS 300 Tri-Party Agreement and access to the "IPD: Lessons from the Trenches" webinar recording (a retail value of $179.00). Register today at www.agc.org/ipdwebinar.

Every state government establishes unique statutes that affect construction and the enforceability of construction contract provisions.  These laws can vary greatly from state to state, and every contractor needs to be aware of the current requirements.  To help you, AGC is hosting a webinar titled "Know the State Laws That Impact Your Construction Contracts" on October 21 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm ET.Our panel of experts will discuss issues you need to consider with any construction project.  They will help you to identify and manage project risks through examination of the project, the participants and the contract documents.  Learn how to use the AGC State Law Matrix to assist you with this risk identification process.Register today!  AGC members pay just $99 ($229 retail price).  For more information, contact Megan McGarvey at mcgarveym@agc.org or 703-837-5369.

The AGC Project Delivery Committee released Qualifications Based Selection of Contractors on August 24.  Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) is a procurement method in which the final criteria for selection are qualifications and demonstrated competence without consideration of price/cost until contract negotiation.QBS of contractors is emerging as one response to the demands of the current marketplace, wherein owners are increasingly seeking collaborative early contractor involvement.  This white paper explores the trend of QBS of contractors, discusses QBS benefits and challenges, considers how QBS works with various project delivery systems and offers owner suggestions for QBS best practices.   Qualifications Based Selection of Contractors was developed by the QBS Working Group of the AGC Project Delivery Committee and can be found at www.agc.org/projectdelivery, or by clicking here.

A rule requiring federal contractors and subcontractors to use the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' E-Verify system to verify their employees' authorization to work in the U.S. is now in effect.  The rule applies to federal solicitations and contract awards government-wide beginning September 8.The FAR Council issued the final rule in November 2008.  In response to a legal challenge to the rule and in order to give the new administration time to fully review the matter, the government agreed to suspend the rule on three separate occasions, but, in a July 8 statement, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that DHS will "push ahead with full implementation" of the rule without further delay.The rule requires the insertion of a new clause in certain federal contracts and subcontracts.  Prime contracts below the simplified acquisition threshold of $100,000 and those with performance terms of less than 120 days are excluded.  The clause requires the contractor to use E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all new employees hired during the contract term and all current employees assigned to work on a federal job within the U.S.  It also allows, but does not require, the federal contractor to use E-Verify to confirm eligibility of all employees, regardless of whether they are assigned to work on a federal job.  Currently, use of E-Verify to confirm anyone other than a new hire (including applicants and current employees) is prohibited. The rule applies only to employers with direct contracts with the federal government and, via a flow-down requirement, to their subcontractors.  It does not apply to employers working only on federally funded projects or on other projects not under contract with a federal agency.Although the litigation continues, contractors are advised to carefully review all new solicitations and contracts for federal projects and comply with any E-Verify requirements at this time.  AGC will continue to monitor all related litigation and legislation and will report on significant developments.Click here for the E-Verify Supplemental Guidance for Federal Contractors issued by USCIS on September 8.  Click here for DHS's list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) for Federal Contractors and E-Verify.  Click here for more information about critical components of the rule.  Click here for information about free webinars on the E-Verify program.Further guidance on immigration compliance is available in an MP3 download of a live educational session held at AGC's Annual HR Professionals Conference in June 2008.  An immigration law update will also be provided at AGC's next HR Professionals Conference, which will take place October 27-29, in Atlanta, Ga. Click here for conference details and registration.

Join your AGC colleagues at the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., for the AGC Highway & Utilities Contractors Issues Meeting. This meeting is the premier national event for contractors and related businesses involved in every aspect of highway and utility construction to hear about and discuss issues and trends in these markets. The hotel is only $179.00/night, which includes the resort fee. The cut-off date for hotel reservation is Friday, October 16, so don't miss out on your chance to attend.New to this year's conference, we will offer separate Utility and Highway tracks that will converge with issues that affect both highway and utility contractors.  Agenda highlights include:Joint Topics·         Washington Outlook: SAFETEA-LU Reauthorization, Clean Water Trust Fund and other pending legislation.·         How Recent Court Decisions Will Impact Your Business·         Green Infrastructure: What Does Green Mean for the Future of Highway & Utility Construction?·         Virtual Design for Horizontal Construction - Software Capabilities, Equipment Interface, and Case Studies ·         Ritchie Brothers Golf TournamentMunicipal and Utilities Track:·         Water Supply Impacting State Priorities for Construction & Design of Utilities·         Financing Water Infrastructure, Panel Discussion with State Finance Experts and Water Authorities·         Increasing Use of Alternative Project Delivery Methods: Panel Discussion with Expert Construction and Engineering PractitionersHighway and Transportation Track:·         Alternative Bidding Asphalt vs. Concrete: Missouri's Formula·         Florida's Experience with Alternative Project Delivery·         Market Potential of High Speed Rail·         AGC's New Highway Worker Safety ProgramClick here for registration, travel and hotel information.For additional information, please contact Brian Deery at deeryb@agcc.org or (703) 837-5319 or Perry Fowler at fowlerp@agc.org or (703) 837-5321.

A September 9 report from the latest Beige Book, a summary of informal soundings of business conditions, "indicate that economic activity continued to stabilize in July and August."  The districts are referred to by the name of their headquarters city. "Relative to the last report, Dallas indicated that economic activity had firmed, while Boston, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Richmond, and San Francisco mentioned signs of improvement. Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and New York generally described economic activity as stable or showing signs of stabilization; St. Louis remarked that the pace of decline appeared to be moderating. Most Districts noted that the outlook for economic activity among their business contacts remained cautiously positive."The Beige Book was also a bit more upbeat about homebuilding but not about conditions in nonresidential construction and real estate. Residential "construction remained at low levels overall, although Chicago and Dallas reported a small increase in activity. Reports on commercial real estate markets indicated that demand for space remained weak and that construction continued to decline in all Districts. Atlanta, Philadelphia, Richmond, and San Francisco reported that vacancy rates increased, while rates held steady in the Boston and Kansas City Districts and were mixed in New York. Boston, Dallas, Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Richmond commented that the demand for space remained weak. Commercial rents declined according to Boston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and Richmond. Rent concessions were reported in the Richmond and San Francisco markets, and Richmond noted that some landlords had postponed property improvements in an effort to conserve cash. Construction remained at very low levels, with modest improvements noted in public construction in the Chicago, Cleveland, and Minneapolis Districts."The reports are consistent with what nonresidential contractors have been telling AGC: outside of stimulus money for highway construction and a few other niches, conditions have not brightened at all.To report what you are encountering, email simonsonk@agc.org. For more information on AGC Cheif Economist Ken Simonson's weekly economic newsletter, visit http://www.agc.org/cs/news_media/newsletters.