AGC’s 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, the week was packed with productive face-to-face exchanges.
- AGC signed a renewed partnering agreement with Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC).
- The Federal Owners Advisory Council discussed the impact of 3% withholding on their contracting offices and how implementation would affect their programs. They also discussed the various approaches they were taking to President Obama’s Executive Order encouraging the consideration of PLAs on federal government contracts.
- AGC and the Army Corps of Engineers, NAVFAC and the Air Force met throughout the week to discuss safety, best value contracting, sustainability, PLAs, Building Information Modeling, and past performance evaluations.
- AGC and GSA focused on budgetary challenges, CM At-Risk contracting, and PLA implementation as the agency most aggressively utilized PLAs on seven of 10 Recovery Act projects.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs session was new to the conference this year, and 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 Small Business Administration and small business representatives from the major federal construction agencies to discuss the new changes to the 8(a) program; how to pursue teaming arrangements and joint ventures; and details on lower tier subcontracting.
- EPA's Office of Water was very pleased with contractors in general and AGC in particular for the superb execution of contracts associated with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. They were also very thankful for AGC's support and guidance in implementing the Recovery Act's Buy American provisions for their programs.
- The AGC International Construction Forum tripled its best attendance record 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 (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) briefed participants on their construction budgets for the coming fiscal year and program highlights. Participants also discussed transportation reauthorization legislation, procurement issues - in particular the Construction Management/General Contractor (CMGC) project delivery method.
- Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, addressed conference attendees and talked about his plans to review a wide variety of regulatory policies that are negatively affecting job creation and examining how the Obama Administration is using the regulatory process to implement policies and may stifle economic recovery.