AGC of America has developed a new publication to address the new ethics and compliance rules governing Federal contractors, "Federal Government Contractor Ethics & Compliance Programs: Toolkit and Guidance."

Under these new rules, Federal contractors face a multifaceted and complex regulatory environment.  The landscape is now more complicated due to new additional rules approved in 2007 and 2008 requiring contractors to have a code of business ethics and compliance in place, an internal control system and new mandatory disclosure requirements.  This publication and guidance is designed to provide Federal contractors with all the necessary tools they need to navigate these stringent requirements.

To order this valuable resource, visit www.agc.org/bookstore (item #2060).  The toolkit may also be ordered using this form or by calling 800-242-1767.  The cost for AGC members is $75.00, and $112.50 for non-members.

AGC of America is a proud cosponsor of the 4th Annual Airport Project Delivery Systems Summit on June 3-4, 2009 in Savannah, Georgia.  If you are involved in airport construction, you won't want to miss this important event, presented by AGC of America, Airports Council International-NA, and the Airport Consultants Council.  For more information about the Summit and to register, please click here.  Hotel reservations must be made by May 11.

In a letter sent to Rep. Lynn Woolsey, Chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections and Rep. Tom Price, the Subcommittee' Ranking Member, AGC CEO Steve Sandherr made the point that construction jobs meet all the criteria of the loosely defined "green job," including:

• Improving the environment;
• Offering good-paying jobs;
• Offering opportunities for advancement;
• Are jobs that cannot be outsourced; and
• Encouraging participation by a diverse population.

The letter was sent to the subcommittee in response to a March 31 hearing it held to "examine green jobs and their role in our nation's economic recovery."

In her opening statement, Chairwoman Woolsey noted:  "Green industry, green technology and green jobs are our future, and will play a key role in our economic recovery."

AGC of America agrees with both the general definition of a "green job" and Chairwoman Woolsey's statement. Our point in the letter was to emphasize how large a role the construction industry plays in a green economy, how important it is to capture all of the green work that our industry does - including recycling at the highest levels of any industry - and the need to provide training for traditional crafts that may "benefit by, but do not need, training in green practices in order to work successfully on a green project."

Further, AGC stressed the need for the federal government to avoid over-defining "green jobs" so that it excludes large segments of the industry and highlighted the many ways that AGC, its members, and chapters promote training and construction in environmentally sound and "green" practices.

The letter concluded: "By building energy efficiency into existing and future infrastructure, the construction industry is an essential partner in the nation's efforts to nurture a green economy."

The full text of the AGC letter, as well as the original Green Jobs Act and Rep. Kline's amendment, referenced in the letter, can be viewed online.

The construction industry accounts for less than one percent of all U.S. green house gas emissions according to a new analysis of federal environmental data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  AGC of America found that all equipment used by the construction industry contributed less than 0.95 percent of all U.S. man-made greenhouse gas emissions in 2007.  Click here to read the AGC press release.

How are owners and contractors addressing their needs in today's economy?  How can your firm maintain competitiveness in this market?  The AGC Building Contractors Conference to be held June 10-13, 2009 at The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA will bring together members of the AGC building construction community to hear presentations and discuss how best to guide their firms through these challenging economic times. 

This Conference will address many important topics, including contingency planning, taking advantage of hidden market opportunities, the stimulus, federal labor law changes, and strategies on how to come out on top.  Discussions on industry trends such as BIM, green construction, and IPD, as well as multiple networking opportunities make this a Conference you don't want to miss.

Who should attend: building construction professionals, owners, specialty contractors, service and supply firms, and anyone who wishes to contribute to the industry and benefit from valuable guidance and best practices.  For more information and to register, visit www.agc.org/homestead. 

Interested in sponsoring the AGC Building Contractors Conference and showcasing your firm before owners and leaders of this market?  Click here for available sponsorship opportunities!

Be sure to check out the AGC Project Delivery Website at www.agc.org/projectdelivery.  Resources include general project delivery, Design-Bid-Build, CM At-Risk, Design-Build, Integrated Project Delivery and other information.

The federal government has agreed to even further delay implementation of the E-Verify rule for federal contractors.  Contracts and solicitations issued prior to June 30, 2009, will not contain the mandate.  An official announcement is expected to be published in today's Federal Register.

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council issued the final rule on November 14, 2008, requiring contracting officers to mandate contractor use of E-Verify in solicitations issued and contracts awarded after January 15, 2009.  In response to a legal challenge to the rule, the government agreed to suspend the rule until February 20 and again until May 21.  The plaintiffs in the lawsuit requested the extension after President Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel issued a memorandum directing federal agencies to consider extending by 60 days the effective dates of all regulations already issued but not yet in effect, in order to allow the new Administration a chance to review any "questions of law and policy raised."

Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) for Federal Contractors & E-Verify.  Visit the AGC Web site for critical components of the final rule.  For more information, contact Marco Giamberardino at (703) 837-5325 or giamberm@agc.org.

Make the Switch to ConsensusDOCS!

After May 31, the 1997 A-series documents (including the AIA A-201-1997) will no longer be available, and users of AIA's contract documents software will not be able to generate licensed final versions of those documents.  When AIA released its 2007 suite of A-series contract documents in November 2007 (AGC unanimously decided not to endorse the AIA A-201 2007), it granted users of its 1997 documents an 18-month period to "transition from retired to new documents."  Contractors that want to avoid violating AIA's licensing agreement should not offer the A401-1997 or other 1997 A-series AIA documents after that date, and should be aware that clients offering the documents after that date could be breaching AIA's licensing agreement.

Switch to ConsensusDOCS today and use the only standard construction contract documents endorsed by 22 industry associations, including AGC!  AGC members receive a 20% discount on all ConsensusDOCS products when purchased through the AGC Bookstore (www.agc.org/bookstore).  Subscribe today!

If the AIA A201 is mandated please refer to the AGC members-only Commentary found at www.agc.org/contracts.

On April 10, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would require reporting of annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a wide range of sources, including all facilities that produce cement and manufacture lime.  The agency is seeking public comment on the proposed threshold for reporting and whether to include monitoring and reporting requirements for in-use fleets, as well as other provisions in the proposed rule.  Comments are due June 9, 2009.  Click here to read the entire article.

John Tocci, Sr., CEO of Woburn, MA-based Tocci Construction has been named AGC of America Committee Chair of the Year.  Tocci was recognized for his accomplishments as the chair of the AGC BIMForum, a coalition of contractors, designers, engineers and owners dedicated to using building information modeling (BIM) technology to improve design and construction.  To read the AGC press release, click here.