Construction companies are stepping away from the federal contracting market because they say recently finalized reporting rules have placed too much risk on them.
The Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces executive order (EO 13,673) requires contractors to disclose any violations of 14 federal labor and employment laws and comparable state laws for the previous three years when seeking federal contracts worth more than $500,000. Agencies can deny contracts based on the disclosures.
Brian Turmail, executive director of public affairs for Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), reportedly called the rules “very subjective, very vague.” One complaint, according to Turmail, is that there is too much potential for regulators to assess violations inconsistently.
Fewer firms vying for federal contracts will mean higher costs, industry insiders say. A Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers’ official countered that argument by saying responsible firms will be eager to win large contracts.
Related Stories
| Mar 1, 2012
California bill aims to cut costs for commercial building energy retrofits
A bill in the California Assembly would allow the state to pool together property owners’ energy-retrofit loans.
| Feb 29, 2012
Carvalho appointed Shawmut Safety Director
He has been a driving force behind multiple safety-orientated initiatives at Shawmut, including Safety Week, the creation of an online safety manual, and the implementation of a new safety reporting and tracking system.
| Feb 23, 2012
Federal budget cuts put major building projects on hold
A plan to build the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Kansas is among several major building projects in jeopardy after the Obama administration’s 2013 budget was unveiled. The budget would cut all construction spending for the facility.
| Feb 23, 2012
Federal agencies fixed on leasing LEED-certified space
The federal government is especially focused on renting LEED-certified spaces.
| Feb 23, 2012
Regulators investigating construction accident at World Trade Center
The New York Port Authority and the city’s fire and building departments are investigating an accident at the World Trade Center construction site in lower Manhattan after a crane dropped steel beams that fell about 40 stories onto the truck that delivered them.
| Feb 23, 2012
New Virginia statewide building code goes into effect March 1
After March 1, all building plans in Virginia must adhere to the 2009 code that was adopted a year ago.
| Feb 23, 2012
Privatizing flood insurance could lead to new code requirements
One thing that could pave the way toward private flood insurance would be NFIP reforms, like requiring new construction in flood-prone areas to be elevated.
| Feb 22, 2012
ACI BIM manual for cast-in-place concrete in development
The improved communication, coordination, and collaboration afforded by BIM implementation have already been shown to save time and money in projects.
