After a brainstorming session with 13 construction industry leaders whose companies work for 11 federal agencies, the Federal Owners Forum issued a report in an effort to spur improvements in federal construction project procurement.
The event was sponsored by The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) and the Society for American Military Engineers (SAME). Participants advocated for increased use of design-build project delivery.
“The owners at the forum discussed early knowledge of costs and appropriate allocation of risk as the two main advantages of design-build,” said Lisa Washington, Executive Director and CEO of DBIA. There was extensive discussion on the critical role of procurement professionals, especially contracting officers, in unleashing innovation and creating better projects.
“From budget constraints, to agency staff turnover, to inconsistently defined requirements, neither government nor industry can solve these and other complex challenges alone,” said SAME Executive Director, Brig. Gen. Joe Schroedel, P.E., F.SAME, USA (Ret.). The forum intends to host a future forum for federal procurement officers to further address these issues.
Related Stories
| Sep 11, 2013
White paper examines Joint Commission requirements for NFPA codes in healthcare
The healthcare industry has experienced great attention from The Joint Commission concerning fire and life safety issues.
| Sep 11, 2013
San Francisco expected to drop firefighter air tank refilling station rule for skyscrapers
San Francisco is poised to drop a requirement that skyscrapers have refill stations so firefighters can recharge their air tanks during a blaze. The city has required that new high-rises have the air refill systems for about ten years.
| Sep 5, 2013
State legislatures continue to raise the bar on green school construction
Since the beginning of 2013, the USGBC has followed more than 125 bills across 34 states that seek to advance healthy, high-performing schools.
| Sep 5, 2013
Construction industry groups create coalition to respond to new OSHA silica rule
A group of 11 construction trade associations has created the Construction Industry Safety Coalition in response to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed rule on silica for the construction industry.
| Sep 5, 2013
Red tape delays California county jail construction projects
California authorized $1.2 billion for jail construction in 2007, but not a single county in the state has completed a jail project since then.
| Sep 5, 2013
New CM-at-risk and design-build options create controversy in Ohio
Some contractors say Ohio's new system puts small and midsize construction companies at a disadvantage.
| Sep 5, 2013
Outdated codes slowed disaster recovery in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Outdated building codes and lack of a master plan slowed the initial rebuilding stage after a devastating tornado leveled parts of Tuscaloosa, Ala. in 2011, according to the city’s mayor.
| Aug 28, 2013
Building collapse prompts legislation to beef up demolition regulations in Philadelphia
Philadelphia City Council will introduce legislation next month to strengthen the regulation of building demolition practices.
| Aug 28, 2013
Rules requiring contractors to boost hiring of veterans criticized
Some businesses are pushing back against proposed rules requiring federal contractors to step up their hiring of returning military service personnel.
| Aug 28, 2013
OSHA moves to reduced exposure to crystalline silica
Under a proposal from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the new permissible exposure limit to crystalline silica per cubic meter of air could be changed from 250 micrograms to 50 micrograms.