Subcontractors USA Journal 36

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March 2019 | Advertising for Certified Women, Veteran & Minority-Owned Subcontractors | 37th Edition

EXPANDING THE SYSTEM The Texas A&M University System’s Plan to Make a Difference in the Construction Community

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

The Texas A&M University System

Jeff Zimmermann, Director of Procurement & Business Services, and Keith Williams, HUB Coordinator

16-17

INSIDE

08

South Texas county backs $1.8B steel mill project with new reinvestment zone

24

New Port Dispatch Center Equipped For Economic Boon In Freeport Freeport, Texas

12 Debt Collection, Part 1: Reducing Your Risk

2 | March 2019

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TO REGISTER: https://tamusystemhub4219.eventbrite.com

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PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

Keith J. Davis, Sr. CERTIFIED:

HMSDC

The Subcontractors USA Texas Journal highlights opportunities and news relevant to the construction, energy, architecture, manufacturing, education, engineering, oil and gas, transportation and IT industries we serve.

We hope you find this issue not only informative, but inspiring and educational as well.

This month’s issue spotlights the Texas A&M University System and two of its leaders, Director of Procurement and Business Services Jeff Zimmermann and HUB Coordinator Keith Williams. The System is working diligently to expand the reach of its HUB program and make a greater

Port of Houston

City of Houston

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06 CONSTRUCTION 06 Houston suburb looking for private partner to develop new hotel, convention center 08 South Texas county backs $1.8B steel mill project with new reinvestment zone

10 ENERGY 10 Creating Gasoline Today That Will Fuel Cars Of Tomorrow

10 IT & TECHNOLOGY 10 Companies look to partnerships to survive digital transformation

STAFF WRITER Carly Hammack

12 LEGAL 12 Debt Collection, Part 1: Reducing Your Risk

PROJECT COORDINATOR Lindsey Ford

12 OIL AND GAS 12 A Data Transformation In America’s Energy Frontier 16-17 COVER STORY 16-17 Make a Difference: How Texas A&M University System’s HUB Program is Expanding its Reach in the Subcontractor Community

PHOTOGRAPHY Grady Carter L.C. Poullard

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kendra Wiseman DISTRIBUTION Rockie Hayden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Helen Callier Karalynn Cromeens Subcontractors USA News Provider

16-17 20 PERMITS 20 Five Tips To Assist Contractors In Obtaining The Next Building Permit 22 SAFETY 22 Safety professionals: Wearables can help mitigate the effects of jobsite fatigue 22 U.S. Department of Labor Provides Compliance Assistance Resources to Protect Workers from Falls

24 TRANSPORTATION 24 New Port Dispatch Center Equipped For Economic Boon In Freeport Freeport, Texas 24 Small Businesses Benefit Through Port Capital Projects Forum 26 Bullet train takes aim at traffic and dangerous roads 26 $12B Texas bullet train construction could start this year

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04 ARCHITECTURE 04 Five ways architects can protect their data

COO & MANAGING EDITOR Kimberly Floyd

ART DIRECTOR Angel Rosa

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CONTENTS

PUBLISHER & CEO Keith J. Davis, Sr.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Tiffany Brown

– Coretta Scott King

Metro

BEHIND THE JOURNAL

ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla

"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members."

impact on the subcontractor community.

One large event they have planned is the Construction Vendor Expo. This expo is a collaborative effort with the Office of HUB and Procurement Programs and Office of Facilities, Planning and Construction, SSC and general contractors to ensure that HUBs are aware of upcoming opportunities and how to do business with the System.

As always, thank you for your continued support of Subcontractors USA Texas Journal. When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

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ARCHITECTURE

Five ways architects can protect their data

As data privacy concerns make headlines, architects should consider how much they share when specifying products software product or resource that is clear about its data collection and use policies.

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

B

uilding products have always made up a significant portion of construction project budgets, and the specification of those materials takes up a large amount of architects’ time. But while product selection was once generic and took place in a closed environment, today it happens in increasingly transparent ways, such as via the internet or BIM. Information gleaned from this process is very valuable to the construction ecosystem. As an architect, do you know who is collecting and using your data?

Collection and analysis of data has become a big business, including for the AEC space. Because of its influence in the selection of construction products, the design community has an enormous impact on the manufacture, sale, and marketing of building and fit-out products in the United States. This has not gone unnoticed, and there are several services or platforms that are intent on grabbing, scraping, or culling that data for market intelligence.

As long as providers are transparent about what they are doing, these services can be useful to the industry, such as notifying you when a new version of your favorite design software is available. But as recent revelations about Facebook have made clear, it’s important to understand how your data is being used and how to maintain control over what you’re willing to share.

There is one easy way to find out what data is being shared and with whom it is being shared: by reading the end-user license agreement or privacy policy of any software product or website you provide personal data to. Reading a license agreement by itself won’t guarantee privacy, but it will help you figure out what data is being shared and what you can do to control that data stream.

Here are five practices that will help you and your firm maintain control of your preferences, proprietary decisions, and other private data.

1. UTILIZE TRUSTED RESOURCES, BOTH INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL.

2. INSIST ON COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY FROM ALL YOUR DESIGN RESOURCES.

If you don’t understand the terms and conditions, don’t use the resource until you find out exactly what is being collected and how it is being used. For example, will the provider give your email addresses, project name, or other personally or project identifiable information to outside parties?

ties together, but realize that it comes with a cost and a better understanding of your preferences and choices by another party.

4. BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU CLICK.

Whether we like it or not, we work in a highly complex and technology-dense profession. Protecting yourself from the internet isn’t difficult or complicated: Be careful where you click, read warnings about cookies, clean out your cache, and be aware that you are a valuable source of information.

5. FINALLY, READ THE END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR ALL OF YOUR SOFTWARE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.

There are good reasons for collecting data: improving software functionality, proving that the market needs transparency data, or figuring out which products include, don’t have, or could use more certification data, for instance. But does that mean that the platform needs to collect data on your design decisions or scrape an entire BIM model?

3. SEPARATE WORK AND PERSONAL ACCOUNTS.

While it’s easy to develop relationships and use services across different workstations that use a single log-in, doing so gives data miners deeper insights into your personal preferences. It also impacts datadriven paid content. Do you really want to see ads for cat videos popping up while doing product research on a manufacturer’s website at work? It’s incredibly convenient to tie all of your services and identi-

While firms should practice one or all the above, recognize that there are also good reasons to share data—software platforms or BIM libraries have a legitimate need to collect some data to develop products that meet current and future user needs.

Protecting project, firm, and personally identifiable information while online and acknowledging the positive attributes or results that can come from sharing data with selected and trusted partners is a delicate balance.

Applying the practices outlined above will allow you to have more control over your and your firm’s knowledge.

And in a world where knowledge is currency, that’s money in the bank.

Source: The American Institute of Architects

A trusted resource can be internal—such as a firm knowledge base—or external—such as a

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CONSTRUCTION

Houston suburb looking for private partner to develop new hotel, convention center

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

T

he Houston suburb of Sugar Land, Texas, has started a search for a private partner to help develop, build and operate a new hotel and convention center. The city issued a request for statements of interest on Jan. 18.

The project will include a full-service hotel with 350 rooms, a convention center of up to 50,000 square feet, a 700-space parking structure and possibly a community cultural arts venue or some other undetermined amenity.

The hotel and convention center will be located on 22 acres of city-owned property, but the selected private partner will be expected to provide financial backing in addition to construction and operational services. The city’s support will be limited to funding earmarked for tourism and economic development and capital investments paid for by revenue generated from the project, with no use of general property tax money.

Cities all over the U.S. are expanding and upgrading their convention center facilities in order to draw more trade shows and conferences, the type of events that provide an economic benefit not only for the operators of the venues but for restaurants, bars, retailers and other businesses in the local area.

Even Las Vegas, which is already a top convention destination, is overhauling and adding to its capabilities with a

$935 million expansion of the Las Vegas Convention center. In September, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority approved a $792 million guaranteed maximum price contract (GMP) with the construction manager at risk, a joint venture between Turner Construction and Martin-Harris Construction, and the latest estimates have the convention center's new space set for use sometime in 2020.

The aggressive schedule for completion is due in part to the authority’s intention to run construction crews at night. As part of a rezoning request, Clark County commissioners agreed to allow overnight construction hours on certain days of the week between Sept.

2018 and Jan. 2021.

But sometimes convention center plans have a less clear path than the one in Las Vegas. In

Jacksonville, Florida, Jacobs Engineering Group last year got the nod from city officials to move forward with a downtown convention center and hotel project worth more than $1 billion, but the Downtown Investment Authority killed the project after the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars proposed building a convention center complex on one of its properties. It is still up in the air as to what the city will do with the site.

Demolition of the existing structures had already started when the project was axed.

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Source: Construction Dive

March 2019 | 7

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6 Recognize and Use Board Members’ Subject Matter Expertise

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CONSTRUCTION

South Texas county backs $1.8B steel mill project with new reinvestment zone

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

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ommissioners in San Patricio County, Texas, took the first step last week in securing a $1.8 billion Steel Dynamics mill for the Corpus Christi area by voting unanimously to create a reinvestment zone that includes the approximately 2,500-acre piece of land on which the company would build the plant, according to The Corpus Christi Caller Times.

Texas is one of several states in the running for the electric-arc-furnace flat roll steel mill, which could create an economic benefit of $2.8 billion for the state during construction. The plant would produce up to 3 million tons of steel each year and supply the southern U.S. and Mexican flat roll steel markets.

Creation of the reinvestment zone was necessary in order for the county to be able to strike a potential future deal with Steel Dynamics for economic incentives such as tax abatements. Depending on the company's decision, construction could start next year, with the mill moving into production as early as 2021.

State and local governments are typically willing to compete for projects like the Steel Dynamics mill because not only do they provide manufacturing jobs for residents, but they also stimulate the economy during construction.

One thing San Patricio County has going for it is its proximity to one of Steel Dynamics’ suppliers, Voestalpine in Portland, Texas, where the company operates a $1.3 billion hot-briquette iron plant, according to The San Antonio Express-News. Other steel industry businesses that have contributed to about $50 billion of industrial investment in the area during the last 10 years are a $1 billion steel pipe rolling facility owned

by Chinese company TEDA TPCO America Corp. and a $35 million Tex-Isle steel pipe plant.

The Corpus Christi area is also home to a future ethane steam cracker plant that will cost up to $10 billion to get running, owned by ExxonMobil and SABIC through their company Gulf Coast Growth Ventures. Wood, based in the United Kingdom, is the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the project, which is expected to create 6,000 construction jobs. That project, however, which is still in the midst of the permitting and regulatory approval process, has come under fire from environmentalists who argue that construction will damage the fishing and tourist industries.

While energy and petrochemical projects drive industrial construction in the Gulf Coast region of the U.S., e-commerce continues to play a big role in that sector throughout the country as internet retailers beef up their fulfillment businesses. Since 2012, the U.S. has seen the completion of 1.6 billion square feet of new industrial space. As of November 2018, according to Avison Young Chicago, there was an additional 337 million square feet of industrial space under construction.

Source: Construction Dive

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ENERGY

IT & TECHNOLOGY

Companies look to partnerships to survive digital transformation

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

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Creating Gasoline Today That Will Fuel Cars Of Tomorrow

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

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t sounds like the stuff of movies and sci-fi novels, but in a small pilot lab in Clinton, New Jersey, an elite group of ExxonMobil engineers is developing gasoline of the future. Creating fuel for cars that aren’t even on the market seems outrageous— impossible, even—but it’s happening now.

But how do these scientists know what to make? It’s because the brightest minds in science and engineering are also excellent problem solvers.

The challenge in this case is that by 2040 there will be 1.8 billion cars, light trucks and SUVs in the world, up from 1 billion now. Since a major focus for governmental entities and energy producers will be on reducing carbon-intensive output, ExxonMobil looked straight at the heart of the automobile and its source of power: the engine.

“Society expects higher fuel economy but still wants acceleration power,” says Nazeer Bhore, manager of lead generation and downstream breakthrough research at ExxonMobil.

Taking into account the desires of the consumer is largely what led Bhore and his team to their ah-hah idea: making fuels of the future for tomorrow’s advanced turbochargers.

If you’ve driven a fuel-efficient vehicle lately, you may have noticed that the acceleration feature leaves something to be desired. Fuel-efficient engines are smaller than engines of typical cars and trucks, so they lose power. A turbocharger gives the engine that power back. Though turbochargers may seem like gas guzzlers, given the way they launch a car forward, they actually save energy by utilizing the engine’s exhaust gas and feeding it back to the engine when the driver accelerates.

So, since the vast majority of new vehicles on the road will still run on gasoline or diesel, automakers are making customized, more fuel-efficient engines that will require the right gas to match. The gasoline ExxonMobil engineers are developing today, therefore, is being adapted to fit the needs of the turbocharged engine in the future.

Even though creating new fuels is a specialty of ExxonMobil, some may consider a 30-year projection to be an overreach. “It’s a calculated risk, but technology is changing, and what was not possible yesterday is now possible today,” Bhore explains.

Scientists in ExxonMobil’s New Jersey labs are making it a priority.

One thing’s for certain: The next-generation fuels and lubricants brewing in ExxonMobil’s pilot labs meet the central tenet of fuel efficiency—the ability to do more with less, for more people.

Source: ExxonMobil

usinesses are looking for partnerships to help guide them through a period of digital transformation, according to a report from Information Services Group (ISG). Areas of focus include lean project management, agile software development and customer journey mapping, among others.

Stakeholder and product relationships, virtualization of some operations, and long-term feedback and analytics are key in enabling companies to boost their competitiveness through digitalization, the study found.

Digital transformation impacts nearly every facet of an organization, Esteban Herrera, partner and global leader of ISG Research, said in a statement. "Enterprise agility goes far beyond software development and also encompasses the way organizations can adjust their entire operating model to survive and thrive in environments where competition and customer requirements are constantly changing."

Organizational agility is a common refrain among employers planning to keep up with technological innovation. Ordinarily, this phrase refers to contingent work, but employee learning and training are also a part of the conversation.

Moreover, digital learning initiatives are taking the lead when it comes to employee development and upskilling.

For almost every industry, technology is providing access to growth, in some cases, for workers who previously had none. The availability of online and mobile learning is making continuous learning a reality, and these trends have inspired workers to take ownership of their career growth. With open access policies, employers are allowing staff members to take a leadership role and guide their own development.

For many, identifying workers with the most learning potential and targeting those individuals with development opportunities is the newest trend in the learning space. Workers are ready to upskill, according to research, because they know digital transformation will leave them behind if they don't take charge. Studies have shown that the more training employees get, the more they want, meaning digital training initiatives can have positive impact on retention as well.

Source: Construction Dive

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OIL AND GAS

LEGAL

A Data Transformation In America’s Energy Frontier

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

Debt Collection, Part 1:

Reducing Your Risk Take Interest

By Karalynn Cromeens Contributing Writer

I

t’s been three months and your client still hasn’t paid his overdue bill for the work you performed.

What do you do now? Fortunately, the State of Texas has laws in place that protect business owners, allowing you to collect on a debt, but only when the proper protocols are followed.

The Cromeens Law Firm provides expert guidance for business owners when it comes to debt collection, allowing you to maintain focus on your business, not your burdens.

Serial Debtors Beware In part two of the three-part series, we will discuss the successful collection of a debt. But first, let’s examine some of the ways you can avoid the dreaded serial debtor altogether. The art of debt collection begins before any names are signed to the dotted line.

First and foremost, know the person to whom you would like to extend credit. This can be achieved by collecting some of the basic information you will need to contact the person: address, where they operate as a business (county), who they bank with, etc.

Most of the preceding items can be found via the web by performing a quick search. Some of the items should be listed on the application the person fills out prior to deciding to extend them a line of credit.

Apply Yourself The credit application is your ticket to understanding the credit candidate. You will want to “apply” yourself and perform the due diligence required to gain the necessary information so that you can arrive at an educated decision.

In the application, include required information such as trade references, credit terms, and a personal guaranty.

However, it is the personal guaranty that will grant you the most power when it comes to debt collection…if it comes to that.

The personal guaranty guarantees you’ll avoid the pitfalls when it comes to the potential for a debt collection.

It shifts the burden of debt to the individual owner of a company. In the end, the personal guaranty is a negotiable term that can be determined on a case-by-case basis.

In the State of Texas, interest rates are capped at 10% per annum. But if neither party specifies an interest rate, then a standard 6% interest rate, beginning 30 days after the amount is due and payable, may be charged.

Be warned, though, because the State of Texas considers charging an exorbitant interest rate usurious interest, and it is illegal. Stick with the allowable limits or you could end up forfeiting the total amount you are owed.

W

elcome to the oilfield of the future, where wells across hundreds of miles communicate with each other and operators can rely on data-driven insights and real-time automation to make faster, smarter decisions.

Often found in remote corners of the world, these fields of the future will rely on a similar digital network that everyday consumers count on – like smart home thermostats and mobile banking apps, which help limit energy use and drive more productivity.

In the Permian Basin, one of America’s most bountiful unconventional fields, ExxonMobil engineers and Microsoft programmers are working on a digital transformation that will maximize output from ExxonMobil’s more than 1 million acres of operation, making this the largest-ever oil and gas acreage to use cloud technology.

Fees, Please When presented, be sure your credit terms include a provision stating you’re entitled to recover attorney fees for any collection efforts. When such a provision is not included, it’ll require a 30-day demand, with notice, to recover attorney’s fees—before starting the collection process.

Try to sue an LLC for collection without a written provision and you can say bye-bye to the recovery of attorney’s fees.

How to Reduce Risk So the individual has filled out the application and it has come back clean, eh? What now? Well, there are still things you can do to reduce risk while the credit relationship is still good: • Record the bank name on any credit or debit cards used for payment • Copy, and keep copies, of checks used for payment • If the company name changes, collect the new information

If it comes down to collecting a debt, you’ll need to follow the proper steps to collect from the debtor.

We’ll cover this in more detail in “Debt Collection, Part 2: Successfully Securing the Debt.”

The Cromeens Law Firm provides clients with expert navigation of Texas law in regards to debt collection. Contact one of our experienced attorneys today by calling 713-715-7334 or contact us online to discuss your options.

This article is intended as a general educational overview of the subject matter and is not intended to be a comprehensive survey of recent jurisprudence, nor a substitute for legal advice for a specific legal matter. If you have a legal issue, please consult an attorney.

“There is ripe opportunity for the energy industry to transform how we leverage our data flows,” said Anish Patel, ExxonMobil’s Permian technology integration manager. “What was possible 10 years ago is nothing like what we’re doing today, and that trend of rapid innovation will only exponentially accelerate going forward.”

The suite of Microsoft digital tools will allow field operators to collect loads of data every second, which can be analyzed by onsite operators, engineers and researchers across the country. Sensors will be able to deliver real-time data, like pressure and flow rates from wellheads, to cloud computing solutions that can run thousands of computations per second, allowing for quicker analysis of production.

“Microsoft is focused on the business outcomes of our customers, with customer success as a top priority for empowering organizations to achieve more,” said Kate Johnson, president, Microsoft U.S. “Our partnership with ExxonMobil has the potential to transform the energy industry in how to leverage data to increase and maximize production.”

Ultimately, the partnership with Microsoft is expected to generate billions of dollars in value over the next decade, driving capital efficiency and increasing production by up to 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2025.

Source: ExxonMobil

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Make SUBCONTRACTORS USA

How Texas A& Expanding its

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

T

he Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation.

It consists of 11 universities and seven state agencies, each with its own mission, history and goals. Each entity of the System abides by policies and regulations established by The A&M System Board of Regents, and although they all follow the same policies and regulations, each entity operates independently of one another.

At the A&M System office, responsibilities include systemwide planning, coordination and execution of the policies.

The A&M System has deliberately consolidated certain essential services and functions at the System Offices to take advantage of economies of scale and to provide valueadded expertise that would otherwise be too expensive to acquire and maintain by the members independently, including cash, debt and investment management; health, risk and property insurance programs; facilities planning and construction; communications; audit and legal services. To expand on the role of The A&M System with construction, all construction projects over $10 million are handled by the office of Facilities, Planning and Construction for the universities and agencies.

“I think it can be said with the simple statement of ‘make a difference’. I would apply that to not only us and our HUB program but to the subcontractor and general contractor community as well.

Make a difference."

—Jeff Zimmermann, Director of Procurement & Business Services

Procurement and HUB Program efforts for The Texas A&M University System are led by Jeff Zimmermann, Director of Procurement & Business Services, and Keith Williams, HUB Coordinator. Regarding construction, Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

e a Difference

March 2019 | 17

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&M University System’s HUB Program is s Reach in the Subcontractor Community

their work includes coordinating A&M System-led HUB outreach and networking efforts with general contractors and subcontractors, as well as assisting the general contractors in their HUB outreach efforts.

The System office has recently made efforts to expand the reach and impact of its HUB program. They have dedicated more office space for HUB vendor networking meetings, planned more HUB outreach events and added Williams’ position, which is dedicated solely to improving and growing the HUB program. “[Williams’] position was added last year,” Zimmermann said. “He came on board, and he has dedicated 100 percent of his time to the HUB program. Before, it was just one other staff member and me sharing the responsibility.”

Since joining the System, Williams has been reaching out to the community more than ever. He attends the monthly Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum, and the System has expanded its involvement in important organizations such as the Texas Association of African American Chamber of Commerce and Texas Mexican American Chambers of Commerce and are soon-to-be members of the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce as well as the National Association of Minority Contractors – Houston chapter.

Williams and Zimmermann are also focused on reaching other cities in Texas, such as Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio, all cities where the Texas A&M University System has other campuses and/or facilities.

“Our focus is on the great State of Texas and letting the subcontractors and general contractors know that the A&M System does have this program,” Williams said. “We are looking to grow our footprint in Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio, cities that we have a big presence in.”

Another major outreach effort of the A&M System office is

planning the Construction Vendor Expo happening in April in Houston. This expo is a collaborative effort with the Office of HUB and Procurement Programs and Office of Facilities, Planning and Construction, SSC and general contractors to ensure that HUB subcontractors are aware of upcoming opportunities and how to do business with the A&M System.

“We plan to kick off the event with a meeting to discuss the A&M System and how we procure our construction projects,” Zimmermann said. “We will have representatives from our Facilities Planning and Construction department to talk about the entire construction and procurement process.”

SSC, who handles construction projects less than $10 million at many of the campuses, will also present at the event to make potential subcontractors aware of how they procure their projects.

The System chose to host this event in Houston because it is the biggest market closest to College Station, as well as the nearby Prairie View A&M University and Texas A&M at Galveston campuses. Many of the general contractors who have been invited to the event already have existing relationships and “We are projects going on with The Texas A&M University looking to System and will have real job opportunities to disgrow our cuss with the subcontracfootprint in tors in attendance.

This Construction VenHouston, dor Expo is a significant opportunity for many Dallas/Fort HUB subcontractors to Worth and get their foot in the door with a major university San Antonio, system, and this is a key chance for the System to cities that we connect with the commuhave a big nity and show that they care about doing business presence in.” with vendors in the community.

—Keith Zimmermann says this is Williams, HUB just the start of The Texas Coordinator A&M University System hosting events for HUB opportunities in construction.

The A&M System HUB Program plans to have similar events which not only include the general contractors, but the design teams and engineers as well.

“All of these efforts are aimed at increasing awareness,” Zimmermann said. “Working with more HUBs and reaching more subcontractors through hosting events and working with SubContractors USA are all part of our emphasis on pushing this program and getting more involved with the community.”

When asked why it is important to The Texas A&M University System to be involved with HUB vendors and connect subcontractors to big opportunities, Zimmermann and Williams both emphasized the importance of being present in the community.

“I would say the emphasis is that we are in the community,” Williams said. “We want to let subcontractors know that we really care, and we want to be a bigger part of their community. We want to leave a bigger footprint and understand more of the community.”

“I think it can be said with the simple statement of ‘make a difference’,” Zimmermann said. “I would apply that to not only us and our HUB program but to the subcontractor and general contractor community as well. Make a difference. In whatever you do, make a difference.”

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PERMITS

Five Tips To Assist Contractors In Obtaining The Next Building Permit

By Helen Callier Contributing Writer

W

hen faced with repeated delays in obtaining city building permits, do you continue to go back and forth to meet with the Plan Reviewers in hopes that today will be the magical day? Do you scratch your head and wonder what the notice on the website means when it says 15-day plan review process? If you are Contractor, you remain engaged with wishes that you can get started with your construction project soon.

While City Permitting can be confusing and frustrating, many Architects, Contractors and Project Owners have found that working with partners such as Permit Expediters reduces the burden on internal staff and helps them to focus on core services. Also, after doing the math and research, they recognize that specialists can complete permitting tasks faster and at lower cost than they can.

Organizations that have made the decision to use a third-party provider

for managing building permits also believe that building code specialists and expediters have greater expertise and can reduce the risk of delays in obtaining permits.

neers and Project Owners during the construction documents phase.

And if it is the best for your business and you are determined to handle the building permitting challenges on your own, here are three quick tips to assist you in this effort.

Develop Strategic Relationships Having a strategic relationship with entities that invest time in understanding your business goals, operational needs and type of projects can play a key role in not only saving your company time and money but also in your business growth.

Also, through strategic relationships, you have an added bonus with quick access to advice on building codes and an entity that can quickly access information, versus waiting around for a response from City permitting.

Keeps Your Firm Ready By working with special partners, Ar-

• Get started early • Do not assume the Architect or Engineer knows all the city building codes • Ask questions

chitects, Contractors and Project Owners are reassured that they have the right resources in place for their business model to deliver permitting services when needed and to support their business in an effective manner during the year.

Building permit experts stay abreast of the latest changes in processes, building codes and even City personnel shifts which helps to minimize risks in obtaining city permits. In addition, this information is a value-add to Architects, Engi-

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In Conclusion The Permit Us Now team will be continuing its workshops on “12 Steps to Obtain a Building Permit” and we welcome Contractors, Architects and Project Owners to join us. To learn more, call 1.844.

PERMIT.4 (1.844.737.6484). Ask about our bilingual workshops and follow us @ PermitUsNow on Facebook. Build safe.

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SAFETY

Safety professionals: Wearables can help mitigate the effects of jobsite fatigue

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

T

he American Society of Safety Professionals Foundation has released the results of a three-year study on worker fatigue that indicates that wearable technology could play a role in both better defining the problem of overtired workers and increasing safety on the job.

In “Advancing Safety Surveillance Using Individualized Sensor Technology (ASSIST): Final Progress Report,” the foundation said that the combination of wearable sensors such as smart clips on belts and hardhats, big data analysis and safety engineering could measure and model fatigue to determine how it impacts worker safety and that “meaningful data” could be collected using this approach without great expense to employers and with minimal disruption to work schedules.

The study found that the most affected areas of an overtired worker are the ankles, eyes, lower back and feet and that the major causes were lack of sleep, stress and shift scheduling. Most workers deal with being tired on the job by drinking caffeinated beverages, stretching or engaging in other exercises

and talking with co-workers. The foundation said that although the study was directed toward workers on the manufacturing floor, the same technological interventions could be beneficial to other strenuous jobs, like those in the construction industry.

In the construction industry, the problem of worker fatigue is more than just academic.

The National Safety Council in October reported that 100% of the construction workers they

surveyed had at least one risk factor for on-the-job fatigue and that only 75% believed being overtired on a construction site was a safety issue. However, 98% of employers said fatigued workers did pose safety risks. And while 96% of employers said it was unsafe to drive while overly tired, only 78% of employees agreed that it was.

The council suggested that more employee education about the dangers of jobsite fatigue was in order, as was modifying the length of shifts and workweeks, scheduling regular rest breaks and setting up a fatigue reporting system.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has also dedicated space on its website to information about combating worker fatigue and suggests that employers: • Take stock of work schedules and adjust them to reduce the chance that they will result in worker fatigue.

• Arrange schedules to allow for rest and nighttime sleep.

• Arrange lighting, temperature and other physical worksite conditions to increase alertness.

• Provide worker education and training about fatigue and how it can affect, among other things, their health.

• Consider establishing a Fatigue Risk Management Plan.

Source: Construction Dive

SAFETY

U.S. Department of Labor Provides Compliance Assistance Resources to Protect Workers from Falls

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

T

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed a collection of compliance assistance resources to address falls in the workplace, the leading cause of worker fatality in the construction industry.

OSHA’s goal is to promote awareness about common fall hazards in construction, educate job creators and workers on fall prevention, and reduce the number of fall-related injuries and fatalities. These resources, which continue the goals of the Department’s Office of Compliance Initiatives (OCI), encourage and facilitate compliance evaluations.

Falls can be prevented if employers plan ahead to ensure the job is done safely; provide the right equipment; and train workers to use the equipment safely. OSHA is working with industry stakeholders to provide informative compliance assistance resources.

• The sixth annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent

Falls in Construction will be held May 6-10, 2019. The weeklong outreach event encourages employers and workers to pause during the workday to discuss fall hazards and how to prevent them.

• A series of fall safety videos show how to prevent construction-related fall hazards from floor openings, skylights, fixed scaffolds, bridge decking, reroofing, and leading edge work.

• OSHA’s Fall Prevention Training Guide provides a lesson plan for employers including several Toolbox Talks.

• Fact sheets on ladders and scaffolding provide guidance on the safe use of these types of equipment while performing construction activities.

• A brief video, 5 Ways to Prevent Workplace Falls, encourages employers to develop a fall prevention plan, and to provide workers with fall protection and training.

OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program provides valuable services for job creators that are separate from enforcement. OSHA recently published an analysis demonstrating how the agency’s OnSite Consultation Program contributes $1.3 billion to the national economy each year. Job creators who implement workplace improvements can reduce lost time due to injuries and illnesses, improve employee morale, increase productivity, and lower workers’ compensation insurance premiums.

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Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http:// www.osha.gov.

OCI – housed within the Department of Labor’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy – fosters a compliance assistance culture within the Department designed to complement its ongoing enforcement efforts. This Office focuses on helping enforcement agencies more effectively use online resources to deliver information and compliance assistance to help the American people. In August 2018, OCI launched Worker.gov and Employer.gov to provide information about workers’ rights and the responsibilities of job creators toward their workers.

Source: OSHA

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What We Do POSITION

ADVOCATE

CONVENE

our region to secure critical transportation funding at the local, state and federal levels.

for ALL modes of transportation to promote a healthy state of mobility.

our region’s industry experts, community leaders and elected officials to build consensus and unity on tr transportation needs.

EDUCATE . COMMUNICATE . ADVOCATE 1160 Dairy Ashford Suite 500 Houston, Texas 77079 832.459.5116

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TRANSPORTATION

New Port Dispatch Center Equipped

For Economic Boon In Freeport Freeport, Texas

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

A

new port dispatch center could prove to have an invaluable economic impact on Freeport area jobs, the local shipping industry and beyond.

The Port Freeport Commission voted unanimously to approve a contract for pilot dispatch services with Fort Velasco Signal Station, LLC for monitoring and managing the ship traffic coming in and out of the Freeport Harbor as the port continues to grow and flourish.

Larger ports have used and operated dispatch centers for decades to help manage their ship traffic, but it has not been economically efficient to have one in Freeport until now.

“Port Freeport has reached a growth level where the users of the channel must truly share the waterway,” said Billy Burns, president of the Brazos Pilots Association.

The Brazos Pilots Association, along with Port Freeport and industry leaders Dow Chemical, Enterprise Products, Freeport LNG and Phillips 66, are jointly sharing in the cost to operate the dispatch center at no costs to the taxpayers. The dispatch center is expected to be housed in the association’s headquarters.

“Freeport LNG congratulates Port Freeport and the Brazos Pilots Association on its new Pilot Dispatch Center. The center will enhance the safety and efficiency of port operations," said Heather Browne, director, corporate communications, Freeport LNG.

“We look forward to our continued work with both the Port and the Brazos Pilots Association as Freeport nears the substantial completion of its liquefaction project.”

“The Pilots’ knowledge of the port and the Freeport Harbor Channel play an integral role in the movement of commerce in this region. They are a strong asset for the entire Freeport Harbor community, and the addition of the new dispatch service will support the growth in the port and ensure safe, efficient navigation along the channel,” said Port Commission Chairman Paul Kresta. “It will give the pilots mobile access to the timely, accurate information they need to schedule and perform their jobs.”

With significant growth in vessel traffic over the last two years and more facilities coming on line, Freeport has grown into a bustling port. “We are modernizing how we do business to keep up with the growth,” Burns said.

“The new dispatch service will allow channel users, agents, the U.S. Coast Guard, and law enforcement to have complete visibility to vessel scheduling and through a secure web interface. It allows all users to share information, so everyone is working together. A much more efficient, safer and effective movement of goods is the result.”

The Freeport Harbor Channel is a leading economic catalyst for the Texas Gulf Coast. According to a Texas A&M Transportation Institute study, as of 2016, the channel generated 126,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs with a total annual economic impact of $46.2 billion. In 2018, more than 900 vessels called the port, carrying over 17 million tons of cargo. Port Freeport is ranked 19th among U.S. ports and 5th in Texas in total tonnage.

Source: Port Freeport

TRANSPORTATION

Small Businesses Benefit Through Port Capital Projects Forum

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

M

ore than 150 local small business representatives attended the port’s Small Business Capital Improvement Projects and Subcontracting Opportunities Forum. Port Houston’s small business development program was created to provide opportunities for local small businesses to participate in contracting and procurement at the port.

Key goals of the program are economic development, sustainability and growth of small businesses,

and industry-focused workshops and events. Port Houston is investing $280 million dollars towards capital projects in 2019. Since the inception of the program in May 2002, small business participation rate is at 39 percent with over half a billion awarded to local small businesses.

Currently, there are more than 1,100 firms enrolled in the Small Business Development Program.

Ross Talbot, project and construction manager for Port Houston, provided an overview of upcoming construction and design projects at Port

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Houston. The workshop focused on infrastructure projects that further drive port operations. Port Houston continues to expand its facilities to handle cargo volume growth.

“This forum is designed to provide information to local small business subcontractors who need the connections, knowledge and networking to get ahead and grow their business," said Gilda Ramirez, senior director of small business education and outreach for Port Houston.

Source: Port Houston

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MORE THAN BRICKS AND MORTAR

As one of the nation’s largest commercial builders, Turner is dedicated to providing avenues of opportunity for Minority- and Woman-Owned Businesses in Houston to achieve entrepreneurial success.

Our commitment to social responsibility and fair play is not just on paper; it is ingrained in our corporate culture. We are devoted to making sure the contributions that strengthen the local economy reflect the demographics of the community at large.

w w w. t u r n e rc o n s t r u c t i o n . c o m

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TRANSPORTATION

Bullet train takes aim at traffic and dangerous roads

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

T

exas’ high-speed train ended 2018 with remarkable progress, putting Houston and the rest of the state another step closer to a dynamic and much-needed transportation choice.

It is estimated that more than 1,100 people are moving to this great state every day, drawn by our economic dynamism and ability to elevate problem-solvers willing to take on the thorniest issues in bold and creative ways.

Houston and North Texas are the dual engines driving this growth, thanks to our encouraging, entrepreneur-friendly cultures. While this unprecedented growth has been a blessing, Texas must tackle emerging transportation and infrastructure issues if we hope to remain an attractive destination in the years to come.

Interstate 45 — the massive highway that links our economic and commercial hubs — is a prime example.

In addition to being perpetually traffic-clogged, this vital artery is routinely ranked as one of America’s deadliest highways.

Texans deserve an alternative that’s fast, safe and reliable — a high-speed train running between Houston and North Texas, with a midway stop in the Brazos Valley. This 200-mph train will link the top metro areas in 90 minutes while generating widespread benefits for communities along the route.

In addition to bringing the two most populated urban areas in Texas closer together, the high-speed train will be an engine for economic growth. It will directly create 10,000 jobs during each year of construction, and 1,500 permanent, highly trained positions once fully operational.

Over 25 years, the project is expected to add more than $36 billion directly into state and local economies.

Texas Central expects to pay taxes going to counties, cities, schools, hospital districts and other entities along the route. It will not take state or federal grants for operations or construction. Like any other private business, it will contribute to communities and decrease the burden on individual taxpayers.

Independent research shows that more than 16 million people travel between Houston and North Texas each year, and the number is growing. This is in an area where four counties are already air quality nonattainment status. Economic development groups have recognized the train’s positive, differentiating impact to help relieve the strains on existing infrastructure and accommodate growing demands.

In Houston, whose official seal boasts a train engine as a symbol of progress, the preferred site of the new passenger station is the Northwest Mall, in a high-growth area with easy ac-

cess to employment centers, including the Galleria, the Energy Corridor and downtown. The station not only will be a catalyst for economic development, but it also will offer convenient, efficient and direct access for passengers to and from local transit systems.

Texas Central has hit all of its financial milestones, including securing equity— most coming from Texans — and an interest-bearing loan that will provide enough funding for all activities required for the project to reach financial close. The project is moving ahead on permitting, design and engineering, as well as other early works needed to launch construction.

Contrary to what others have said, Texas Central is a bona fide railroad company and electric railway, overseen by federal regulators in helping to determine the train’s most advantageous route between Texas’ major commercial centers.

Unlike California, which just announced that it is scaling back its government-financed high-speed train network, Texas Central is taking a fundamentally different approach, one driven by data and disciplined by the free market. It is led by entrepreneurs, an investorowned infrastructure project being developed without government grants or operational subsidies.

We know the market and economics between North Texas and Houston match those of successful train systems globally, and we are confident that the Texas line will provide the revenue to sustain the operations, repay the debt and provide a return to the investors.

Other recent highlights include bringing on board global industry leaders: international railway company Renfe is the train’s operating partner; multinational firm Salini Impregilo — operating in the U.S. market with The Lane Construction Corporation — is leading the civil construction consortium that will build the train; and Bechtel, with operational headquarters in Houston, is on Texas Central’s project management services team.

I am excited to be leading a project that leverages the capital and spirit of entrepreneurs instead of relying on taxpayer dollars. The Texas Central business model could provide the pathway for similar projects, a cooperative, free-market approach in which critical projects are built in months and years, not decades, and in a manner that doesn’t encourage wasteful spending.

By meeting the mobility needs of our booming state and solving our most pressing problems in a smart way that adheres to Texas values of self-reliance and entrepreneurship, the high-speed train represents a true game-changer for all.

Source: Texas Central

TRANSPORTATION

$12B Texas bullet train construction could start this year

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

T

exas Central Partners could begin construction on its $12 billion Dallas-to-Houston high-speed rail project in late 2019 or early 2020, according to The Houston Chronicle. The developer also has tentative plans for a midway stop near Texas A&M University in College Station or Bryan.

The bullet train will be modeled after Japan’s Shinkansen high-speed train system because of its safety and efficiency track record. Texas Central says that the train's two-track system — one northbound and one southbound — will not share tracks with freight lines.

The rail developer is pressing on despite a recent Leon County, Texas, court decision that denied its status as a railroad. Company officials said the firm will appeal that ruling, which could interfere with future attempts by the company to acquire land through eminent domain.

The Dallas-to-Houston bullet train has been under fire from landowners along the proposed route since development began. However, the rail now has another public relations obstacle to overcome — the inevitable comparisons to the $77 billion, Los Angeles-to-San Francisco high-speed rail debacle.

After years of cost overruns and schedule delays, California Gov. Gavin Newsom considerably scaled back the project, announcing last week that construction would continue only on the Central Valley portion of the rail from Merced to Bakersfield. The project was dealt another blow this week when the Federal Rail Administration notified the California High-Speed Rail Authority that it intends to cancel a $929 million funding agreement for the line.

Texas Central President and CEO Carlos Aguilar highlighted differencesbetween the two projects to discourage comparisons between them.

On the company's website, he explained that California project features like the tunnels required to connect Los Angeles to San Francisco made the project more complex — and about six times more expensive — than the Texas rail. The cost for the Los Angeles tunnels alone could exceed $20 billion, he said.

David Hagy, regional vice president of external affairs for Texas Central, told the Chronicle that the land between Houston and Texas is mostly flat, which will make the construction process far simpler when compared to the California project.

Aguilar also said that the private investment that will finance the Texas project will be handled more efficiently and that “the market and economics between North Texas and Houston match and exceed those of successful train routes globally.”

Source: Construction Dive

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Houston supports small businesses & entrepreneurs Learn how certifications, classes and other tools from The Office of Business Opportunity can help you start and grow your enterprise Web: houstontx.gov/obo

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HUB OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT

For more information about how to do business with the University of Houston, bid opportunities or to be kept abreast of events, workshops and seminars, visit www.uh.edu/hub or email us at hubevent@uh.edu

THE HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS (HUB) Program at the University of Houston was established to identify and encourage HUBs to participate in the competitive bid process with the objective of increasing the number of contracts and subcontracts awarded to HUB vendors.

THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HUB PROGRAM is committed to expanding business opportunities available in order to promote the successful development of growing businesses, to have a positive impact on improving our local economy and to give back to our community.

We encourage solicitations from HUB vendors in an effort to award more contracts to those businesses.

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