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July 2019 | Advertising for Certified Women, Veteran & Minority-Owned Subcontractors | 40th Edition
2019 Top 25 Prime & Sub Contractors and Supplier Diversity Champions Awards Luncheon
17-24
INSIDE
36
TxDOT Advances LBJ East Project
25-28
METRO Salutes the 2019 Class of the Interagency Mentor Protégé Program
32 Upcoming DBE Opportunities Drive 288
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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 highlights the 2019 Top 25 Prime & Sub Contractors & Supplier Diversity Champions Luncheon. This luncheon is a chance for Subcontractors USA to highlight agencies, primes and subcontractors as well as those in the industries of architecture, engineering, construction, transportation, IT, petrochemical,
Port of Houston
ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Tiffany Brown STAFF WRITER Carly Hammack
—Louis Green, former president, National Minority Supplier Development Council
City of Houston
HISD
04
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CONTENTS
PUBLISHER & CEO Keith J. Davis, Sr. COO & MANAGING EDITOR Kimberly Floyd
“The future of supplier diversity is all about delivering results. With the demographics of this country changing so rapidly, the fate of our nation's economy rests on the growth of minority businesses. Minority businesses represent the biggest potential growth sector in our economy. We need to be able to create, build and sustain minority businesses. And more than ever before, we need to accurately report our impact to win public support for what we do.”
Metro
BEHIND THE JOURNAL
oil and gas, energy and manufacturing who all work together to foster diversity in Texas. This year’s group of deserving honorees realize the importance of being inclusive and have made it a point to display that in their business. This annual event celebrates those who are contributing to Texas’ economic growth and prosperity. 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.
04 ARCHITECTURE 04 Sustainability-focused certifications prove valuable, but tricky to navigate 04 How Architects Can Present at SXSW
06-08 CONSTRUCTION 06 Fluor-Balfour Beatty JV wins $1.7B Dallas highway contract 08 Making up for the construction labor shortage with technology 08 Exxon-SABIC to start construction on $10B Corpus Christi, Texas, ethane cracker plant
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10 ENERGY 10 Balancing Energy Demand And Climate 10 Creating Gasoline Today That Will Fuel Cars Of Tomorrow
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25-28 METRO (SPECIAL SECTION) 25-28 Metro Salutes the 2019 Class of the Interagency Mentor Protégé Program
PHOTOGRAPHY Grady Carter L.C. Poullard
17-24 COVER STORY 17-24 2019 Top 25 Prime & Sub Contractors (Special Event)
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28 LEGAL 28 Why Liens Work
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30 PERMITS 30 What Every Contractor Ought to Know About Pulling a Residential Pool Building Permit
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34 SAFETY 34 Working in Outdoor and Indoor Heat Environments
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36 TRANSPORTATION 36 TxDOT Advances LBJ East Project 36 Port Apprenticeship Program Revived To Meet Employment Demand
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ARCHITECTURE
Sustainability-focused certifications prove valuable, but tricky to navigate “It was important because we were seeing an increase in the number of natural disasters that were occurring, and how that impacts the built environment. There was no way to say, ‘If you do X, Y, and Z, it will be more resilient,’” he says. “It was an opportunity for us. We weren’t looking to actually create the points and the checklist, we were looking to create an aggregation of all of the data that was already out there—to have better conversations during design, so that it could impact operations at a later date. But also, what could we do right away, raising the first floor a couple feet to be out of the flood plain, for example.” “We’re seeing a lot of traction with RELi with the insurance industry,” he continues, meaning that certification will be an attractive thing for building owners.“How can we lower our flood insurance premiums? How can we lower our business continuity insurance premiums? So, I would say in the next two or three years, we may start seeing this benchmark certification have some direct economic benefits to owners and users.”
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
A
n A’19 session on third-party certification aimed to increase architects’ skills in designing to health, resilience, and sustainability standards. In the coming decades, identifying the areas of overlap between climate adaptation, sustainability, and human health—and using that information to inform design—will become ever more essential parts of architectural practice. The day after the AIA Annual Meeting at A’19, where a new resolution calling for AIA to increase its support of climate action received overwhelming support, Jon Penndorf, FAIA, led a session that aimed to enhance architects’ awareness and skill set as they relate to third-party certification programs that foster resilient, sustainable, and healthy buildings. LEED, Fitwel, RELi, and the WELL Building Standard, among others, set important guidelines, but navigating them can sometimes be challenging—they are documentation-intensive, and add greater upfront costs. “Start early,” Penndorf advises architects who may be less familiar with the process of seeking third-party certification for a building project. “Make it part of your project kickoff, your launch meetings with your clients. Make sure you understand what your client goals are.” Using a diagram, Penndorf outlined five lenses of ecological design: regeneration, resilience, restoration, sustainability, and wellness, with overlaps among all five. “What we’re aiming for is design in the middle, so that it hits more than one lens,” he says. The Perkins + Will office in Washington, D.C., where Penndorf works, is a convenient case study for the possibilities inherent in designing for both sustainability and wellness. Completed in 2010, it received LEED Platinum and Fitwel 3 Stars certification. Standards like indoor environmental quality and the proximity of the office to public transit contributed to these high ratings. Knowing which accreditation is right for which project
stepbeyond beyond AAstep involves a number of factors: cost, project size, and sheer capacity for taking on the intensive documentation that each standard requires. The WELL Building Standard is known for being rigorous, incorporating an on-site testing component. “There’s more time involved, and potentially more iteration,” Penndorf says. If certain standards are not met the first time, architects may need to go back to the drawing board.
newstandard standard AAnew Penndorf and Perkins+Will also played an active role in the development of RELi, a program that provides rating guidelines for resilient design and construction. Designed for use in tandem with LEED certification, RELi is the first program of its kind to quantify a building’s resilience against extreme weather events like flooding.
Neil McCarthy, AIA, a principal at RMC Architects in Bellingham, Washington, said that he attended the session because he was interested in the interplay among available third-party accreditations. However, his primary interest is in social capital, and he doesn’t see that reflected in a meaningful way yet. “What is there that we can do in architecture that increases a sense of community within the building?” he asks. “People do like their privacy, but they do want to interact with other people. How can we as architects support that? That’s what I’m curious about.” Increasing a sense of community within a building, in McCarthy’s opinion, should become a more quantifiable and standardized process. “That may be the next frontier,” he says. Source: AIA
ARCHITECTURE
How
Architects
Can Present
at SXSW By Subcontractors USA News Provider
O
n July 1, South by Southwest will open the public call for submissions for its 2020 Interactive Festival, which is one of the world’s most important conferences about emerging technology and the future of society. While tech has been the focus of the event, over the years it has grown to include presentations on everything from advertising and media to cannabusiness
and the gaming industry. The conference’s themes, or “tracks,” also include several topics extremely relevant to architecture and the built environment. And yet, as Ibai Rigby reported in the May/June issue of Texas Architect, the profession is largely absent from the proceedings. Architects need to be involved in this discussion. If not, we leave the conversation about how people are going to live and interact in the hands of other disciplines. At stake is nothing less than the future relevancy of the profession. Is architecture to become more and more just a service industry bowing to the demands of other specialists? Or will it wade into the discourse about the future and assert its expertise? Here’s how the submission process works and how the profession can get involved. SXSW’s PanelPicker is a session proposal platform that allows the public to submit ideas for presentations and panels. This year, the platform will be open from July 1 through July 19. Once all submis-
sions are in, the public can review them and vote on their favorites. The SXSW advisory board and SXSW staff then consider the public’s input while evaluating the proposals and picking which ones will be included in the conference. Submissions are evaluated for the originality and relevancy of content and the depth of knowledge of the presenter or panel. Panels are privileged over individual presenters, and diversity among panelists is also given priority. From what has been chosen in the past, it also seems evident that presentations
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that optimistically propose solutions to problems are favored over those that paint a dire picture of what’s to come. Prospective presenters are asked to submit a title, a brief description of the panel or presentation, a video of the presenter or moderator speaking intelligibly about their subject, a list of takeaways, and the names of the presenter and/or panelists. SXSW does not cover travel or lodging for speakers, but everyone who presents does receive a badge that grants them access to the entire festival. There are 20 tracks for 2020. Those most relevant to architecture include Climate & Social Action, Connection & Culture, Design, Fantastic Future, and Workplace. But, since architecture touches everything, architects might also find cause to submit for tracks like Health & Medtech, Sports, and XR. Source: Texas Architect
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CONSTRUCTION
Fluor-Balfour Beatty JV
wins $1.7B Dallas highway contract By Subcontractors USA News Provider
T
he Texas DOT (TxDOT) has selected the joint venture of Fluor Corp. and Balfour Beatty Infrastructure to design and reconstruct a section of Interstate 635 in Dallas, according to a Fluor press release. As part of the I-635 LBJ East Project, the JV will widen and rebuild approximately 11 miles of interstate. Work at this section of I-635 is to the north and east of Dallas and will include construction of general purpose lanes and reconstruction of the existing managed lanes in each direction; building of continuous frontage roads, which will include intersection improvements at cross streets; design and construction of a bridge; and improvements to the I-30 interchange and another section of I-30. The contract with the TxDOT also includes an option for Fluor to provide maintenance for the new work. The project, which will provide approximately 500 construction jobs at peak activity, should be substantially complete sometime in the second half of 2024.
Dive Insight: Insight: Dive Fluor and Balfour bid the project as Pegasus Link Constructors and listed AECOM Technical Services and Raba Kistner Infrastructure as major participants. Pegasus beat out two other teams to win the project. The other competitors were Trinity East Construction (Ferrovial Agroman US Corp./Webber LLC) and LBJ Constructors (Kiewit Infrastructure South Co./Zachry Construction Corp.) The industry sees many of the same big companies bidding on these infrastructure projects, largely because they are financially stable enough to provide payment and performance bonds, as well as invest in important predesign and planning as part of the bid process. And they have developed deep benches of technical and project management expertise. However, even major infrastructure firms can run into trouble. Widely thought to be connected to its Italian parent company's bankruptcy filing, Astaldi Construction Corp. voluntarily defaulted on four Florida infrastructure projects in April. Astaldi's surety companies have been working with the Florida DOT to secure replacement contractors, and the agency has issued contracts to three new firms for a $7.6 million bridge in Citrus County; the $50 million wideningof US 301 near Tampa; and Section 7A of the $1.6 billion Wekiva Parkway project near Orlando. But financially sound contractors can also experience project issues that lead to delays and cost overruns. Skanska USA is part of the $2.3 billion I-4 Ultimate public-private partnership in Orlando, Florida, and is also one of the joint venture partners of prime contractor SGL Constructors. The 21-mile toll lane project has seen four fatalities since the start of construction in 2016, and the P3 filed a $100 million claim with the state of Florida asserting cost overruns and approximately 245 in delay days related to flooding and the failure of drilled shafts. Source: Construction Dive
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CONSTRUCTION
CONSTRUCTION
Exxon-SABIC to start construction on $10B Corpus Christi, Texas, ethane cracker plant
Making up for the construction labor shortage with technology
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
E
Automated Machinery
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
I
n spite of recovering major ground after the Great Recession, the construction industry is still facing troubling skilled labor shortages, with a lack of qualified candidates stepping up to take over the positions once held by industry veterans nearing retirement age. The construction industry lost 2.3 million jobs between 2006-2011, and today there are a million fewer residential construction jobs than before 2006, according to Tradesmen International. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey shows nearly 200,000 unfilled construction industry jobs nationwide. This gap between available positions and skilled workers ready to fill them puts added pressure on developers, contractors and owners. Even in the face of a worker shortage, construction is booming. Companies are now looking to technological solutions to shore up operations, increase efficiencies and do more with less.
We’re still a ways off from robots taking over construction jobs en masse, but there are already some companies making self-driving construction machinery to do repetitive tasks more efficiently than their human counterparts can manage, such as pouring concrete, bricklaying, welding and even demolition. Excavation and other prep work is also being completed by autonomous or semi-autonomous bulldozers, which can ready a jobsite with the help of a human programmer to exact specifications. Robotic workers completing these functions frees up humans for the construction work itself, and saves time on the front-end of a project.
The use of drone technology and artificial intelligence has gone a long way to cut labor costs and reduce the number of workers needed for complex projects. Drones equipped with sophisticated 3D mapping capabilities or cameras can buzz high above construction sites, creating highly accurate models of work in progress, and relaying photographs and other data to site managers to monitor progress, even remotely. This work used to involve several workers manually mapping everything out over the course of several hours. With a drone, the same job can be accomplished in 10 minutes. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are increasingly finding their way to construction companies, who harness their data crunching capabilities to better plan for distribution of labor and machinery across jobs. A robotic brain constantly evaluating job progress and even the location of workers and equipment enables human managers to tell at a glance which jobsites have enough workers and gear to complete the project on schedule, and which might be falling behind where additional labor could be deployed.
Dive Insight:
Construction companies are increasingly relying on factories staffed by autonomous robots, which piece together components of a home or other structures, and these pieces are then shipped to their final destination and pieced together by human workers. Simple structures like walls and facades can be completed assembly-line style by autonomous machinery much faster and more efficiently than their human counterparts, leaving specialty contractors to finish the detail work like plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems when the structure is fitted together. Traditionally, construction has had a complicated relationship with technology, but the shortage of skilled labor coupled with the surging demand for building projects has forced the industry to re-evaluate that relationship to make up the shortfall.
ExxonMobil said the project will also create 600 permanent jobs and provide $50 billion of economic output in the first six years of operations. An ethane cracker plant extracts the ethane found in natural gas and processes it into ethylene, a chemical that is used in the production of polyethylene plastic and monoethylene glycol, which is used to make products like antifreeze. ExxonMobil said the chemicals produced at the new plant will go toward making automotive coolants, building, construction materials and clothing. The energy and petrochemical industries have had a strong, long-time presence in the Gulf Coast region of the U.S., primarily due to the area's location, which makes it a prime export hub for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other products. ExxonMobil also has a partnership with Qatar Petroleum to build a $10 billion LNG export facility in Sabine Pass, Texas. Construction of the Golden Pass project was to have started by the end of March. That project is also supposed to generate thousands of construction jobs — 9,000 as of the latest estimate — and inject tens of billions of dollars into the U.S. economy. McDermott International said that it had been awarded a "mega contract" — defined by the company as one exceeding $1 billion — to build the project and that it would perform the work alongside joint venture partners Chiyoda International Corp. and Zachry Group. ExxonMobil plans on spending $20 billion during the next 10 years to expand its operations in Texas and Louisiana, including a $2 billion expansion of its Baytown, Texas, chemical plant. This Grow the Gulf plan is part of the company's wider investment of $50 billion it plans to make in its U.S. businesses during the next five years.
Source: Construction Dive
Source: Construction Dive
Enhanced Collaboration
Drones and AI
xxonMobil announced that it is ready to start construction, with partner SABIC, on a $10 billion ethane cracker plant near Corpus Christi, Texas. The Gulf Coast Ventures project received its final environmental regulatory approval this month to construct an ethane steam cracker, two polyethylene units and a monoethylene glycol unit. Construction is expected to start in the third quarter of this year, with completion scheduled by 2022. The selected engineering, procurement and construction companies are The Wood Group; McDermott & Turner Industries Group; Chiyoda & Kiewit; and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries & Zachry Group. ExxonMobil said the project's building phase will create 6,000 construction jobs and generate $22 billion in economic activity.
Collaboration tools and software help keep workers on task, and ensure everyone has easy access to a job’s specifications, change orders and drawings. Technology like Building Information Modeling (BIM) creates hyper-realistic 3D and 4D models of any structure, creating a collaboratively-editable digital version of a job in progress, which can then easily be altered, with every worker and manager instantly aware of the changes. The system also can show any potential problems with the plans that ordinarily might not be discovered until the work is underway, which could lead to a time-consuming and costly diversion of labor resources to correct the error.
Off-site Construction
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Strategic Imperatives focused on Minority Business Inclusion Why D/FW MSDC?
Become a part of the premier leader in North Texas to connect Buying Entity Members (corporations and public sector agencies) with certified ethnic minority-owned businesses in order to deliver innovation, supply chain excellence, a competitive marketplace advantage and economic impact to our communities.
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2 Build MBE Capacity Through Tiered Programming
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4 Advance Diversity Programs Focused On Minority Inclusion
5 Improve Organizational Infrastructure
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ENERGY
Balancing Energy Demand And Climate “Getting the ‘people part’ right is the foundation of everything we do,” Woods said. “We recruit talented people and retain the vast majority for an entire career. This provides us with a workforce of unsurpassed experience and industry knowledge.” Already, ExxonMobil is on track to reduce its methane emissions by 15 percent and f laring by 25 percent by 2020. Since 2000, the company has invested more than $9 billion on lower-emission research and development. In addition, the company continues to work with outside partners like Synthetic Genomics on algae biofuels, and with more than 80 universities around the world on other initiatives. Most recently, ExxonMobil announced a $100 million investment in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Laboratories to advance fundamental research and help scale up lower-emission technologies. That work is critical in providing cleaner, more abundant energy.
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
T
he world is demanding more energy and fewer emissions. It’s a challenge that is anything but simple, but each day, thousands of ExxonMobil employees, including engineers and scientists, push the limits of technology to help solve it. “We don’t believe that society has to choose between economic prosperity or reducing the risk of climate change,” said ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Darren Woods at this year’s annual shareholder meeting. “We can do both, which is what we are working on.” A look at the numbers shows why solving this challenge is so important. Specifically, the world’s population is expected to grow by 30 percent to 9 billion people over the next two decades. A growing portion of the world’s expanding population will join the middle class, and meeting their expectation for more comfortable lives requires safe and reliable energy. That’s why energy demand over that same time period is projected to jump by 25 percent. But meeting that need doesn’t mean sacrificing emission reductions. It takes creative thinking by ExxonMobil researchers, which is why the company’s ability to find success starts with its people.
Source: ExxonMobil
ENERGY
Creating Gasoline Today That Will Fuel Cars Of Tomorrow By Subcontractors USA News Provider
I
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 for ward, 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
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LEGAL
Why Liens Work By Nathan Estrada Contributing Writer
What is a Mechanics and Materialman’s Lien?
T
he Texas Constitution provides that: ‘mechanics artisans, and material men, of every class, shall have a lien upon the building and articles made or repaired by them for the value of labor, or materials furnished; and the legislature shall provide by law for the speedy and efficient recovery of said liens.’ A lien is a sworn legal document that can be used as a way to guarantee payment. According to the Texas Property Code, any person who labors and specially fabricates material for construction or repair is entitled to a lien. The basic purpose of the lien is to secure the interest of a general contractor, subcontractor, laborer, or material supplier who has not been paid for labor or materials provided for the improvement of a property. The liens secure payment for those that furnish labor or materials in connection with the construction of real property to the extent of the increased value of those improvements to the owner's property. Repairs or construction can be to a house, building, or improvement, a levee, embankment or a railroad. These provisions of the property code cover sub-contractors and other persons who provided labor or materials for the improvement of property. For example, an architect, engineer or a surveyor who prepares actual or planned improvements to real property is also entitled to a lien. Generally, there are 3 parties who are allowed to file liens: 1. Parties who furnish labor and material for a project, i.e. General Contractors, Sub-Contractors, and Material Suppliers; 2. Parties who specially fabricate materials, even if those materials were not delivered or incorporated into the improvement of the project, i.e. custom windows or doors; and 3. Design professionals, i.e. Architects, Engineers, and Landscapers.
Why Liens Work for You For those in the construction business, a Mechanics and Materialmen’s lien is often an effective, cost friendly way to guarantee you are paid. A Mechanics and Materialmen’s lien takes an unsecured debt, and secures it. It is essentially the difference between having credit card debt, versus a mortgage. Liens are filed in the real property records against the property where labor and/ or material were furnished. The property receiving the benefit of the labor and/or materials used to improve it becomes encumbered. A mechanic’s and materialmen’s lien acts similar to an involuntary mortgage. In other words, having a mechanic’s and materialmen’s lien gives a contractor or subcontractor leverage for collecting on amounts still due and unpaid. With the lien also come the threat of foreclosure. As a lien holder you have the right to file suit to foreclose on your lien. Most of the time, property owners would prefer to pay the debt rather than risk a suit to foreclose on the lien. Furthermore, in the case of subcontractor’s, Texas lien laws allow those who have not received payment from the general contractor to cut out the middle man. The Texas legislature has designed the law in a way that allows subcontractors to go after the owner directly (via the liened property) instead of chasing down an original contractor who has not paid. A lien filed by a subcontractor (that is properly filed and meets all of the notice requirements) secures the debt against the owner’s property. If the owner receives a notice letter from the subcontractor that he has not been paid by GC, the claimant has “trapped” those funds and the owner may withhold payment to the GC in an amount sufficient to cover the claim for which he received notice. According to the Texas Property Code, for the duration of a construction project, and for 30 days after the work is completed, an owner must retain either 10 percent of the contract price or 10 percent of the value of the work (Retained Funds). The Retained Funds secure the payment of subcontractors and others who provided material, labor and service for any contractor, subcontractor, agent or receiver in the performance of the work. If an owner fails to retain the 10 percent, an owner may become personally liable to the subcontractor, despite payment to the GC. By sending proper notice, you are putting the owner on notice that you have not been paid. The Cromeens Law Firm works heavily within the construction industry assisting many companies file and collect on liens. If you require legal assistance, schedule a consultation and we would be happy to help you. Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication
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VOLUME ll
Advertising for Certified Women, Veteran & Minority-Owned Subcontractors
7TH EDITION
2018 TOP
PRIME & SUB CONTRACTORS ENGINEERING | ARCHITECTURE | CONSTRUCTION | TRANSPORTATION | IT | PETROCHEMICAL | OIL AND GAS | ENERGY | MANUFACTURING
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY CHAMPIONS
A
s one of the most diverse cities in America, there is abundant opportunity to embrace Houston’s diversity in the economy and workforce. It is such a privilege that we at Subcontractors USA have the chance to highlight agencies, primes and subcontractors who all work together to foster diversity in Texas. As a minority-owned publication and media company, we feel it is our duty to celebrate the agencies who put the care and effort into doing business with minority, women and veteran-owned businesses. Often, there are companies who do not meet their minority participation goals. We believe it is important to highlight those companies who go above and beyond to meet, and even exceed, their minority participation goals, and in turn, advance growth in the state of Texas for certified women, veteran & minority-owned businesses aiming to do business with their larger counterparts. This year’s group of deserving honorees realize the importance of being inclusive and have made it a point to display that in their business. This annual event highlights and celebrates those who are contributing to Texas’ economic growth and prosperity. Subcontractors USA takes great pride and pleasure in honoring top primes and agencies who open doors for great things to happen for small businesses. MR. D-MARS Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication
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Top Prime Contractors
McCarthy Building Company
Horizon Group International
Top Prime Contractors
Top Prime Contrac
Turner Construction eContractors
Grand Parkway Infrastr
Reytec Construction Resources Inc.
Joeris General Contractors
Jacobs
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ctors
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Top Subcontractors
Kay Davis Associates LLC
Fort Bend Services
Top Prime Contractors
Top Subcontractors
Sunshine Personnel Solutions, LLC Quadrant Consultants, Inc ASV Constructions, LLC
ucture
Almeda Genoa Constructors
Facilities Integrated Solutions, LLC
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Permit Us Now
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Supplier Diversity Champions
City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity
Entergy
H-E-B
Houston First
Supplier Diversity Champions
Texas Southern University HUB
CenterPoint Energy
Supplier Diversity Champions
National Association of Minority
METRO
Houston Independent School District
Supp
San Antonio MBDA
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Regional Hispanic Contract
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Supplier Diversity Champions
Texas A&M University System
Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum
plier Diversity Champions
Lamar University
Supplier Diversity Champions
Port of Houston
Women Contractors Association Contractors Houston
tors Association
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Texas Central
Texas Department of Transportation
HCC Procurement Small Business Development
Houston MBDA
Houston Minority Supplier Development Council
University of Houston HUB
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Fort Bend ISD
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Title Sponsors
Rice & Gardner
Turner Construction
PLATINUM SPONSORS
University of Houston – HUB Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication
PLATINUM SPONSORS
S
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Presenting Sponsors
Sunshine Personnel Solutions LLC
Kay Davis Associates CenterPoint Energy
City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity
Texas A&M University System
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Fort Bend Independent School District
TSU TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Texas Central
Entergy
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H-E-B
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SUBCONTRACTORS USA
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SUBCONTRACTORS USA
the 2019 Class of the Interagency Mentor Protégé Program H
ouston is aptly known for being a city with many business opportunities for large corporations, but for some small businesses in the area it is much tougher to grow. In some cases, small businesses are not equipped with the proper tools and resources to take their company to the next level. The Interagency MentorProtégé Program (IMPP) is the course these companies need to succeed. With the guidance of local agencies, twenty small businesses are now on the path to discovering much-needed resources and taking their companies to great heights after completing the 2019 Interagency Mentor-Protégé Program. Comprised of the Metropolitan Transit
Authority of Harris County (METRO), The City of Houston, Houston Independent School District, Houston Community College, Houston First and Port Houston,
the Interagency Mentor-Protégé Program offers an incredible opportunity to small businesses who are ready to grow and achieve success through connecting with these agencies. One of the IMPP’s goals is to enhance the business skills and broaden the base of historically underutilized businesses (HUB) by connecting them to the knowledge and experience of established firms. By the end of the program, small businesses (protégés) have garnered effective working relationships and created long term stability between their companies and local agencies by being paired with established firms (mentors). For the 2019 IMPP Class, the 20 protégés will be mentored by Arcadis, ATC Group
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Services, Binkley & Barfield, Brown and Gay (BGE) Engineering, Dominion Capital, EContractors, Excellent Services, Gilbreath Communications, Huitt-Zollars, HNTB Corporation, Jacobs Engineering, Lane Staffing, Levy Restaurants, L”Renee & Associates, McCarthy, Rice & Gardner and T.Baker Smith. These mentors have extensive experience in their fields, making them ideal leaders to advise the 2019 class. During this seventh year of the program - which lasts for 9 weeks, protégés engaged in workshops that educated them on the various aspects of being in business with large agencies.
CONTINUED on page 28
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Towana Bryant
Keith Johnson
Minella Alexander Transcare LLC
Henry Keculah Jr.
Shanita Johnson
Trinity Freight Services
Picture Worth
dba Mtsryde Transportation
4.0 GPA, LLC
BKJ Global Management
Custom Framing
Consulting LLC
Luis Celaya
Karla J. Nieves
Dean Karimjee
Tanya
Ann Watkins
Integral Exterior Services
Savannah Construction
ESBEE Sign Systems
Dugat Wickliff
The Watkins Group Realty
TANCOE
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SUBCONTRACTORS USA
Tyrone J. Dixon
Sharanda Coleman
Jeff Collins
Chandra Young-Pierce
Joseph Taylor
Mpulse Healthcare & Technology
PHD Resources & Taxes
Innovative Management
The Document Group
D.C.T. Imaging
LLC.
Solutions, Inc
Monica Powell
Zahid Anwar
Vanessa Simpson
Johnny Taylor
Nubia Casler
Houston Plumbing
Infra Tech Engineers &
Language Kids Houston dba
Mobile encryption Technologies
CRG Texas Environmental
and Gas, LLC.
Innovators, LLC
Language Kids World
LLC
Services, Inc.
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• Business in continuous operation for at the last 24 months • Annual business revenue average between $150,000 and $4.0 million in the past three years • Business with a minimum of four employees • Must be able to commit to nine workshops • Must be able to identify the type of guidance needed for development
CONTINUED from page 25 These sessions included: Week
Session Topic
Week 1: May 1
Doing Business with Government Entities
Week 2: May 14
Back Office – (HR/ Compliance/PO’s/ Invoices, etc.)
Week 3: May 21
Learning To “Market” Your Company
Week 4: May 28
How To Price Your Product/Project
Week 5: June 4
Financial Management
This partnership between METRO, The City of Houston, Houston Independent School District, Houston Community College, Houston First and Port Houston serves a significant purpose and is fundamental for the growth of small businesses across the city. It is key in encouraging disadvantaged businesses to create opportunity for themselves and amongst each other.
Week 6: June 11
Mock Request for Proposal
2019 Interagency Mentor
Week 7: June 18
Mock Request for Proposal (2)
Week 8: June 25
RFP Presentation and Evaluations
Week 9: July 2
Graduation
Things to Know About the IMPP The goals of the IMPP: • Enhance business skills • Broaden the base of small businesses • Provide knowledge and experience of established firms to small businesses
Protégés benefitted from participating in the IMPP in the following ways including but not limited to: • Understanding business financials and bidding
• Received 126 Online Applications • Accepted 22 Protégé’s into Program • Graduated 20 Protégé’s from Program
2019 Protégé’s Industries • Creating and strengthening working relationships between established and emerging companies • Understanding how to do business with local government agencies • Gaining technical assistance in specific areas for protégés
Program Requirements: • Currently certified as a Small, Women-owned, Veteran-owned, Minority-owned or Disadvantaged Business Enterprise by The City of Houston or METRO Small Business or hold a current registration from the Port Houston, HISD, HCC, or Houston First Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication
Industries
No. of Firms
Construction
6
Engineering
1
Professional Services
11
Transportation
2
This is just one of many of the METRO Office of Small Business outreach programs strategically designed to assist small businesses in reaching their goals. For more on the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, please visit www.ridemetro.org. Source:
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County
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SUBCONTRACTORS USA
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
TAGHouston.org
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PERMITS
What Every Contractor Ought to Know About Pulling a Residential Pool Building Permit By Helen Callier Contributing Writer
W
e have heard plenty of stories where building permits were not pulled. From the project required a revised plan set to the homeowner was expected to pull permit to our staff was too busy. Regardless of the reason, before any construction starts on an inground pool, all areas in the U.S. will require a residential building permit for installing the inground pool along with trade contractors obtaining their permits, if involved. So, when a homeowner called our toll-free line and asked if we pull permits when construction has already started on their custom pool, we were taken aback as to why the contractor would endanger their customer’s safety. We then decided to provide tips to assist those contractors having challenges in obtaining permits for pool projects during the busy home remodeling season. Here’s what every contractor ought to know about pulling residential pool permits. Are Pool Permits Required? Yes, permits are required by jurisdictions in the U.S. to construct an in-ground pool. Contractors are to pay the permit fee and obtain a pool permit before starting construction. Trade subcontractors, such as electrical, typically pull their permits and are to make sure it is posted on site. If you have any questions, visit the permitting office where
your project is located or review jurisdiction’s web site for more information. What do I need to submit? Typical documents to apply for a permit include a plot plan, a set back plan and dig specification, and most jurisdictions will require sealed engineering drawings to accompany application for a permit. Some jurisdictions may request more information. You can check the AHJ’s website for a checklist. Also, as an option, you can schedule a time to meet the jurisdiction Plan Reviewer or Inspector to ask questions. Many jurisdiction staff are helpful and welcome the opportunity to answer your inquiries.
package and requisite documents. If not completed within a 7-day time period, you may be missing some information or have plan review comments to address or the jurisdiction has a backlog. Can I submit online for permit? Many jurisdictions in the U.S. allow you to submit online for a permit to construct an inground pool allowing you to save time and money. When submitting online, make sure to properly name and upload your files. If not correctly formatted and uploaded, the jurisdiction may automatically reject your permit package. What if I have questions about the pool design or drainage from storm run-off? We have found that jurisdiction Plan Reviewers and Inspectors are a helpful resource to ask questions, before completing your plans. Also, as an option, Building Permit Expediters are a proven resource that can answer your questions. Some expediting firms specialize in inground pools and can save you time and money plus assist you in starting construction in a timely manner.
In Conclusion
How long does it take to obtain approval for a pool permit? You can obtain a pool permit typically within 3 to 7 days with the complete permit application
We realize that you may have a backlog of projects and are eager to grow your contracting business. The bottom line is that building permits are required for constructing inground pools, and it is the right thing to do for your customers. If you have any questions about obtaining a permit for your residential pool projects, call the PermitUsNow team at 1.844.PERMIT.4. #BuildSafe
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SAFETY
Working in Outdoor and Indoor Heat Environments By Subcontractors USA News Provider
M
any people are exposed to heat on the job, in both indoor and outdoor heat environments. Operations involving high air temperatures, radiant heat sources (e.g., sunlight, hot exhaust), high humidity, direct physical contact with hot objects, or strenuous physical activities have a high potential for causing heat-related illness. Indoor workplaces with hot conditions may include iron and steel foundries, brick-firing and ceramic plants, glass products facilities, electrical utilities (particularly boiler rooms), bakeries, commercial kitchens, laundries, chemical plants, material handling and distribution warehouses, and many other environments. Outdoor workplaces with work in hot weather and direct sun, such as farm work, c onst r uction, oil and gas well operations, landscaping, emergency
response operations, and hazardous waste site activities, also increase the risk of heat-related illness in exposed workers. Every year, many workers become sick from occupational heat exposure, and some are fatally injured. These illnesses and fatalities are preventable. When a person works in a hot environment, the body must get rid of excess heat to maintain a stable internal temperature. It does this mainly through circulating blood to the skin and through sweating. When the air temperature is close to or warmer than normal body temperature, cooling of the body becomes more difficult. Blood circulated to the skin cannot lose its heat. Sweating then becomes the main way the body cools off. But sweating is effective only if the humidity level is low enough to allow evaporation, and if the fluids and salts that are lost are adequately replaced. If the body cannot get rid of excess heat, it will store it. When this happens, the body's core temperature rises and the heart rate increases. As the body continues to store heat, the person begins to lose concentration and has difficulty focusing on a task, may become irritable or sick, and often loses the desire to drink. The next stage is most often fainting and even death if the person is not cooled down. Excessive exposure to heat can cause a range of heatrelated illnesses, from heat rash and heat cramps to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke can result in death and requires immediate medical attention. Exposure to heat can also increase the risk of injuries because of sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses, dizziness, and burns from hot surfaces or steam. Workers exposed to hot indoor environments or hot and humid conditions outdoors are at risk of heat-related illness, especially those doing heavy work tasks or using bulky or non-breathable protective clothing and equipment. Some workers might be at greater risk than others if they have not built up a tolerance to hot conditions, or if they have certain health conditions. The table below shows some environmental and job-specific factors that increase the risk of heat-related illness. Factors That Put Workers at Greater Risk
Environmental
Job-Specific
• High temperature and humidity • Radiant heat sources • Contact with hot objects • Direct sun exposure (with no shade) • Limited air movement (no breeze, wind or ventilation) • Physical exertion • Use of bulky or non-breathable protective clothing and equipment
Workers who are suddenly exposed to working in a hot environment face additional, but generally avoidable hazards to their safety and health. New workers and those returning from time away are especially vulnerable. That's why it is important to prepare for the heat: educate workers about the dangers of heat, and acclimatize workers by gradually increasing the workload or providing more frequent breaks to help new workers and those returning to a job after time away build up a tolerance for hot conditions.
Heat Index
Risk Level
Protective Measures
Less than 91°F
Lower (Caution)
Basic heat safety and planning
91°F to 103°F
Moderate
Implement precautions and heighten awareness
103°F to 115°F
High
Additional precautions to protect workers
Greater than 115°F
Very High to Extreme
Triggers even more aggressive protective measures
• The temperature rises • Humidity increases • The sun gets stronger • There is no air movement • No controls are in place to reduce the impacts of equipment that radiates heat • Protective clothing or gear is worn • Work is strenuous The heat index, which takes both temperature and humidity into account, is a useful tool for outdoor workers and employers. Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is the most accurate tool to measure heat hazards for outdoor workers. It takes temperature, humidity, wind speed, and radiant heat into account. The OSHA Technical Manual Heat Stress Chapter provides WBGT information and calculations, and the National Weather Service provides a prototype WBGT location tool and work/rest recommendations. Heat-related illnesses can be prevented. Important ways to reduce heat exposure and the risk of heat-related illness include engineering controls, such as air conditioning and ventilation, that make the work environment cooler, and work practices such as work/rest cycles, drinking water often, and providing an opportunity for workers to build up a level of tolerance to working in the heat. Employers should include these prevention steps in worksite training and plans. Also, it’s important to know and look out for the symptoms of heat-related illness in yourself and others during hot weather. Plan for an emergency and know what to do — acting quickly can save lives! Source: OSHA
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TRANSPORTATION
TxDOT Advances LBJ East Project By Subcontractors USA News Provider
D
allas County residents are one step closer to seeing improvements to one of the state’s most congested areas in the near future thanks to today’s decision by the Texas Transportation Commission to conditionally select Pegasus Link Constructors as the developer for the highly anticipated LBJ East project. TxDOT will now move forward in negotiating contract terms with the selected developer with final award and execution expected later this year. The $1.74 billion project will rebuild approximately 11 miles of Interstate 635 from just east of US 75 in North Dallas to Interstate 30 (I-30) in Mesquite. The Texas Transportation Commission has designated the LBJ East project as part of the statewide Texas Clear Lanes initiative, a program to address the most congested areas in the state. Segments of LBJ East currently rank 28th and 30th on the state’s list of 100 most congested roadways. “This project, along with others we’re building across the state, are part of Governor Abbott’s directive to the Transportation Commission to address choke points in our major metropolitan areas,” said J. Bruce Bugg, Jr., Chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission. “It is the reason the Texas Clear Lanes initiative was created to build non-toll roads in order to tackle congestion and help Texans get to where they need to be quicker and safer.” When complete, LBJ East will be expanded from the
current four main lanes in each direction to five main lanes in each direction. The current single tolled managed lane in each direction is grandfathered and will be rebuilt. The I-30 interchange also will be rebuilt and improved. Another important feature of the LBJ East project is the construction of continuous frontage roads throughout the project, which will greatly enhance safety and mobility by improving the flow of traffic during major incidents. “Our TxDOT team in Dallas is proud to continue progress toward delivering such an important project for the region,” said District Engineer Mo Bur. “This is a great example of how partnerships can help bring much-needed safety and mobility improvements.” TxDOT also is partnering with the City of Dallas to reconfigure the Skillman/Audelia interchange as part of the project. That interchange will feature aesthetic ele-
ments to the bridge over LBJ Freeway. It was designed by the City of Dallas and was selected for funding by the Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of Governments. “The Skillman interchange and the LBJ East project are crucial for our region, the City of Dallas, and our Lake Highlands and Hamilton Park community,” said Dallas City Council Member Adam McGough. “It has been a long and difficult journey, but I am proud of the way our community came together to advocate and the elected officials from other cities who worked together to make this project a reality. So many lives will be impacted for generations as we improve safety, reduce congestion, ensure travel speeds, improve environmental impacts, and improve the quality of life for ALL who live or travel through this area.” The eastern portion of LBJ Freeway originally opened more than 50 years ago, and it is outdated and insufficient to meet today’s transportation demands. Through the design-build development approach, TxDOT will be able to deliver the LBJ East quicker than under a traditional construction project. Last year, TxDOT issued requests for qualifications and proposals to find a qualified team interested in designing, constructing and, potentially, maintaining the LBJ East Project. Pegasus Link Constructors was chosen from a group of three responding firms that were most qualified. Construction is expected to begin in early 2020 with a projected completion date of late 2024. Source: TxDOT
TRANSPORTATION
Port Apprenticeship Program Revived To Meet Employment Demand By Subcontractors USA News Provider
P
ort Houston partnered with TransPORTS, the U.S. Department of Labor, and San Jacinto College in 2018 to revive its Apprenticeship Program. The organizations worked collaboratively to create curriculum to enable apprentices to develop the necessary skills to become certified mechanics or journeyman electricians upon completion. The seven-year apprenticeship program combines on-the-job training with academic instruction, which allows the student to put their academic skills to practical use almost immediately. The program includes three years of classroom training and seven years of on-the-job training. For
the first three years, classes and the training are administered concurrently. When the program launched, it was only available to internal port employees. The program was expanded this year to partner with local high school STEM and
maritime programs to further develop community engagement. Additionally, five new apprentices were added, three of which are recent graduates from Deer Park and LaPorte High Schools. “Apprenticeships are a high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction; and a portable, nationally-recognized credential,” said Port Houston Training and Development Manager Carolyn Ashley. “Port Houston recognizes the long-term value of apprenticeships as a workforce retention and development tool.” The Apprenticeship Program will assist Port Houston in meeting future needs for well-trained, qualified workers. In a mar-
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ket where unemployment is at an all-time low and the demand for skilled qualified workers is only getting more competitive, Port Houston had to find a way maintain their success. The program is an investment in the port and its employees, said Port Houston Human Resources Manager Josh Northcutt. “We are utilizing equipment that is not native to our region and we need skilled employees who can maintain and repair that equipment,” said Northcutt. “The employees who are capable and skilled in this respect are mostly located in Georgia, Virginia and California – recruiting and relocating employees outside of Texas is not cost-effective, so we had to find a way to home grow our own employees.” Source: Port Houston
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