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September 2019 | Advertising for Certified Women, Veteran & Minority-Owned Subcontractors | 42nd Edition
HMSDC:
The Missing Link Between Major Corporations and MBEs (left to right): Constance Jones, Ingrid Robinson, Marshette Turner
16-17
INSIDE
06
How to land a government construction contract
28 24
As Harvey Recovery Continues
Mayor Turner Signs Vision Zero Executive Order to Eliminate Traffic Fatalities and Injuries
2 | September 2019
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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 Houston Minority Supplier Development Council, its Board of Directors and their 2019 Business Expo “Connecting You to Your Future.” HMSDC is a nonprofit organization that serves as a vital link between major corporations and minority business enterprises. The council works to create mutual
Port of Houston
ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Tiffany Brown STAFF WRITER Carly Hammack PROJECT COORDINATOR Lindsey Ford PHOTOGRAPHY Grady Carter L.C. Poullard ART DIRECTOR Angel Rosa
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Helen Callier Subcontractors USA News Provider
City of Houston
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06 CONSTRUCTION 06 4 best practice tips for estimating 04 and managing construction projects 06 SBA raises revenue limits for small business certifications 08 How to land a government construction contract 10 ENERGY 10 Exxonmobil Is Scouting For A Few Good Startups 10 New Energy And Big Plans For Beaumont, Texas 14 IT & TECHNOLOGY 14 DFW International Airport partners with Vanderlande for innovative baggage handling technology 16-17 COVER STORY 16-17 HMSDC: The Missing Link Between Major Corporations and MBEs 20 PERMITS 20 If You Read Nothing Else – Read This On Building Permitting
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24 SAFETY 24 As Harvey Recovery Continues 26 OSHA consults industry on silica standard refinements
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04 ARCHITECTURE 04 Zero net carbon buildings are possible now
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kendra Wiseman DISTRIBUTION Rockie Hayden
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CONTENTS
PUBLISHER & CEO Keith J. Davis, Sr. COO & MANAGING EDITOR Kimberly Floyd
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
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BEHIND THE JOURNAL
value and set the standard for how business should be done. The 2019 HMSDC Business Expo “Connecting You to Your Future” is held annually and is Texas’ largest minority business trade fair, having over 80 exhibitors for attendees to network and do business with. This event is intended to help exhibitors in identifying MBEs capable of meeting product and service needs. 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.
26 TRANSPORTATION 26 DART Approves New Bus Purchase for UTD Campus Area 26 Port Houston Secures New CMA CGM/Marfret MedCaribe Service
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28 Mayor Turner Signs Vision Zero Executive Order to Eliminate Traffic Fatalities and Injuries 28 Port Houston Sets Records on Container and Steel Volumes; Moves Forward on New Expansions
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ARCHITECTURE
Zero net CARBON BUILDINGS are possible now An industry game changer describes how Architecture 2030’s ZERO Code is a pathway for architects and clients By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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d Mazria, FAIA, is an architect who has been called “game changer” since the early 2000s. That’s when he saw, in energy data, just how much buildings were contributing to emissions. He recognized then the leadership opportunity for the architectural profession. Mazria is still crunching numbers and pushing the industry toward greater, faster impact. Today, he leads Architecture 2030, identifying leverage points and suggesting focused solutions based on collective intelligence. Since the United Nations’ Paris Agreement, the group has been looking at how the industry can help meet those targets. The most effective way is by creating zero carbon buildings -- those whose carbon-based energy consumption, such as coal and natural gas, is reduced first through building design strategies and efficiency measures, then through mechanical and electrical systems, then by adding on-site renewable energy generation, and finally through procurement of locally produced off-site renewable energy. Right now, there are only a few hundred zero net energy buildings, according to the New Buildings Institute (which are automatically zero net carbon buildings when they generate enough renewable energy on-site to operate the building). But almost any new building that meets current national energy code standards can be zero net carbon by employing off-site renewable sources for its energy use. Mazria talked about the ZERO Code developed by Architecture 2030 with leading expert Charles Eley, FAIA, and launched this year to spur— and then scale—the zero net carbon trend in new construction. What is the ZERO Code’s reason for being? Why did you and Architecture 2030 see the need for this? Mazria: We are running short on time. We must substantially reduce emissions now, both in the US and globally. We are also undergoing the largest wave of urban growth in human history. By 2060, two out of three people will live in cities. By that same date, projections from the International Energy Agency suggest that we will add approximately 2.5 trillion square feet of built space -- this is an area that equals the entire current global building stock. Improvements in building sector energy efficiency and growth in renewable energy generating capacity have been occurring but have not been enough to offset the increase in emissions from new construc-
tion. Only by eliminating CO2 emissions from new building operations will we begin to reduce building sector emissions. The good news is that every new project can get to zero net carbon today through existing standards and technologies, and it’s now cost effective. To encourage this, we need a national and international building standard that we can put in place quickly and that can scale globally, otherwise we will not get the reductions needed.
electrical energy can be generated from rooftop PV and other renewable systems, and then the offsite energy your building will need to procure to achieve zero net carbon.
What is ZERO Code and how would it work? Mazria: We created the ZERO Code as a national and international building energy standard for new building construction that integrates cost-effective energy efficiency standards with on-site and/or off-site renewable energy and results in zero net carbon buildings. It includes prescriptive and performance paths for compliance based on current standards that are widely used by municipalities and building professionals worldwide. The latest commercial building energy code (ASHRAE 90.1) is very efficient and is a national and international standard and applies to prevalent building types in urban areas -- it made sense to use that standard as the efficiency part of the ZERO Code. The ZERO Code for California is a building energy standard for new nonresidential, high-rise residential and hotel/motel buildings, based on the 2019 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (BEES). By incorporating national code standards, the ZERO Code takes advantage of well-known implementation tools and software such as ComCheck, Energy Plus and other design and energy simulation software-- so we have the benefit of all that product development. The ZERO Code also comes with a calculator that computes how much
Why is this good for architects and their clients? Mazria: The ZERO Code will help architects and clients focus on designing buildings with zero emissions. Once they realize that they can design to zero emissions now, with readily available and cost-effective standards and tools, it all falls into place. We received a small grant from the AIA to develop the ZERO Code, and AIA submitted the proposal to the IECC for the ZERO Code Appendix adoption. The ZERO Code provides AIA’s members a straightforward and cost-effective path for designing buildings that are zero net carbon today.
How is ZERO Code gaining traction now? And what are some examples where people and communities are beginning to use this? Mazria: The State of Oregon adopted the ZERO Code as a statewide alternative method. Massachusetts is considering adopting a zero net carbon standard now, possibly as a Stretch Code, and then making it mandatory in 2030. Other states and many cities are also looking at the ZERO Code. The tri-annual International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) update deliberations have just taken place, and the ZERO Code Appendix was approved by the commercial buildings committee and will now go to a full vote in the fall. This would codify the ZERO Code as an option for cities to pick up (when they adopt the 2021 IECC). What we’d really like to see is for California to step up and adopt the ZERO Code for the state. It would influence further adoption in the US and other countries if that were to happen. The ZERO Code International Standard has spurred, in China, the development of a nearly net zero plus on site / off site standard. This has just been released as a voluntary standard.
What can architects do to get their local communities to adopt this as an ordinance? Mazria: There are many ways that this can be done. Cities can adopt the ZERO Code or adopt ASHRAE 90.1 2016 or 2019 and then require, by ordinance, the ZERO Code renewable energy requirements for new buildings to reach zero net carbon. Architects can also lobby their local and state code officials to engage in the IECC process and vote for the ZERO Code Appendix proposal in the fall. But most importantly, architects should design to the ZERO Code standard now.
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Source: AIA
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CONSTRUCTION
SBA raises revenue limits for small business certifications
CONSTRUCTION
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
4 best practice tips for estimating and managing construction projects By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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n my world, I’m often asked for a list of “best practices” when estimating or managing a construction project. Here are some thoughts, based on personal experience and discussions I’ve had with other folks in the industry. The short answer is that there is no treasure trove of definitive answers to this question. Best practices are aspirational, but don’t necessarily exist for any single industry or, for that matter, any single company. My experience is that these will vary based on a number of factors (e.g., by the size, scope and contract type of the project) and these “best” practices may even vary during the course of preparing for a project (i.e., as design and engineering progress from 30 to 60 to 90 percent complete). Upstream Oil & Gas (O&G) projects are planned and managed much differently than downstream O&G projects, for good reason. One major oil company will likely have a different approach for preparing for their projects than other major producers will have for theirs. A planning and estimating approach for a project planned two years from now will likely be much different than the planning and estimating approach for the same project when it’s three months away from starting. A mining contractor will look at a project differently than the mining owner/operator for whom they perform work. A mining owner/operator will approach a capital expansion project differently than the way that same owner/operator would manage the ongoing operation of an asset. Undoubtedly, different organizations will approach the same project differently, based on each organization’s relative strengths, weaknesses, collective experience, business objectives and drivers. One can’t (and shouldn’t) walk into an organization and suggest how they should run their business, or they’d get run out the door. A consultative approach would be to first understand a project stakeholder’s vision, and then compare their existing tools, experiences and processes to their desired future state. This
leads to the final step, where you can help them see how specific solutions can add efficiencies, either by meeting those objectives (and implementing those solutions) or suggesting alternative approaches as those opportunities arise.
• Effective Aug. 19, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is raising its monetary-based small business size standards for inflation by an average of 8.4%, an adjustment that the administration expects will allow 90,000 additional companies to participate in its loan and contracting programs. The SBA said that this increase could result in $750 million more total contracts awarded to small businesses and as much as $65 million more in small business loans. • In order to be considered a small business under current SBA guidelines, most general, heavy and civil construction companies cannot have more than $36.5 million of average annual sales receipts. The SBA's interim final rule raises that threshold about 8.2% to $39.5 million. The current threshold of $15 million for specialty contractors — i.e. electrical, concrete, plumbing, HVAC, painting — and those companies that provide engineering services will increase 10% to $16.5 million. The cap on average annual receipts for architects is increasing by about 6.7% to $7.5 million. • The last adjustment for inflation made to the SBA's monetary size standards was in 2014. The administration has also requested comments on the new limits, and those must be submitted by September 16.
Dive Insight:
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While there is no definitive list of what those suggestions and tweaks should be, several areas of discussion exist, which will help to determine the level of accuracy of a budget. These include: 1. Specifications: Is there a clear description of the scope of the project? Or is the objective to create a preliminary budget based on partial information? 2. Benchmarks: Does the organization have a history with these types of projects? If so, what has been learned from these projects in terms of costs, productivity and schedule adherence? 3. Geography: Does the organization have assets and experience in the geographic area where the project will be performed? 4. Risk Profile: How do the inherent risks on this project compare to the issues encountered on previous similar projects? InEight helps project-driven organizations achieve desired outcomes through the implementation of their tools and services. Find out today how InEight estimating solutions can help you achieve certainty on your next project.
n June, the SBA proposed a rule that will change how the administration calculates annual average receipts — from a look-back period of three years to five. The SBA expects that this will allow some businesses that have low-revenue years outside the current three-year window to achieve or regain small business status and others to stay in the small business program longer. This could also have the opposite effect for companies that have high revenue years outside the currently prescribed three-year period. The SBA also certifies small minority and disadvantaged businesses under its 8(a) program. Those contractors certified as 8(a) must still meet the administration's small business size standards but must also be 51% owned by an individual that is a member of a recognized minority or disadvantaged group. That owner must also play a role in the day-to-day operations of the company and must not exceed certain net worth and personal asset levels. Many federal, state and local agencies that fund construction projects require that a certain percentage of contracts be reserved for those contractors certified as minority, disadvantaged or small businesses. Some look to the SBA's 8(a) program for qualified contractors and some agencies have their own criteria by which they determine if a construction company qualifies under one of those categories. No matter what the certification program, there are not enough qualified disadvantaged and minority construction contractors to meet demand and some in the construction industry have been calling for monetary-based size thresholds like the SBA's to be raised so that more firms can be eligible. “What [agencies] want is to have these utilization goals met," attorney Elizabeth Marchionni with Kaufman Dolowich Voluck LLP in New York told Construction Dive last month, "and in order to do that, you need an abundance of qualified, certified firms that can actually do the work."
Source: Construction Dive
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Source: Construction Dive
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CONSTRUCTION
How to land a government construction contract By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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ach year, state and local governments spend more than $250 billion on the construction of roads, schools and other public infrastructure. Construction companies sometimes see government contracting as prohibitively competitive and believe the pay is low and the bid requirements are too time- and effort-consuming. But this is not the case, and should not hold construction companies back from bidding on a sector that offers huge growth opportunities Contractors of any size and any type can get started at any time with government work. Construction companies and also landscape contractors, electrical contractors, design-build contractors, general contractors and even roofing contractors are desperately needed by government procurement departments. Here are some tips for landing a government construction contract. Know where to look. To find opportunities, bids are most often posted on a government website, on a third-party website, or even in the newspaper. They are posted with submittal dates and the scope of work is clearly defined. Follow the rules. It’s super important for a contractor to follow the rules precisely and they are generally well outlined in the government agency’s RFP or request for quotation. You don’t want to spend hours putting together an amazing bid package only to have it rejected because you missed the pre-bid meeting. Carefully consider the request. Look at what is being asked and how it should be delivered. Use this information as a starting point to begin building out templates so that you can respond to bids quickly and efficiently. Identify opportunities. A good way to start is by finding bids that have already been awarded. Another great hack is to look for upcoming work that hasn’t been posted yet. For instance, a city manager posts a bid for design services for a new City Hall — you can bet that the construction project won’t be far behind it, so have your idea and business plan ready for when the bid posts. Third-party services can deliver relevant bids directly via email based on pre-selected criteria and can be used to research bids that have already been awarded. Start small. The biggest mistake you can make is to overpromise and not deliver. It’s important to remember that first impressions count. Contrary to some beliefs, not all bids are awarded on price alone. RFPs are scored on a variety of factors, such as past success with the agency, minority business status and location. Timing is important. The best time to get started on government work is before a recession. This way you will have your reputation established, you will have learned what you can do to put yourself in a winning position and you’ll be able to expand across multiple agencies to increase your chances of winning jobs in your locality. It's best to have these in place before an economic downturn that might cause government agencies to cut back on construction projects. Be a preferred provider. Don’t just think about new builds or repair services when selecting commodity codes. Think about how your expertise can be utilized in city emergency preparedness plans during natural disasters. You want to be on government lists as agencies prepare so that you get the call to repair a roof torn off in a hurricane, top off gas for generators or provide emergency tree removal services. Consider special programs. Federal, state and local governments have goals to provide a certain percentage of work to minority-owned businesses. These could include benchmarks such as mandating that 23% of business is awarded to small firms, with 5% of small business contracts to be awarded to womenowned businesses and another 5% to disadvantaged small businesses. Other goals look at service-disabled veterans and businesses located in historically underutilized areas. Source: Construction Dive
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ENERGY
Exxonmobil
Is Scouting For A Few Good Startups By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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he number of world-changing ideas out there is staggering. Corralling the ones that can spark new forms of energy is equally challenging. That’s why ExxonMobil created a new technology-scouting initiative to scour the world for energy startups and innovators. The Technology Scouting and Venturing Group is connecting the company’s researchers with new technologies that could help meet the world’s evolving energy needs. “Big ideas, especially when it comes to energy, don’t just come from a few big labs,” explains Nazeer Bhore, the Technology Scouting and Venturing Group’s global manager. “They also thrive in startups or with bold innovators developing breakthrough technologies and associated business models in their garages. Our scouting and venturing group will help us connect with this ecosystem.” In the 15 months since its inception, the group has reviewed hundreds of projects, from new robots that can inspect fuel tanks to botanists working to create plants that can store more carbon. To link ExxonMobil with these innovators, the group has deployed scouts in Cambridge, Mass.; Houston; San Francisco; the greater New York area; and cities across Europe, China and India. From their respective bases, scouts meet with startups and researchers who are developing technologies and processes that could impact some of ExxonMobil’s current businesses but could also identify new opportunities for new growth. Specifically, scouts target technologies that address the dual challenge of meeting the world’s growing energy demand while reducing emissions and environmental impacts. If the technologies show potential to be scaled to industrial levels, ExxonMobil assesses the potential to invest. ExxonMobil has never been innovation shy. It’s one of the few Fortune 500 companies that runs its own research lab, home to a number of breakthrough projects, including advanced carbon capture technology and the development of biofuel made from algae. This new scouting group expands ExxonMobil’s innovation footprint by supporting step-out ideas and plugging into new industries and new ways of thinking. Source: ExxonMobil
ENERGY
New Energy And Big Plans For Beaumont, Texas By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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eaumont, Texas, is home to one of the country’s most sophisticated industrial operations, supporting thousands of jobs and creating new products every day. And with ExxonMobil’s latest expansion of a new high-performance polyethylene line, the Beaumont story continues to grow. ExxonMobil’s polyethylene plant in Beaumont will increase production ca-
pacity by 65 percent, or 650,000 tons, per year, bringing the site’s capacity up to about 1.7 million tons per year. And how is polyethylene being used? Much of it will go toward creating products for liquid and food packaging, construction liners and agricultural films – meeting global demand that continues to increase each year. Many of these products are essential in improving agricultural yields and reducing food waste around the world. Helping drive this expansion, along with a string of investments by Exxon-
Mobil, is the abundant supply of natural gas liquids from shale fields across the country. And Beaumont, which saw 2,000 jobs
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during peak construction, is just one example of this new energy along the U.S. Gulf Coast. The region will benefit from 45,000 high-paying jobs from the company building and expanding manufacturing facilities as part of its Growing the Gulf campaignannounced in 2017. Operations tied to Beaumont’s latest expansion will inject up to $20 billion in increased economic activity for the region, reinforcing its place as an American manufacturing hub. Source: ExxonMobil
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Creating Meaningful Connections. Delivering Impactful Growth. 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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IT & TECHNOLOGY
DFW International Airport partners with Vanderlande for innovative baggage handling technology By Nathan Estrada Contributing Writer
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utonomous vehicles are being used to transfer bags and create a more seamless transfer experience Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport is using innovative technology to help its customers with more seamless transfers, by introducing Vanderlande's autonomous vehicle solution FLEET, in the recheck area in Terminal D. The first of its kind robotic system can handle nearly 450 bags per hour and is being tested with transfer passengers who arrive from international flights and connect through DFW. "DFW is testing the process to see how we might provide our customers with a more seamless journey using the award-winning technology within our current baggage infrastructure, and integrating automation for efficiency," said Khaled Naja, DFW's executive vice president of Infrastructure and Development. "As we go through the pilot program, DFW will evaluate this new technology and assess potential applications of robots and autonomous vehicles at different points within the Airport." "This particular application is both exciting and challenging for us, because FLEET will be working in a passenger area," said Andrew Manship, Vanderlande's Executive Vice President Airports. "Vanderlande believes FLEET aligns with the airport's vision, because they have a strong commitment to improving the passenger experience, as well as showcasing the latest innovations." Customers who participate in the pilot program will use one of four self-bag drop units and identify the airline for their connecting flight using the touch screen. Each FLEET vehicle will transport an individual piece of luggage, transferring the passenger's bag to the appropriate baggage belt. Source: DFW
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Building Better Busine
HMSDC’s Mission to C Value in Corporations a By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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he Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC) is recognized as a model in setting the highest standards of excellence by bringing corporations and governmental entities together with minority business enterprises (MBEs) to create mutual value. HMSDC’s mission is to increase and expand business opportunities and business growth for MBEs. “We want to drive excellence in supplier diversity and minority supplier development.”, says Ingrid Robinson, president of HMSDC.
HMSDC is the only business development organization in the city of Houston that serves the needs of all ethnic minority groups (African-American, Hispanic, Asian-Pacific, Asian-Indian and Native-A merican). HMSDC operates under the national pillars of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) which are to certify, develop, connect and advocate on behalf of ethnic minority-owned businesses.
I joined the Board because I was looking for a meaningful way to support the local Houston community upon my return from overseas and HMSDC provided a unique combination to support my interest in having the best supply chain options for Shell and supporting entrepreneurs growing their businesses. I continue to be inspired by the HMSDC membership. —Eileen Perillo Shell The Council represents more than 140 major corporations, governmental entities and educational institutions. HMSDC has over 650 active MBEs that create a substantial economic impact in the city of Houston. HMSDC is known for equipping MBEs with the business development tools they need to successfully grow. Leveraging the training programs of its corporate members like Accenture, BP and HMSDC are a unique benefit of getting engaged with HMSDC.
Top Row (L-R) Mike Frazer, CNAEP Supply Chain – Regional Manager, Chevron; Archie Meyer, Senior Global Safety, Se Technology Consulting, Accenture; Keith J. Davis, Sr., President, Vaskey Media Group; Christine Mack, Regional He Houston; Calvin Wright, Chief Procurement Officer, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. Bottom Row (L-R) Chris Haas, Johnson, Director Office of Procurement, NASA Johnson Space Center; Ingrid Robinson, President, HMSDC; Eileen P Technologies. Not pictured: James Brownrigg, Vice President, General Manager, Turner Construction Company; A Nadeem Mazhar, CEO, Custom Technology Solutions; John Slanina, Vice President, Strategic Sourcing & Logistics,
HMSDC is corporate America’s leading connector to minority-owned businesses. “Any business owner serious about doing business with corporate America or governmental entities – should be a certified supplier of HMSDC to utilize the vast resources of our organization” said Robinson.
HMSDC is governed by a Board of Directors, comprised of 18 diverse and accomplished men and women who work to ensure that the vision, mission and policies of the organization are upheld and properly executed. “I joined the HMSDC Board because of the admiral efforts this organization extends to build a bench strength of innovative and competitive companies to add value
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within and beyond our community,” Christine Mack - BP said. “This is important to me as a procurement professional who sees opportunities in women and minority-owned businesses
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ess
Create Mutual and MBEs
ecurity, Health and Environment Advisor, ExxonMobil; David Wilson, Managing Director, Resources/ ead, Americas Global Business Services Procurement, BP; Tim Finley, Chief Financial Officer, Port Vice President Supply Chain, NRG Energy; Paula Mendoza, President, Possible Missions; Debra L. Perillo, VP Finance Unconventionals, Shell; Anthony Curtis, Business Development Manager, TekSync Andy Icken, Chief Development Officer, City of Houston; Bill Keyes, Global Logistics Director, Fluor; CenterPoint Energy; Troi Taylor, President, Taylor Construction Management.
who just need a little guidance and access to the right audience to build their capability and earn business.” "HMSDC provides a valuable service with its efforts to expand the capability of minority businesses to provide their valuable products and services," Archie B, Meyer, Jr. - ExxonMobil said. "It also serves as a partner to its corporate members by screening and certifying these businesses. We rely on this service, as it allows us to work directly with members who we know have met the qualificators to become a member of HMSDC.
As a 45-year-old organization, HMSDC board has always made decisions and steered the organization in a direction that stays true to its values and goals. Accountability is essential for members of the board as they represent major corporations
and minority-owned businesses that actively engage in the community. “This is, perhaps, the only forum in Houston completely dedicated to diversity as well as business growth and profitability for all its members,” Nadeem Mazhar - Custom Technology Solutions. “It has been my pleasure and indeed a privilege to be part of HMSDC.”
Houston Minority Supplier Development Council Three Riverway Suite 555, Houston, Texas 77056 713-271-7805 281-624-4904
Connecting You to Your Future: 2019 HMSDC Business Expo
HMSDC hosts several development, networking and outreach events and programs throughout the year in order to connect its members with certified MBEs. Events like the Scholarship Fundraiser Golf Tournament, Emerging 10 (E-10) Dinner and the Scholarship Luncheon are just a few where the connections made are deliberate and intentional for the growth of supplier relationships.
The most recent, and perhaps most notable event, was the 2019 HMSDC Business Expo “Connecting You to Your Future.” This is Texas’ largest minority business trade fair, having over 100 exhibitors for attendees to network and learn about business opportunities. With the addition of the Spot Bid Fair, Expo’s intent is to assist exhibitors with identifying MBEs capable of meeting their product and service needs. While the biggest draw of Expo is the tradeshow floor and the chance to connect with exhibitors through One-to-One Sessions and Direct Connect, this event also consisted of many more noteworthy activities such as The Rigel Awards Luncheon. The Rigel Awards Luncheon was held on September 11th. This luncheon hosted over 800 businesses which included sponsors, exhibitors, business owners and political officials. Special seating arrangements were made in advance to encourage networking between buyers and suppliers as they celebrated the success and dedication of HMSDC’s very own “Rigel Stars.” AWARDS WERE GIVEN FOR THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: • Advocate of the Year Award • Innovation Award • Minority Business Development Award • Middle Market Engagement Award • National Corporation of the Year Award • Local Corporation of the Year Award • Prime Supplier of the Year Award • Strategic Teaming Alliance Award • Supplier of the Year Award by Class The two day Expo also included the Biz Talk with HBJ, 20/20 Insight Forums, Best of Class Reception and much more.
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PERMITS
If You Read Nothing Else – Read This On Building Permitting By Helen Callier Contributing Writer
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s I write this article, Hurricane Dorian has decimated the Bahamas, blew passed Florida and is on its path along the southeast coast of the Carolinas leaving a swath of destruction behind. Local, regional and out-of-the area contractors are positioned in the starting blocks to rush in on opportunities to rebuild, rehab and repair residential, commercial and other types of properties. This is business and a time to grow for many contractors in this market. While most contractors operate on the straight arrow, it is a fact that some contractors get tempted to skirt-around building code ordinances and a few are scammers that never pull a construction permit. The latter are to be avoided at all costs. For those contractors fighting the temptation to not pull a permit to save time, for contractors that are stretched with projects and for contractors that are unfamiliar with certain jurisdictions along the Southeast Coast of the United States and in the Bahamas, below are the top 7 reminders for always pulling a building permit when the project scope dictates. #1 - Ensures you are building in a safe manner and in compliance with local codes. – Visit jurisdictions web site prior to moving into area and
consider speaking with Plan Reviewers for building codes information on the types of jobs you will be pursuing. #2 – Helps to maintain your business health and reputation in the marketplace – Being known as an ethical contractor that provides quality construction services in a professional manner rings volume in the industry. And on the flip side, doing shoddy work including intentionally not pulling building permits will tank your contracting business. #3 – Strengthens your relationships with customers #4 – Shows your customers that you adhere to local building ordinances and care about their project – An important aspect of your business that helps not only satisfy your customer, but also assists in generating repeat business and possible referrals. #5 – Able to catch problems upfront and prevent
costly errors on projects - Going through the permitting process can show you where there are gaps in the design or missing information that ultimately assists in preventing costly mistakes during construction. #6 - Relieves undue stress driven by fear of not following jurisdiction laws when having building permit in hand #7 – Maintains a clean record and keeps cost of bonds, insurance and doing business reasonable – If not managed and controlled, the cost of doing business can eat away your bottom-line profits. Pulling a building permit upfront and providing a copy to your customer during pre-construction aids in keeping your costs low.
In Conclusion Natural disasters create business opportunities for contractors. To truly capitalize for short term and longterm gains, make sure to follow local jurisdiction building code requirements and realize that compliance matters to your customers, the public plus have a great impact on the future of your business. PermitUsNow has an office in Jacksonville, Florida and are familiar with jurisdictions along the east cost of Florida. If you have any questions when pursuing work in the area or have additional reminders for obtaining construction permits, please call 1.844.PERMIT.4.
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As Harvey Recovery Continues
Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Harris County Community Services Department and Local Labor Leaders Announce Opportunity Builds Harris County, a Labor Initiative to Build a Stronger Workforce in Harris County for Disaster Recovery Projects and More sions. Thank you to the Commissioners Court for its partnership in advancing apprenticeship opportunities, workforce training and safety protections for everyone who is looking to make a career in construction in Harris County.” For over a year, the construction industry, labor organizations and local experts have warned that the Greater Houston region is facing a labor shortage for construction workers, which could impede the ability to timely complete many projects related to recovery and slow down the area’s economy. Paying better wages, creating training opportunities through apprenticeship programs, and prioritizing worker safety all can help develop a skilled construction workforce, according to
force. Although Houston has a reputation for being an affordable place to live, data shows that minimum wage workers earning $7.25 an hour would need to hold down News Provider nearly three jobs just to afford a two-bedroom apartment uring the second anniversary of Hurricane Harin Harris County. vey and just ahead of Labor Day, Commissioner “Hurricane Harvey exposed and worsened existing Rodney Ellis and representatives from Harris economic inequality in Harris County. We have an opCounty Community Services Department gathered portunity and an obligation to build and rebuild with with labor organizations and community advocates on sustainable wages and fair, safe labor practices,” said Wednesday morning to announce Opportunity Builds Commissioner Ellis. “I’m grateful for the work done by Harris County, which scored its first success with the our county departments and labor leaders to help develop passage of a slate of transformational new rules that these pro-worker provisions and thank my colleagues embed stronger worker protection and economic opon Commissioners Court for supporting this effort.” portunity provisions into Harris County’s construction Earlier this year, Commissioner Ellis initiated the creacontracting practices. tion of the Harris County Department This initiative is seen as critical to aidof Economic Opportunity and Equity, ing Harris County’s Harvey recovery, which once fully formed will launch which is dependent on a strong, skilled and guide initiatives like Opportunity As part of the Opportunity Builds Harris County workforce, and inspired by similar initiaBuilds Harris County to create more initiative, Commissioners Court voted on Tuesday tives developed in New York and New opportunities for Harris County workOrleans following Hurricanes Sandy and ing families to thrive. to approve several worker protection provisions that Katrina. By requiring county contractors While labor leaders and Commisinclude Harris County becoming the first county to pay workers no less than $15/hour on sioner Ellis celebrate what some are county building projects, prioritizing calling historic worker provisions for in Texas to set a prevailing wage floor of $15/hour worker safety and creating job and trainHarris County, they also note that this ing opportunities, this initiative will help is just the beginning of this effort. In for county building projects, prioritizing safer work address Greater Houston’s growing labor addition to the provisions that were sites and creating a job portal that will also connect shortage for skilled construction workers passed Tuesday, Commissioners Court and ensure fair and safe labor practices also approved forming a workgroup to workers to training and apprenticeship programs. central to our recovery. see how these provisions could apply to “Creating access to good jobs with flood control projects and more. livable wages is the best path for Harris The new worker protection provisions County because opportunity builds a passed by Commissioners Court on better workforce, stronger families and a better Harris proponents of Opportunity Builds Harris County. August 27 will require that workers on all Harris County County,” said Commissioner Ellis. Lacy Wolf, President of Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor building projects, including multi-housing projects, “With many families still struggling two years after Federation, AFL-CIO, said, “The policies approved by receive a $15/hour minimum wage. This is a historic Hurricane Harvey, these new rules will give more families Commissioners Court go far toward ensuring every achievement, making Harris County the first county in an opportunity to rebuild and share in our recovery.” worker employed by construction contractors with the Texas to establish a prevailing wage floor of $15/hour Recognizing that workers were the backbone of Harvey County works on jobs that are safe, receives appropriate for county building projects. For contracts on disaster recovery, months earlier, Commissioner Ellis requested pay, and has a path toward building a career in construc- recovery projects, Harris County will also: that Harris County Community Services Department tion. Thanks to Commissioners Ellis, (Adrian) Garcia • Consider contractor safety record in awarding bids. and other county departments identify what actions the and Judge (Lina) Hidalgo for their support.” • Consider healthcare benefits in awarding bids. county could take to strengthen the local workforce. Worker safety should be a major priority. Texas is the • Recommend that all contractors adopt a second Labor leaders from the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor most dangerous place to work in construction in the chance hire policy. Federation, AFL-CIO, Houston Gulf Coast Building and country. Last year, the Houston-Harris County area • Create a new job portal developed by Harris County Construction Trades Council, Workers Defense Project had over 100 occupational deaths, according to the OcCommunity Services that also offers access to and others provided input during the development of cupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). training and complies with Section 3. these provisions and now laud their passage, recognizing Jose Garza, Co-Executive Director of Workers Defense, • Require all workers on CDBG and CDBG-DR funded how impactful these rules will be to working families said, “This agreement is an important step in providprojects to receive OSHA-10 training and all site in Harris County. supervisors will be required to have OSHA-30 ing safe, fair jobs for those who build Harris County Paul Puente, Executive Secretary of Houston Gulf and our state. We thank County Commissioners for certification. (Both are occupational health Coast Building and Construction Trades Council, said, their leadership and partnership, and we look forward and safety certifications from the U.S. Department “The working people who build up our county will ben- to continuing to work with them to ensure that these of Labor.) efit greatly from this historic agreement on community protections are fully implemented.” • Require all projects to be LEED Certified and workforce development and worker protection provimeet Harris County green building standards. Good paying wages are also key to a stronger workBy Subcontractors USA
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DART Approves New Bus Purchase for UTD Campus Area By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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he Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Board of Directors approved the purchase of three new 40-foot buses for use on Route 883, The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) campus area shuttle.
OSHA consults industry on silica standard refinements By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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SHA is seeking industry input on its respirable crystalline silica standard for construction, and is taking comments until Oct. 15. Specifically, OSHA would like information on the effectiveness of work practice and engineering controls that limit worker exposure to respirable silica, as well as tasks and equipment related to silica exposure that are not currently included in Table 1 of the standard. OSHA is also asking for information and comments as to whether there are potential scenarios when general industry and maritime employers that are already covered by silica standards for those industries should comply with the silica standard for construction. In addition to requesting information and comments, the agency is also asking for exposure data that could help it determine whether it should revise the standards. Table 1 of the silica standard for construction outlines the proper control measures to be taken when performing tasks using specific pieces of equipment related to silica exposure. For example, when workers are using stationary masonry saws, the accompanying engineering and work practice control methods would be to ensure that the saw is equipped with an integrated water delivery system that continuously feeds water to the blade and to
use the saw in accordance with the manufacturer's dust control instructions. Table 1 requirements also include control measures for handheld power saws, walk-behind saws, drivable saws; rig-mounted core saws and drills; handheld and stand-mounted drills; dowel drilling rigs for concrete; vehicle-mounted drilling rigs for rock and concrete; jackhammers and handheld powered chipping tools; handheld grinders for mortar removal; handheld grinders for other uses; walk-behind milling machines and floor grinders; and small, drivable milling machines. But even with such detailed control measures in place, OSHA might have determined that some workers can still be exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust, thus the request for information on how to tighten up protections. According to an early-2019 study conducted by researchers at the Department of Public Health at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, workers on construction projects, as well as bystanders, can still be exposed to respirable silica during chipping and crushing activities, even when taking the protective steps outlined in Table 1. Even when using cartridge respirators, chipping worker exposure exceeded OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) within 15 minutes. Crushing machine tenders exceeded the PEL within two hours. Source: Construction Dive
The popular site-specific bus service between the UTD campus and surrounding neighborhoods in Dallas, Richardson and CityLine/Bush Station, as well as to nearby apartments and shopping destinations, is known as The Comet Cruiserand has been in operation since 2008. At the start, the UTD shuttle quickly became a lifeline for the many international, out-of-state and other students who don't have vehicles, and for faculty, staff and students looking to reduce commuting costs. The service grew the following year from six to nine buses due to increased ridership demands as enrollment on the campus reached a new high. Source: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
TRANSPORTATION
Port Houston Secures New CMA CGM/Marfret MedCaribe Service New service will connect Houston to Mexico, Central America, Caribbean and the Mediterranean By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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ort Houston received the maiden voyage and is the only U.S. port of call for a new direct service that global ocean carrier, CMA CGM, has launched with Marfret. The MedCaribe service will connect the U.S. Gulf, Mexico, Central America (Costa Rica), the Caribbean and the Mediterranean markets. The first vessel, the Spirit of Melbourne, called the port’s Bayport Container Terminal July 15. The rotation includes: Houston; Veracruz, Mexico; Manzanillo, Panama; Moin, Costa Rica; Algeciras, Spain; Malta; Livorno, Italy; Genoa, Italy; Marseilles, France; Barcelona, Spain and Valencia, Spain. The transit times can be found here: https://porthouston.wpengine.com/mediterraneanservices/. “Port Houston is excited to add this new service to our ever-growing global portfolio and looks forward to the positive economic developments that these markets will bring to Houston and the region,” said Port Houston Trade Development Director Dominic Sun. Source: Port Houston
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Port Houston Sets Records on Container and Steel Volumes; Moves Forward on New Expansions By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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Mayor Turner Signs Vision Zero Executive Order to Eliminate Traffic Fatalities and Injuries By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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oined by mobility partners, disability advocates, law enforcement representatives and first responders, Mayor Sylvester Turner today signed an executive order to adopt Vision Zero Houston, a plan to end traffic deaths and serious injuries caused by crashes on Houston roads by the year 2030. The policy marks a significant step in the city’s evolving mobility strategy and mirrors similar action taken by major cities around the world. Many of the cities have reported steady declines in traffic fatalities and injuries over the last few years after implementing Vision Zero. “Some will say this goal is unachievable. But I say, “no loss of life is acceptable on our roadways, None, ZERO,” Mayor Turner said. “Together we can create change, together we can make a difference, together we can shift the way we think about mobility and traffic safety, and not only see the Vision, but make it possible.” The plan will transform how the city designs roads and sidewalks and will prioritize engineering, education, enforcement, equity and evaluation. Mayor Turner noted that the city is already conducting road safety audits to identify and fix some of the most dangerous intersections in Houston, the construction of high comfort bike lanes to provide a safer way to travel by bike, and our new Safer Streets Initiative that will provide a coordinator whose sole job is to make our streets safer. The mayor will establish an executive committee of leaders from city departments and our partners at the Counties, METRO and TxDOT to develop a Vision Zero Action Plan by this time next year. “ We‘v e convened some of the City’s data experts to consider the types of data needed to de-
fine the problem and establish benchmarks and make the changes necessary to make our roads safer for all Houstonians,” said Margaret Wallace- Brown, interim Planning Director. “A key component of the Vision Zero Action Plan will be shared responsibility. Every one of us must work toward zero deaths and serious injuries.” Key organizations that will work with the city to establish the Vision Zero Action plan today applauded the mayor’s decision to focus on safer streets and engage the commu nit y to end traffic deaths and improve quality of life. "In order to be a strong, vibrant, dynamic community where everyone can be productive and feel safe and secure, we have to stop killing and hurting ourselves on the roadways, bikeways, trail-ways and walkways of our city," said Lex Frieden, professor of biomedical informatics, UTHealth; Board Member, Metro. "All groups, including people with disabilities and older adults, must join Mayor Turner and our community leaders in designing and carrying out a plan to reach the goal of Vision Zero." "BikeHouston thanks the mayor for this direction. As advocates for equity and safer streets for all, we call on the City to engage all departments, transportation agencies, non-government organizations, business representatives, and neighborhood residents to prepare and implement the Vision Zero plan," said ClarkMartinson, BikeHouston executive director. "We also call on the city to prioritize dangerous streets and intersections in the CIP. Being a place with sane traffic that respects the dignity of all will make Houston the place where people will want to live, work and invest."
he planned expansion of the truck gate at Port Houston’s Barbours Cut Container Terminal is set to begin after approval of a contract for the work by the Port Commission. The project consists of about 23 acres of new pavement at the existing Barbours Cut Terminal. Major components of work include demolition of existing pavement and structures, new pavement, construction of two new building and new electrical, drainage and utilities. On Monday, the Port Commission awarded a contract not to exceed $39.7 million to Archer Western Construction, the top-ranked proposer among four finalists. A total of 53 companies downloaded materials about the project. Container volume overall at Port Houston continues to break records, up 12 percent for the year compared to last year, Executive Director Roger Guenther told the commission during its meeting. Port Houston facilities have handled nearly 1.5 Million TEU through the first half of 2019. Port Houston handles nearly 70 percent of all containers that move through the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and volume is growing rapidly due to surging demand for imports and a robust export base driven by petrochemical and resin markets. Strong demand has attracted new services and made upgrades of existing services the norm at Port Houston. Earlier this month, the 2M Alliance (comprised of Maersk and MSC, the world’s first and second-largest ocean carriers) announced a new Trans-Pacific all water service to call Houston starting in mid-September, with Houston as its first port of call after crossing the Panama Canal. Steel movements into Houston’s multi-purpose terminals at City Docks, Woodhouse, Care and Jacintoport also continues to be strong and are up 14 percent for the year. “Overall business continues to be strong through our port,” Guenther said. “We look forward to that continuing for the rest of the year.” Port Houston’s commission also awarded a professional services contract for disparity study consulting services. That contract was awarded to Griffin & Strong, after its proposal was deemed by staff to offer the best value to Port Houston.
Source: City of Houston
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Source: Port Houston
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