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December 2019 | Advertising for Certified Women, Veteran & Minority-Owned Subcontractors | 45th Edition
WORKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE---
UH HUB Program Provides “Change Agent” Opportunities for Vendor Participation
LEFT TO RIGHT: Brandon Davis, Sr. – UH HUB Specialist, Nick Hull – DPR Construction, Neil Skinner – Vaughn Construction, Bill Brown – Austin Commercial, Chuck Keyte – Gadberry Construction, Christian Crenshaw – CMC Development, Nick Merry – UH Construction & Facilities
16-17
INSIDE
04
American Institute of Architects updates construction management contract documents
18-19
Austin HUB EXPO
28
Port Commission Approves 2020 Operating and Capital Budget
2 | December 2019
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PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE 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 University of Houston’s HUB department and the Construction Projects Informational Meeting held recently at the University. The University of Houston HUB program provided the opportunity for attendees to learn more information about key construction
projects and hear from panelists and contractors supporting the UH College of Medicine, UH Hilton Renovation and UH Law Center. 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.
Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Keith J. Davis, Sr. CERTIFIED:
HMSDC
Port of Houston
Metro
BEHIND THE JOURNAL PUBLISHER & CEO Keith J. Davis, Sr. COO & MANAGING EDITOR Kimberly Floyd ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Tiffany Brown STAFF WRITER Carly Hammack
City of Houston
04 ARCHITECTURE 04 American Institute of Architects updates construction management contract documents 04 06 CONSTRUCTION 06 Texas DOT stops construction of $800M FIGG-designed Harbor Bridge 06 City of San Antonio releases the first Procurement Guide to help small business owners apply for City contracts 10 ENERGY 10 WBCS Member Creates Program to Help WBEs Reduce Energy Costs 12 IT & TECHNOLOGY 12 Houston Manufacturers Positive Environment Will Help Expand Local Operations 12 Innovations enhancing jobsite intelligence 14 OIL AND GAS 14 Oil and Gas Sees Widescale VR Deployment 14 Permian Basin: Growth On The Horizon
ART DIRECTOR Angel Rosa
16-17 COVER STORY 16-17 Working to Make A Difference--- UH HUB Program Provides “Change Agent” Opportunities for Vendor Participation
PHOTOGRAPHY Grady Carter L.C. Poullard DISTRIBUTION Rockie Hayden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Helen Callier Subcontractors USA News Provider
18 IN THE SUBCONTRACTORS USA COMMUNITY... 18-19 Austin HUB EXPO 22 Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum 20 PERMITS 20 Here Are 21 Surprise Ways To Avoid Delays In Permitting In The New Year
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OUR SERVICES
CONTENTS
PROJECT COORDINATOR Lindsey Ford
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kendra Wiseman
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16-17 28 TRANSPORTATION 28 Port Commission Approves 2020 Operating and Capital Budget 28 Small Business Graduates Honored By Interagency Mentor Protégé Program 28 Professional Services Contract Approved For Houston Ship Channel Expansion Project
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22 SAFETY 22 Autodesk and AGC to Provide Construction Industry with Custom-Fitting Safety Harnesses for Women 24 Construction Safety at Heights
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ARCHITECTURE
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS
updates construction management contract documents • The American Institute of Architects has announced that it will issue 13 new and updated documents for its Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) and Construction Manager as Adviser (CMa) series. The updated CMc documents will be available Nov. 15, while the CMa series will be released in February 2020. • Changes to the CMc documents, used when the contractor is involved in the preconstruction phase of a project in addition to building it, include: greater flexibility in sections dealing with preconstruction services; provisions addressing work that takes place before a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) is formalized; new insurance and bond exhibits; and a sustainable projects exhibit. • The CMa series is used when the contractor provides preconstruction services but is not the constructor. One of the most significant changes to these documents is the expansion of the construction manager's scope of work to include more review and analysis functions. This series will also be updated with new insurance, bond and sustainable project exhibits. The AIA is offering free webinars about the new forms this month and in December.
The forms that will be introduced or updated from the CMc series include: • A133–2019, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Construction Manager as Constructor where the basis of payment is the Cost of the Work Plus a Fee with a Guaranteed Maximum Price • A134–2019, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Construction Manager as Constructor where the basis of payment is the Cost of the Work Plus a Fee without a Guaranteed Maximum Price • B133–2019, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect, Construction Manager as Constructor Edition
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oth of these series deal with a more collaborative relationship than the traditional designbid-build project delivery method, which is reflective of an industry trend, said attorney Josh Atlas with the law firm of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP in West Palm Beach, Florida. "I think [the update] is a change that is meant to keep up with the practical changes that have happened in the industry," he said. "We've seen a lot more preconstruction relationships that turn into GC or construction manager relationships." The revisions, Atlas said, follow along closely with the integrated project delivery methods that are meant to bring all stakeholders together early on in order to help ensure a smoother, more efficient and less disruptive construction process through the minimization of disputes, coordination of design and upfront planning. Developers are working more and more with contractors on cost estimating, budgeting, developing GMPs, site layout, interpreting building information modeling (BIM) data and performing constructability reviews, meeting regulatory requirements and handling entitlements so that they can start releasing work sooner in a much more collaborative way. "That kind of input early in the game is invaluable to developers because they can make real-time
adjustments before getting stuck in a project [for which] they have limited options to make changes," Atlas said. And even though most contracts that cross his desk are technically design-bid-build, Atlas said, those have also made a turn toward collaboration. Preconstruction work starts to happen about the same time owners move to hire architects, and this means that owners tend to develop their relationships with a contractor early on. "By the time they get a set of plans, the relationship has already been well-formed," Atlas said. There is still the possibility that these owners will move forward with a traditional bid process, but, because of the early collaboration, the relationship is more likely to turn into one that will see the preconstruction services contractor emerge as the constructor. Atlas said once the new and updated AIA forms are released, users will have a better idea of how impactful the changes will be. One update that could affect many contractors, though, is the change to insurance and bond requirements. The new role of adviser that some contractors have taken on, he said, might require them to buy more insurance coverage. "Providing more professional advice comes with different liabilities that are insured differently." he said. "So, construction managers who are providing these types of services would be wise to now also carry some type of professional liability coverage. "From the developers' perspective, if you're going to be relying on their advice, you would hope that they've got some liability insurance for any error and omissions," Atlas said.
Updated forms from the CMa series include: • A132–2019, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Contractor, Construction Manager as Adviser Edition • A232–2019, General Conditions of the Contract for Construction, Construction Manager as Adviser Edition • B132–2019, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect, Construction Manager as Adviser Edition • C132–2019, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Construction Manager as Adviser Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication
Source: Construction Dive
December 2019 | 5
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CONSTRUCTION
City of San Antonio
CONSTRUCTION
releases the first Procurement Guide to help small business owners apply for City contracts By Subcontractors USA News Provider
Texas DOT stops construction of $800M FIGG-designed Harbor Bridge 1 The Texas DOT (TxDOT) has halted
design work on the $803 million replacement of the Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi, Texas, amid reports that FIGG Bridge Engineers Inc. has been removed from the project, according to KRIS-TV. The National Transportation Safety Board last month named FIGG's design errors as the probable cause of the deadly March 2018 pedestrian bridge collapse at Florida International University (FIU).
2 In a Nov. 14 statement to KRIS,
the TxDOT said it "continues to fully review the recent findings by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for applicability to TxDOT projects. During this review, TxDOT has asked Flatiron-Dragados LLC, the developers of the Harbor Bridge Replacement Project, to suspend design activities on the Harbor Bridge project."
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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he current Harbor Bridge design at 1,661 feet in length, would be the longest cable-stayed bridge in the U.S., according to TxDOT. The bridge tower's height of 538 feet will make it the tallest structure in southern Texas. FIGG is currently certified by the TxDOT in several areas including bridge design, complex bridge inspection and bridge construction management. FIGG's Texas bridge projects include the Houston Ship Channel Bridge and the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Port Arthur, Texas. After a lengthy investigation into the FIU bridge collapse, which killed six and injured several others, the NTSB found that FIGG's load and capacity calculation errors in the design of the main span truss member 11/12 nodal region and connection to the bridge deck were the probable cause of the tragic incident. In addition, the board also found that independent peer review consultant Louis Berger failed to catch those errors. FIGG's engineer of record also did not recognize the dangers presented by cracks in the bridge structure prior to collapse, the NTSB said. FIGG issued a statement shortly after the NTSB's release of its final report citing a failure in the construc-
3 TxDOT added that safety
is its top priority and that it has been closely monitoring design and construction activities since the project began. The original completion date was 2021, but recent delays have pushed that back to early 2023. The agency gave no indication as to when the bridge project would restart.
tion process, namely that construction crews did not roughen cold joints at nodal region 11/12, as "the fundamental cause" of the incident. The NTSB addressed that issue in its report and found that roughening would not have prevented the bridge collapse. The NTSB also took the Florida DOT, FIU and FIU's consultant Bolton Perez and Associates Consulting Engineers to task for not acting to close the flow of traffic under the bridge after cracking was observed. In July, two Connecticut lawmakers expressed concern to the state's DOT commissioner about FIGG's involvement in the repair and inspection of the Arrigoni Bridge that connects the Connecticut cities of Portland and Middletown. The commissioner responded to their inquiry by assuring them that FIGG's role was related to quality assurance only and that no one involved in the FIU project would be working on the Arrigoni. Connecticut Sen. Norm Needleman and State Rep. Christie Carpino asked CDOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti to give them regular updates on the project and to schedule a meeting closer to the time that repair work begins next year so that they can be briefed on what safety measures have been put in place prior to construction. As of press time, FIGG officials had not responded to a request to comment on this story. Source: Construction Dive
T
he City of San Antonio released the first Procurement Guide today in an effort to help small, minority, and women-owned business enterprises (S/M/WBEs) navigate through the City contract bidding process. It outlines more than 300 upcoming projects among various City departments to serve as a planning tool for business owners and provide more time to prepare for upcoming solicitations. The Procurement Guide, which will be released on an annual basis, is designed to encourage business owners to seek resources, bid on City contracts, consider subcontractor opportunities, and provide continued assistance to S/M/ WBEs to grow and thrive in San Antonio. It is accessible to all business owners, but was designed to specifically address the needs of minority and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs). The City of San Antonio conducted a disparity study in 2015 showing that even though progress has been achieved in reducing disparities, barriers still exist for minority and women-owned businesses to be successful in our community. “This is the first time the City of San Antonio will provide a forecasting guide to help small business owners prepare to bid on City contracts,” said City Manager Erik Walsh. “We understand the bidding process can sometimes be intimidating. With this tool, we hope to level the playing field for small, minority, and women-owned businesses, as we continue to implement equity-based policies that promote economic mobility for all entrepreneurs in San Antonio.” The Small Business Advocacy Committee’s (SBAC) Diversity Action Plan Subcommittee generated the idea for the Procurement Guide. Committee members serve on this board to advise the Mayor, City Council, and City staff on issues and policies related to helping S/M/ WBEs grow. The Procurement Guide is an initiative of the five-year Diversity Action Plan (DAP) renewed by City Council in 2018. Since its creation, the DAP has played a key role in improving the City’s utilization efforts of S/M/ WBEs from 13% in 2012 to 44% in 2018.
“Over the last 12 months, my team and I worked to ensure this Procurement Guide would offer the right tools to set small business owners up for success in securing City contracts,” said Christopher Herring, former SBAC chair and DAP Subcommittee member. “We are proud of this new initiative and hope it provides the support they need.” The Procurement Guide was developed through a collaborative effort by all City departments and was coordinated by the Economic Development Department, the Finance Department, and the Transportation and Capital Improvements Department. Small business owners can access the Procurement Guide digitally by visiting https://www.sanantonio.gov/ purchasing/biddingcontract/Guide.Printed copies and a Spanish translation will be made available upon request by calling 210-207-3922.
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Source: City of San Antonio
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ENERGY
WBCS Member Creates Program to Help WBEs Reduce Energy Costs By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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elinda Zito O’Brien, Founder and Owner of Energy Utility Group, started working in the energy sector after seeing a new opportunity emerge as energy became deregulated in the U.S. And now she’s on a mission to help fellow Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) reduce their energy costs while incorporating sustainability into their operations. Join us as she talks about her involvement with the Women’s Business Council – Southwest and the importance of connection with other WBEs.
How did you become involved with the Women’s Business Council – Southwest (WBCS), and why is it important to get involved and connected with other WBEs? I became WBE certified after hearing about WBCS from a member at an event in Austin. I started going to WBCS events, but initially felt very overwhelmed. After the WBCS Austin regional office was established and Kristin Moore (WBCS Austin Regional Manager) was brought on, she was able to help me figure out how to get more involved. I joined the Austin committee, and that’s when it started to click and make sense. Becoming certified is a way to meet other WBEs who will be your support system, your customer, and you can
even be their customer. I’ve also been able to grow the long- term relationships with Sustaining (Corporate) Members necessary to win large corporate contracts. Certification has given me the chance to show who we are and what Energy Utility Group can do. The more involved I’ve become, the more certification has helped my business grow.
How can you help WBEs with their sustainability efforts and reducing energy costs? There are many ways WBEs can incorporate sustainability into their business and life. We stay highly aware of everything on the market, and my job is to work with our customers to find out which options make the most sense for their needs and location. I wanted to create a program specifically for certified WBEs in Texas who have virtual home offices or remote employees. Through our partnerships with utility providers, we can offer them commercial style energy pricing for their residential use. This
lets us remove monthly base fees in addition to providing a lower rate. I’m excited to offer it as way to give back and help other women business owners. Even if it is a small amount saved, it’s money that can be invested elsewhere into your business (or used to attend a new WBCS event!).
Another program you were in involved in through WBCS is the Toyota Mentorship Program – tell me a little about it and the benefits you’ve seen as a result. Toyota is a pioneer in the U.S. hybrid car market, and a great example for a successful first to market innovation launch. Working with my mentors has helped me learn their methodologies and given me clarity and insight on how to make my product better overall. It’s an absolute gift to be in the program, and I could not have asked for better mentors. As a result of my relationship with Toyota, I was also able to work with them to offer an exclusive energy perk program to their team members.
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Source: Women’s Business Council – Southwest
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IT & TECHNOLOGY
Houston Manufacturers Positive Environment Will Help Expand Local Operations By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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ajor manufacturers in Houston are bullish on their expansion plans in the region, which could help bolster Houston’s identity as a hub for various segments of the industry. That was one of the main discussion points at the Greater Houston Partnership’s Manufacturing Industry Forum on November 6. Mike Molnar, Founding Director of the Office of Advanced Manufacturing at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, gave the keynote address, providing an overview of the national manufacturing landscape. The Houston region is home to more than 6,400 manufacturers that produce more than $82 billion in products annually. The industry employs more than 230,000 workers and helps drive Houston’s substantial export economy. The Partnership’s Manufacturing and Logistics Committee is working to target prospective global manufacturers for expansion or relocation to the Houston region. Led by chair Rich Wells, Vice President of U.S. Gulf Coast Operations at The Dow Chemical Company, the committee recently surveyed a subset of 10 companies with significant manufacturing operations in the Houston area to get their perspective on operating here. Together, those companies employ 25,000 local workers, or about 10% of Houston’s manufacturing employment base. Seven of the 10 companies surveyed said they plan to expand their
Houston area operations in the next three years. Those collective expansions could mean 3,400 new jobs and $5.2 billion in capital expenditures. Most of the companies surveyed said their primary customers were in international markets and that they expect demand to increase in the near term. When asked about the perceived strengths of the region to support their operations, the surveyed companies cited the concentration of STEM talent, significant transportation infrastructure, low-cost of doing business and access to global markets. “As a committee, we were pleased to see that these results align with the way we are already promoting Houston as a manufacturing city,” said Wells. The companies also cited several specific challenges to operating in Houston, including the threat of natural disasters, poor air quality and poor-quality K-12 schools, among other issues. Wells said the Partnership is working through its various initiatives to tackle each of those challenges. “We will take the results of this survey and sharpen our work and tighten our pitch to the companies we are working to attract,” Wells said. In his presentation, Molnar stressed the important role the manufacturing sector plays in the nation’s economy. Approximately 10% of U.S. jobs are tied directly to manufacturing, and it’s in that sector where the vast major-
ity of research and development still happens. Molnar said that despite the oftrepeated idea that most manufacturing happens overseas in countries such as China, the U.S. still leads the world in manufacturing advanced technology products. “The U.S. is making more stuff than ever before in our history,” he said. “The golden age of manufac-
turing is now.” Texas is the only state that is exporting more manufactured goods than it’s producing, meaning goods manufactured elsewhere in the country, or even abroad, are passing through the state’s ports to be exported to customers overseas. Molnar said that illustrates the critical role Texas plays in the global supply chain. Certainly, with Houston’s central geographic location relative to the U.S. and to the Americas broadly, along with our numerous logistical and distribution channels, the region is an ideal hub for manufacturing companies that need to reach customers around the world, said Partnership President and CEO Bob Harvey. Harvey pointed out that the manufacturing industry is in the midst of a transformation, leveraging and developing new digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, industrial internet of things, and additive manufacturing, among others. These changes are apparent at some of Houston’s largest manufacturing companies as well as in the innovation sphere at places like maker space TXRX in East Downtown and TMCx, an accelerator for cutting-edge medical device manufacturing at the Texas Medical Center’s Innovation Institute. “The exciting work happening in our region positions us well as a competitive place to attract and grow cutting-edge manufacturing companies,” Harvey said. Source: Greater Houston Partnership
IT & TECHNOLOGY
Innovations enhancing jobsite intelligence By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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n today’s competitive landscape, construction firms need to leverage current technologies in their business strategy. Innovations in site monitoring alone have proven to increase efficiency and productivity while improving communication. The insights that real-time jobsite monitoring deliver can transform how you manage your projects. The visual data collected during the execution phase can significantly influence project outcomes relating to schedule, quality, and safety. In fact, cameras can impact many challenges construction managers face every day such as the need for increased productivity, improved communications, and the avoidance of costly rework.
Productivity Site cameras can be accessed from any Internet-enabled device, allowing project stakeholders to monitor multiple sites from anywhere. This approach reduces travel expenses and saves hundreds of wasted man-hours driving from site to site. With real-time visibility into each jobsite, project stakeholders can focus on more important tasks like job progress and budget management.
rely on images to “tell the story” of the project, and images help owners track the progress of their investment.
Rework Rework is every project manager’s nightmare, 52% of which is caused by poor project data, but on-site cameras can help avoid this problem from the outset. Typically, a project will slowly derail because of several minor issues rather than
Communication Unfortunately, miscommunication happens regularly on jobsites. Visual documentation can change this, greatly improving the communication process and decreasing the chances of misunderstandings. Project managers, trade partners and others that need daily reports Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication
one large one. Live and recorded video, and high-resolution real-time imagery from the jobsite can provide a robust picture of job progress and help spot potential problems early on — long before they wreak havoc on your schedule and budget, and more importantly, without requiring you to set foot on the jobsite. If what you see on the screen and in progress reports don’t match up, you can respond quickly and get the project back on track. There’s no question jobsite cameras provide a more extensive — and growing — range of capabilities to jobsite awareness. Whether your value proposition is security, marketing, productivity or compliance, cameras have greatly improved visual monitoring, resulting in a safe, secure, communicative and productive operation. Source: Construction Dive
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OIL AND GAS
OIL AND GAS
Oil and Gas Sees Widescale VR Deployment Permian Basin: Growth By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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he oil and gas industry is witnessing wide-scale deployment of virtual reality (VR) technology across its value chain. That’s according to GlobalData, which has produced a new report exploring how VR is finding its way into the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors. In the report, the company identified the following oil and gas players among the leading adopters of VR technology in oil and gas operations: • Baker Hughes • BP • Chevron • ConocoPhillips • Equinor • ExxonMobil • Gazprom • Halliburton • Shell • Saudi Aramco • Sinopec “Over time, this technology will transform oil and gas processes and workflows and help create new growth opportunities for organizations,” Ravindra Puranik, an oil and gas analyst at GlobalData, said in a company statement. “VR and 3D simulations allow employees to interact with field equipment in a virtual world.
Using the VR system, an employee can get hands-on training on different kinds of equipment and devices without affecting normal work routines,” Puranik added. “Furthermore, it is equipped to replicate a wide range of emergency situations that employees could potentially face in real-life while working onsite with heavy machinery, thus ensuring they are ready to deal with any unforeseen event,” the GlobalData representative continued. According to GlobalData, the leading technology providers in VR include companies such as Facebook, Microsoft, Samsung and Sony. Source: Newswire
On The Horizon
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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or decades, the Ghawar field in Saudia Arabia stood alone as the most productive energy resource on the global stage – a behemoth of energy supplying much of the world’s demand. This year, though, marked an unprecedented shakeup in the energy ranking with a resurgent Permian Basin outpacing Ghawar in production. The Permian Basin – spanning west Texas and southeast New Mexico – has become the most prolific oil field in the world. That remarkable growth in the Permian and elsewhere has made the U.S. the world’s top oil and natural gas producer, a far-fetched idea just 20 years ago. For ExxonMobil, the Permian represents a significant growth area. Its acquisition of XTO Energy in 2010 and subsequent acquisitions have placed ExxonMobil in contention to be one of the region’s leading producers. That investment ripples across towns and cities in that area. In New Mexico alone, the company’s activities will create an average of 4,100 direct job opportunities and about $64 billion in net economic benefits for the state and local communities over the next 40 years. Today, the company is engineering and putting into service infrastructure that will help deliver oil and gas to North American refineries and shipping terminals. These investments are part of a larger integrated energy ecosystem built on a foundation of advanced technology – from cloud-based solutions at the drill sites to new digital tools to increase efficiencies at refineries. Source: ExxonMobil
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Working to Make A Difference---
UH HUB Program Provides “Change Agent” Opportunities for Vendor Participation By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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ith a mission to be a valuable change agent toward increasing contracting opportunities for historically underutilized businesses (HUBs), the University of Houston HUB program provided the chance for attendees to learn more information about key construction projects at the Construction Projects Informational Meeting held last month, which included panelists and contractors supporting the UH College of Medicine, UH Hilton Renovation and UH Law Center. “We use a data-driven and solution-focused approach to develop targeted strategies for potential vendors to learn of subcontracting opportunities and help them meet their overall business objectives,” said Dr. Linelle Clark-Brown, director of HUB Operations at the University of Houston. As part of the recent event, more than 100 attendees heard from panel participants, including HUB Prime Contractor representatives from Nash Industries, CMC Development and Gadberry Construction; non-HUB prime contractor representatives from Austin Commercial, Vaughn Construction and DPR Construction; UH Facilities and Construction and the Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum. Moderated by Dr. Clark-Brown, the panelists were asked questions pertaining to business best practices, shared learnings at various project stages and guidance about
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processes for both prime and subcontractor opportunities with UH Capital Projects. Following the formal panel presentation, attendees also had time for an informal Q&A and networking. In addition to the event of the Capital Projects highlighted, HUB Operations will also meet with the University College/Division Business Offices to discuss HUB Purchase opportunities within the respective Colleges and/or Divisions. The HUB Operations Department will present strategies to increase HUB spending in each specific College/Division based on their needs. Feedback regarding contracting opportunities and HUB vendor experiences will be shared by College/ Division Business Offices, and information gathered from these meetings will also be shared with the HUB advocate community partners for their members. This feedback helps inform the HUB Department’s need to focus more attention on strategies to increasing HUB vendors direct award opportunities. As an example, in an effort to increase the number of HUBs on
"My vision for the University’s HUB Operations program can be summed up by the following inspirational quote by an historical innovator and leader Benjamin Franklin--“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning." Dr. Linelle Clark-Brown, director of HUB Operations at the University of Houston
Cooperatives and/or eligible for Job Order Contracts, the HUB Operations Department will be launching a user-friendly HUB vendor database in 2020. The database will allow HUB vendors to self-register into the system so the University business office staff who initiate purchases can find the HUB vendors easily. The database will also allow the HUB operations department to extract applicable HUB vendor information as needed.
For more information, please visit the UH HUB website: https://www.uh.edu/office-of-finance/hub/ Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication
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Austin HUB EXPO The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Procurement Connection Seminar and HUB Expo was held recently at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin, Texas. This event included an expo for vendors to showcase their services as well as breakout sessions led by experts on various HUB topics.
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PERMITS
Here Are 21 SURPRISE WAYS To Avoid Delays In Permitting In The New Year By Helen Callier Contributing Writer
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e receive many calls from Contractors, Project Owners and Architects from across the country. Many are frustrated with their plans being stuck in permitting with no glimmer of hope that their permit will be issued any time soon. Some of these calls reveal tough designs that require changes to meet building codes and from reviewing the jurisdiction’s rejection comments, some of the callers’ problems were preventable on the frontend before submitting. To help you mitigate reasons for rejections and to collapse the time it takes you to pull your construction permit, below are 21 ways to avoid delays in permitting in the new year. 1. Make sure all Engineering plans are signed and sealed. 2. Confirm all Architectural plans are signed and stamped legibly. 3. Properly upload files and documents to the correct folders during electronic submission 4. Close out any old permits associated with work already completed 5. Alert Contractors to demo only and to refrain from going way beyond what is considered demo work 6. Use correct IEC on plans as recognized by
jurisdiction 7. Provide load analysis with Electrical plans even single line diagrams 8. Deliver correct number of hard copies along with thumb drive to comply with jurisdiction submittal requirements 9. Properly respond to all rejection comments. To not respond causes an automatic delay. 10. Pay plan review fees, water waste water fees, etc. 11. Include and deliver correct survey in submittal 12. Refrain from making assumptions on jurisdiction’s zoning ordinances and building codes 13. Provide required calculations supporting engineering plans i.e. structural 14. Clear any red tag violations on project site related to prior project work 15. Use jurisdiction checklist to confirm all required documents are submitted 16. Correctly name files for online submission 17. Provide correct sized hard copies per jurisdiction’s requirements 18. Take notes when conferring with
Plan Reviewer and clearly communicate your area of concern 19. Avoid yelling at and disrespecting Plan Reviewer. 20. Submit response sheet or narrative sheet addressing jurisdictions rejection comments 21. Close out project site trade permits on all prior completed work
In Conclusion The above list reflects a sampling of what we hear from persons calling our toll-free line or stopping us at a jurisdiction to request our insight on how to push beyond the blockade to having their building permit. We truly get it! Time is money and your primary goal is starting construction and finishing based on your schedule. Obtaining building permits successfully, again and again, allows you to retain customers, bring on new projects plus grow your business. Look at the list of 21 ways to avoid delays again and if you have any tips to add, I love to hear them. You can reach me via Linkedin and other socials or simply call 1.844. PERMIT.4.
GREATER HOUSTON BUSINESS PROCUREMENT FORUM “Where Business Takes Place”
#BuildSafe
GHBPF 2019 Calendar January 29, 2019 February 26, 2019 March 26, 2019 April 23, 2019 May 21, 2019 June 25, 2019 July 23, 2019 August 28, 2019 September 24, 2019 October 29, 2019 November 19, 2019
Monthly Procurement Forum Breakfast
Tuesday, December 10, 2019 8:00 AM TO 11:30 AM HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
West Loop Campus 5601 W. Loop South, 1st Floor - Auditorium Houston, Texas 77081
1707 1/2 Post Oak Blvd., PMB 273, Houston, TX 77056 | Ph.832.216.2185 | WWW.HOUSTONBIZ.ORG
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December 10, 2019 Various Public and Private Sector Entities and their representatives will discuss the prospects for doing business and outline business opportunities for Small and Minority owned businesses with their respective Institutions.
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SAFETY
AUTODESK AND AGC to Provide Construction Industry with Custom-Fitting Safety Harnesses for Women By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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ccording to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration(link is external) (OSHA), falls are the leading cause of private sector worker fatalities in the construction industry. Everyone who works at heights, whether it’s on a roof, scaffolding, or the edge of a tall building, should have properly fitting safety harnesses, yet not all contractors have the supply they need to better protect women in construction. To help address this, Autodesk(link is external) is funding a grant program with one of the largest construction trade organizations – the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)(link is external) – to supply select, inneed member contractors with fall protection harnesses sized for women who work at heights. The program comes at a time when 80 percent of construction firms report having a hard time filling the hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce. Women represent approximately 10 percent of the overall construction labor force[1], with even lower representation in trades positions, and one of the largest demographics with the potential to fill the gap in labor. To help attract and retain more women in the field, jobsites need to recognize and meet the needs of a gender-diverse workforce, including properly sized and comfortable PPE.
“The construction industry agrees safety must be everyone’s priority, but we also need to recognize when safety needs aren’t being met for some workers. Technology is improving jobsite safety, but it’s not a silver bullet,” said Allison Scott, head of construction thought leadership at Autodesk. “Construction is – and will continue to be – a people-driven business. The industry needs more people, and women must feel safe and welcome on jobsites if we want them to choose a career in construction. Ultimately, when we address safety for women, we improve safety for everyone.”
Ill-fitting PPE can range from uncomfortable to downright dangerous. For example, a fall protection harness that’s too loose may still catch a woman when the scaffolding beneath her collapses, but it could seriously injure her neck or shoulder in the process. This not only affects the injured worker, but her employer as well. The contractor incurs lost time, productivity and – potentially – a costly worker’s compensation claim. “One of the most effective ways to successfully recruit more women into high-paying construction careers is to make sure firms are able to provide safety equipment that makes them even safer,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America. “We want to leverage these grants to encourage our member firms to provide a wider range of safety equipment and continue to expand the diversity of our workforce.” A top concern of contractors is the safety of their employees, and many are recognizing the shifting landscape in the construction workforce and taking steps toward a more inclusive, injury-free job site. Earlier this year, Skanska(link is external) created gloves and two customized safety vests designed for women and based on feedback from its own female employees. The company plans to expand the apparel line soon to include surveyor vests and high-visibility jackets for winter. Source: Associated General Contractors
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Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum
The Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum held its monthly breakfast at Houston Community College West Loop Campus. This month’s breakfast highlighted “Financing Your Business in 2020 – Start Planning Now,” where attendees had the opportunity to hear from experts on financing your own business.
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SAFETY
Construction Safety at Heights By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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he very top of a construction project may have the biggest impact on a company’s bottom line. Workers for The Boldt Company, a member of multiple AGC chapters, routinely work 120-130 feet in the air on large power and industrial plant jobsites and the slightest misstep could result in personal injury and devastating losses to the families, communities, customers and all subcontractors. Ensuring safety at extreme heights is a top priority for the construction services company; so much so that Boldt has never been removed from a job due to any safety concerns. Robust safety programs are pay-to-play for power customers, but ensuring safety on a daily basis for thousands of workers across the United States takes more than slogans — safety depends on collaboration, education, and innovation. In 2018, Boldt maintained a total incident rate well below the construction industry average of 3.1. Much of the specialized work on large plants is self-performed, and Boldt teams consider working on steel beams high over the jobsite all in a day’s work.
Safety Starts With Owners Owners have realized that embracing a strong safety culture is in the best interest of their organizations and every individual on a construction site. Safety requirements are now being written into construction contracts to mitigate risk and some owners will not allow firms with poor safety records to even bid on certain jobs. Randy Haak, general counsel for The Boldt Company, says this applies to everyone on the construction site, including construction managers and subcontractors equally. “Some larger construction firms don’t actually selfperform the labor and may have low incident rates because they only have professional management staff and subcontract the work,” Haak says. “At Boldt, our teams regularly perform the work on industrial projects and are directly exposed to risks where high levels of protection and safety management are required.” Boldt is completing work for AECOM, a member of multiple AGC chapters, on Alliant Energy’s West Riverside Energy Center in Beloit, Wisconsin, where crews are building infrastructure for a 650-MW com-
bined cycle natural gas power plant. Construction began on the $700 million plant in August 2016. Boldt conducted similar work for Alliant at its’ combined cycle plant in Marshalltown, Iowa. “Alliant had specific safety requirements,” says Ted Carew, Boldt’s senior safety manager. “At Riverside, we worked with AECOM to apply safety lessons learned at Marshalltown into the site plan. This plan became the base program, mandatory for all other contractors.”
Zero Every Day At all jobsites, Boldt teams begin every day with a safety huddle where safety professionals engage with site staff to emphasize job hazards and the plans to avoid, mitigate, and manage such conditions to help achieve the company’s goal of zero incidents. Some of the primary hazards at these sites are: • Slips, trips and falls • Contact with moving or fixed objects • Caught in or between (such as: machinery, components, trenches or excavations) • Electrocution from tools, overhead power lines or underground utilities
Safety training is mandatory for all contractors and subcontractors at all Boldt sites. This includes training sessions prior to arriving at the jobsite, owner’s orientation, and Boldt safety orientation at the site.
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It’s important to remember that you can have all the rules you want, but your culture has to be dedicated to working safely every day on every jobsite. —Goldschmidt says.
In all power projects, one of the biggest safety risk is falls — including tools and equipment falling. “Let’s say someone puts down a hammer or wrench while working at height, and someone accidentally kicks it off. By the time the tool gets to the ground, it accelerates and if it were to hit someone that would do significant damage,” says Mike Rudolph, Boldt project manager on the Riverside site. While working at heights, crews make sure smaller tools are tethered to a belt and larger tools are tethered to a structure — even hardhats are tethered to each worker. “It doesn’t matter what it is, anything falling will have impact,” Rudolph says. “We stress: If it can’t be harnessed, it doesn’t need to be on you.” On a daily basis at power plant construction sites, iron workers may connect structural beams 120 feet above the ground and boilermakers can be working at similar heights constructing heat recovery steam generation systems. They wear safety harnesses, retractable lifelines and tool belts that add as much as 30 pounds to each worker. This safety equipment is necessary because it acts like a seat belt and grabs an individual if a fall starts. About half of Boldt’s site work at power projects is done at heights over six feet, which always requires tying off. Lifts are used whenever possible and workers are tied off to the lift. Pearl weave netting surrounds the lifts like a basket to catch any tools that may fall. “Lifts can reach up to 120 feet, but there are times you have to get out and climb the iron itself,” Carew says. The degree to which individuals and equipment are tethered is unique to power projects and in the forefront of the safety industry. “Manufacturers have provided us with better equipment and different ways to mitigate risk on power projects,” says Cory Goldschmidt, Boldt’s corporate safety director. “On a power plant site, everything happens in close quarters, and that’s when tethering along with other protective measures are important.”
Safety Yields Results Safety processes that are integrated up front in power plant construction give positive results. “The secret is getting safety involved up front,” Rudolph says. “When we plan the work we ask ‘what are we going to tie off to, who’s wearing what’, and identify precautions to cut down on any incidents.” In 2018, Boldt was 82 percent below the national average for lost-time rate. That same year, Boldt self-performed 3,845,711 manhours of work and realized a lost-time incident rate of more than 50 percent below the industry average of 1.2. Both metrics are considered low for the construction industry, but safety professionals underscore individual commitment to safety makes the difference for owners. “It’s important to remember that you can have all the rules you want, but your culture has to be dedicated to working safely every day on every jobsite,” Goldschmidt says.
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Source: Associated General Contractor
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TRANSPORTATION
Port Commission
Approves 2020 Operating and Capital Budget
News Provider
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he Fiscal Year 2020 Operating and Capital Budget was approved Monday during the Annual Budget Workshop, a special meeting of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. Port Commission Chairman Ric Campo applauded Port Houston staff for doing a great job positioning the port to deliver more jobs and economic impact. "It's about jobs ultimately," Campo said."I am very honored to be a part of this organization." Projecting growth of revenues at 7% driven by container terminals, the cash flow generated by those revenues supports Port Houston’s balanced fiscal responsibilities. The 2020 Capital Budget of $232 million includes strategic and recapitalization projects, Houston Ship Channel work, and other investments as well. With the approval of the budget, the Port Commission further demonstrated its commitment to its strategic vision and stewardship.
Small Business Graduates Honored By Interagency Mentor Protégé Program By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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Demonstrating commitment to strategic vision and stewardship By Subcontractors USA
TRANSPORTATION
Other actions taken during the meeting, included the award of two design contracts to expedite further the construction schedule to widen and deepen the channel of the nation’s busiest waterway. The Port Commission also approved rate increases under Tariff Nos. 8, 14, and 15, effective Jan. 1, 2020. Tariff increases will match the 1.8% increase in the Consumer Price Index average for the year ending July 2019, as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These tariff increases help ensure Port Houston remains competitive in the current marketplace while helping to cover the increased costs of terminal operations. A 3% increase in the Harbor Fee, which pays for the cost of fire response and related services along the ship channel, was also approved. Source: Port Houston
ort Houston’s small business and education outreach department recently hosted a graduation reception for the Interagency Mentor Protégé Program 2019 class on the M/V Sam Houston. With the guidance of local agencies, twenty-one protégés are now on the path to discovering new resources and taking their companies to new heights after completing the program. The annual program consists of a nine-week course and group presentations and educates small business owners on contracting and procurement. Port Houston is a partner and sponsor of the program with several other local agencies – the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity, Houston METRO, Houston First Corporation, Houston Independent School District and Houston Community College. The program provides massive opportunity to small businesses that are ready to grow and achieve success through connecting with these organizations. The program exists to strengthen working relationships and foster long-term stability between established companies and local agencies. The benefits of the program include helping the entrepreneurs understand business financials and procurement bidding, developing relationships with companies, as well as technical assistance. “This program has grown to advance these professionals and open the door to opportunities with projects that they may not have considered before,” said Gilda Ramirez, senior director of small business and education outreach for Port Houston. “It also shows the strong partnerships that we have in our region – together we are building the workforce.” Source: Port Houston
TRANSPORTATION
Professional Services Contract Approved For Houston Ship Channel Expansion Project By Subcontractors USA News Provider
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professional services contract of $5.5 million was approved by the Port Commission and awarded to TC&B/GBA, a joint venture of Turner Collie and Braden, Inc. and Gahagan & Bryant Associates, Inc. at the September Port Commission meeting. The ship channel expansion work includes critical-path professional services for engineering, design and project coordination. The widening and deepening of the ship channel will allow for economic growth to continue. Given significant demand from industry to take advantage of current economic conditions and facilitate future growth, the Port of Houston Authority has proposed an expedited schedule whereby dredging could begin by 2021 and the project be completed in 2024. The Houston Ship Channel is the busiest deep-draft international trade waterway in the nation, and improvements are needed for safety and the future growth of regional and national commerce. Source: Port Houston
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