AEC St. Louis

Some states are short on stimulus funds

Mary Schanuel — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:47:46 +0000

With nearly 15 percent of contracts awarded through a small part of the federal stimulus program, fresh statistics show that newly created jobs are often going to states that need them least, according to a Friday report from The New York Times. At issue is a $16 billion program granting contracts to private businesses to build federal projects. About $2.2 billion of that initiative has filtered through to contractors, but it’s not coming in large volume to high unemployment states. Read more…

from Business Design+Construction

Grabbing federal stimulus deals

Mary Schanuel — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:41:24 +0000

from Crain’s Chicago Business

The Obama administration’s stimulus plan is an attractive opportunity for small businesses looking to get into the government-contracting game. But if you’ve never gone after a government gig before, the prospect of finding out what jobs are available, who to pitch to, and how to qualify can be daunting.

Kevin Ferguson of Kwame Building Group says it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way. He recently spoke at a Score Chicago Workshop and later sat down for an interview on Score Chicago’s CAN-TV 21 Hotline show. On both occasions, he shed some light on the sometimes bewildering government-contracting process.

View the video here.

Crain’s Chicago Business

How effective is your AEC Web site?

Mary Schanuel — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:51:35 +0000

Your #1 most important marketing investment in today’s economy is your Web site, because that’s where 99% of small business decision makers go to find suppliers — see our latest e-newsletter for details. Your Web site needs to be compelling, up-to-date, easy to navigate, easy to scan/read and different from your competitors.

Here’s a good article in Building Design + Construction on what makes an effective AEC Web site. We believe the new site we just launched for Hartman Walsh Industrial Services meets all the criteria. Check it out!

Mary Schanuel - Synergy Group

mschanuel@synergy-pr.com

Construction works pull man from burning vehicle

Mary Schanuel — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:17:44 +0000

Kudos to five local construction tradesmen who pried open the door of a car that crashed Tuesday morning on the River Heritage Parkway in Alton, Illinois, then pulled the driver to safety as flames quickly overtook the small vehicle. The tradesmen were working on the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center’s Confluence Field Station under construction across the highway.

from the Alton Telegraph

Kwame Building Group VP Kevin Ferguson receives Inclusive Leadership Award

Mary Schanuel — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:27:15 +0000

Congratulations to Kevin Ferguson, vice president of Kwame Building Group (KWAME), for his 2009 “Inclusive Leadership Award,” which he received last week from the St. Louis Business Journal. The award honors ethnic minorities who are making their mark on the St. Louis business community. Ferguson, 36, manages major construction projects in aviation, housing, education and public works, and currently oversees KWAME’s operations in Seattle, Dallas and New Orleans. He also is responsible for KWAME’s strategies for accessing federal stimulus projects.

KWAME VP Kevin Ferguson discusses federal stimulus plan on SCORE Chicago TV

Mary Schanuel — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:44:00 +0000

SCORE Chicago TV host Mark Goodman interviewed Kevin Ferguson, vice president of Kwame Building Group, on the Obama Stimulus plan this week. Kevin points out that there are significant opportunities for small businesses in the stimulus plan and discusses what it takes to participate in government business.

View the video at http://blip.tv/file/2610567

Federal agencies using IDIQ delivery method to speed projects

Mary Schanuel — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:48:07 +0000

Driven to speed projects to market, federal agencies are using accelerated delivery methods to move stimulus-funded work into the express lane, according to ENR.

Most federal agencies have drawn up long lists of small to medium-sized projects that are prime for design and construction firms that already have indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts with the government.

IDIQ is a federal procurement method for a range of architecture, engineering and contracting services. Unlike a stand-alone contract for a single project, an IDIQ approach allows the contract holder to perform specific services within the limits of the contract, which include the location where the tasks can be performed and a limit on the total value of work that can be awarded within a specific contract period.

Agencies often use these contracts for easily defined, low-risk projects that they need to mobilize quickly. Contract holders are essentially pre-approved to execute the task.

Although some in the industry are concerned this may limit competitiveness, agencies vow there are many opportunities ahead. The stimulus law is providing such unprecedented levels of funding that it will push existing IDIQ capacity to the limit. The US Forest Service and the Department of Defense both expect to exceed their IDIQ capacities. DOD won’t increase limits on existing IDIQ contracts and expects to advertise for new IDIQ contracts.

Source: ENR

Construction unemployment stats

Mary Schanuel — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:46:21 +0000

The construction industry lost another 126,000 jobs in March, bringing the total construction job losses to 466,000 since November, the Labor Dept. reported on April 3. That pushed construction’s March unemployment rate in March to 21.1%, from 12.0% a year earlier.

Source: ENR

Free seminar on accessing economic stimulus funds for construction

Mary Schanuel — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:19:45 +0000

The American Recover and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is pumping billions of dollars into construction infrastructure projects. But if your firm has not done much government work, you may find it challenging to quickly break into the public sector.
AGC St. Louis is hosting a free seminar on “Working for the Government” on Thursday, April 23, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Marriott Union Station.

Michael Feldmann, assistant chief of engineering and construction for the St. Louis District Corps of Engineers, and Stephanie Witt, contracting officer for the General Services Administration, will give an overview of what contractors and specialty contractors need to know to navigate the public sector.

The seminar will be held just prior to the AGC Annual Reception. For details, visit AGC St. Louis or contact Katie Mason at (314) 480-3178 or kmason@agcstl.org.

Tips for winning government stimulus contracts

Mary Schanuel — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:46:19 +0000

Kelly Spors, a Wall Street Journal reporter who recently quoted Walton Construction CEO Dan Frisbee in an article on small businesses accessing economic stimulus funds, offers tips for winning government contracts on her WSJ blog Independent Street. She offers links for networking with government contractors, accessing lists of projects and getting low-cost or free technical assistance. She also gives a link to the Central Contractor Registration site. All government contractors must be registered in this database prior to award of a contract.