 Agencies/Authorities
Agency Interactions 2008-2009
AGC and MSBA agree on OPM contract
After nine months of negotiations with MA School Building Authority, AGC and a group of Owners Project Managers have reached overall agreement on a contract for the OPM services (under a design-bid-build) contract. AGC wishes to thank Stan Martin, Holland & Knight LLP, David Saindon, KVA Associates, Frank Kennedy, John McLaughlin, The McLaughlin Agency, and Mary Gately, AGC, for participating in the process. Click here to view the new contract that was posted on the MSBA web site on July 6, 2009.
AGC hold Conversations with . . . programs with public agencies
Through its Conversations with series, AGC invited leaders of the state agencies to join AGC members in a presentation on how they procure, regulate and contract construction services. Over 400 members participated in the programs, which took place from February to June 2009. Department of Environmental Control, MA State College Building Authority, U MA Building Authority took part in the program.
AGC members meet with DCAM
AGC has been hosting quarterly meetings with AGC member firms and DCAM Deputy Commissioner Mike McKimmey and Director of Construction Mike Lambert to discuss project opportunities in the public sector. These discussions have included such topics as insurance and bonding, prequalification, CM at Risk (Chapter 149A), the role of the OPM and policies and procedures. Frank discussions continue with DCAM staff to develop best practices for all members of the project team. Watch for information on the next meeting in August 2009.
AGC Environmental Interest Group Develops Position on Job Site Source Separation of C&D Materials Ahead of Possible New Regulation
As part of AGC’s Conversations with series for members, Jim McQuade, MA DEP Outreach Coordinator, presented information on DEP’s progress on job site source separation. He requested that AGC discuss the advisability of DEP developing a possible regulation to mandate job site source separation of certain C&D materials at job sites with clean gypsum being one of the products.
As a result, AGC convened a special group meeting on June 16 to develop an updated position in advance of a June 23 DEP C&D Materials’ Subcommittee, where such a conceptual regulation will be discussed.
For the past few years, AGC has been participating in these Gypsum Working Group meetings, with attendance primarily from the processors. Until recently, the discussion has been centered on the need to include clean gypsum wallboard as the next material to be banned from state landfills. There will, in all likelihood, be a ban in place by December 31, 2009. Howev er, because gypsum wallboard is seen as a contributor of hydrogen sulfide gasses at state landfills, there has been a rising pushback from processors that generators be included in the management of clean gypsum wallboard - beginning at the job site.
AGC has been steadfast in its position that a blanket job site source separation regulation for all materials is impractical and almost impossible at every job site due to tight staging areas in urban locations. In addition, we have been proponents of economic incentives as the means for contractors to embrace source separation. Further, AGC has always stated that if the state is going to mandate new regulations, let it first embrace it on its own public projects. (Effective immediately, DCAM is including clean gypsum recycling on its state projects.)
At a recent AGC Environmental meeting, members indicated that many firms are attempting to reach a LEED "Innovative Design" rating of 95%, which assumes that there is source separation of certain materials already taking place. The group felt that a ban would be the best avenue to succeed as it would drive the market to incentivize contractors that source separate.
AGC has been asked to attend the next DEP meeting to engage in a dialogue by reviewing options, offering practical alternatives, and finding solutions to better managing the separation of clean gypsum wallboard waste at the job site. For additional information on this subject, contact Bob Petrucelli at petrucelli@agcmass.org.
2004 Public Construction Reform Regulations Forms and Guidelines
AGC of Massachusetts participated in a collaborative 10-month process to draft the regulations and create the forms behind the 2004 Public Construction Reform.
Massachusetts Municipal Association and AGC develop OPM Guide for Municipalities
New Publication! AGC and the Massachusetts Municipal Association collaborated for more than a year to develop this best practices guideline for local building committees on hiring OPMs. The publication, Recommended Practices for Hiring Owner's Project Managers: A Guide for Municipal Building Projects, is complimentary.
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