February 19, 2010

Continue to check our website www.agcmass.org for the most up-to-date information about our upcoming programs and events 

MCAP Contributors 

All MCAP-contributing firms will receive 50% reimbursement of their registration fees for some educational programs - up to a maximum of $2000 per program, after full registration is paid to AGC.  Attendance is required for reimbursement.

Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Enews

Educational programs

Contact Mary Gately gately@agcmass.org

The 2010 Member Directory is being updated...

Your electronic proof has gone out. If we do not receive an updated proof by April 1, 2010,  we will assume that the listing is correct and it will be published as it appears now.

2009 Member Directory

AGC of MA Membership Directory is on the web home page!  Click here to view 

AGC launches the new AGC Safety Digest to keep all members informed about the latest OSHA requirements, rules and enforcement measures that were introduced in 2010. 

The first Safety Digest was emailed on February 16.  Watch for this electronic news on a quarterly basis.   Click here.

AGC is working for you        

AGC invited building owners, institutional decision makers, developers and architects to talk about certain areas of best practices during 2009. The discussions, held in three separate sessions, surrounded the preconstruction effort, risk tolerance and management and BIM /IPD.  The process will continue in the spring of 2010.

AGC participated in a meeting of industry employer representatives with Assistant Attorney General Miranda Jones and Attorneys Brian O’Donnell and Deb Anderson of the Bid Protest unit to discuss issues of concern to employers such as Bid Protest protocols, unreasonably low restricted filed subcontractor bids on Chapter 149 projects, RFQs on CM at Risk (149A) projects, use of apprenticeship program requirements, and other issues. 

AGC, working with the MA School Building Authority developed a  presentation on CM at Risk in the public sector earlier this month.  Over 65 attendees representing various municipalities, MSBA employees and other construction professionals were present.  This is another part of AGC’s owner engagement and educational outreach to owners and procurers of construction services.

AGC renewed the OSHA CHASE  partnership for 2010 – The AGC of MA/OSHA CHASE partnership is still in force despite rumors from Washington that many cooperative programs and alliances would be scrapped now that OSHA is taking on an enforcement approach with contractors. Our chapter is one of a very few across the country that will continue with this successful partnership program. (View AGC Safety Digest  above for more information on OSHA enforcement strategies.)

AGC’s  blue level contractors were part of a signing ceremony for renewal of this exclusive arrangement in December in the Braintree OSHA office.  All Blue-level contractors (Consigli, Skanska, Lee Kennedy, Commodore, Gilbane, AJ Martini, Turner and Walsh Brothers), the three area directors of OSHA/MA and AGC will be part of an annual review of the program's activities.

Labor Relations Division reviewed a number of issues over the last two months that required support and assistance including a request for arbitration, jurisdictional disputes and mobility issues.

AGC continues to meet with Harvard University's Health and Safety team on its Contractor Assessment Program.  All contractors interested in working on projects at Harvard must pass the Safety Assessment Program.  AGC has worked with a number of members to bring their safety standards to the level acceptable to Harvard safety standards.

AGC is working on a series of BIM programs that will assist members as they begin or enhance the use of Building Information Modeling in their operations.  All of these programs will be hands on with laptops provided for participants.  The first program will be a “BIM Test Drive” for those interested in understanding the value and basic tools.  Four additional workshops will also be offered that will go into more detail about the benefits associated with this growing phenomenon.

Have you taken advantage of AGC ‘s Verizon Wireless discount?  As an AGC member, you may receive up to 22% off your Verizon Wireless bill.  Over 58 members are currently enrolled in this plan. Your employees are also eligible for a discount off their personal Verizon wireless phones.  Contact Phil Hammond for complete details.  Hammond@agcmass.org or 781-235-2680 ext 13.

Enterprise Fleet Management offers AGC members discounts on fleet operations. This membership benefit includes discounted vehicle pricing, flexible vehicle funding, vehicle maintenance programs, fuel program, and a disposal program.

AGC has added Paperless Environments to its list of product benefits for members with a discount toward the purchase of the software. The next session to discuss the advantages of going toward less paper will take place at AGC Conference Center in Wellesley on March 23rd at 8:30 – 1030 a.m. Send someone to explore how you can save time, money and storage space with this process.  Registration is required.

OfficeMax offers Discounted Pricing to AGC Members. Click here to learn more about each program. OfficeMax offers discounted pricing on more than 12,000 items to AGC Members, including free delivery on in-stock orders over $50. Save on office supplies, office equipment, office furniture and more with the OfficeMax Partner Advantage Program! From now until March 31, 2010 receive $25 off your first order over the phone.

Attention members!

The MA Society for Medical Research is looking for a member of the construction industry to be on their board of directors.  If your firm is working in the biotech or laboratory sectors and would like to be part of this board, please let Bob Petrucelli know Petrucelli@agcmass.org.

Economy

New Federal data shows contractors getting squeezed between rising materials costs and stagnant prices for finished construction
While prices are still relatively low, construction economist notes construction contractors are being squeezed by rising materials costs and disappearing profit margins, based on analysis of the latest producer price index (PPI) conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America.  The new figures show finished prices of nonresidential buildings dropped last year even though a number of construction materials prices have begun to increase in price, noted Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. Click here 

Federal Reserve – First District Boston
First District business contacts report that activity has picked up in recent months.  For retailers and some advertising and consulting firms, the pickup has led to flat to positive year-over-year sales, while manufacturers’ revenues mostly remain below year-earlier levels.  A couple of commercial real estate contacts see very modest improvement while others remain downbeat; residential real estate sales are up substantially in response to the 2009 homebuyers’ tax credit. Prices are generally said to be stable, except for selected metals prices, which are reported to be rising.  With some exceptions, First District business respondents say employment is level or up slightly; some firms intend to raise pay levels modestly in 2010.  The outlook remains cautious. Click for complete January report. 

The value of nonresidential construction starts in January climbed 6.3% from December and 20% from January 2009, Reed Construction Data (RCD) reported on Thursday, based on
data it compiled. >>more 

Kermit Baker, AIA, chief economist of AIA, reporting on the Construction Outlook for 2010
At a recent AGC meeting held jointly with CFMA, Kermit Baker, AIA, chief economist with AIA, offered the following insight into the Construction Outlook as we move through 2010. Click here to view.

Items of Interest

MA Data Security law subject of a recent AGC seminar
Kent Sinclair, Partner with the law firm of Seyfarth Shaw, Boston, presented the new law, which is set
to go into effect on March 1, 2010 and March 1, 2012 for service provider contracts entered into before March 1, 2010.  The law requires

• Companies to develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive written security program
• Company computer system must meet specific infosec requirements
• Personal information for all MA citizens including electronic and paper information must be secure

For additional information, view the law. 

Jim Ansara sets up special Haiti Relief Fund
By now many of you are aware of the generosity of the Ansaras.  Jim Ansara, chairman, founder and former CEO of Shawmut Design & Construction, set up a special fund to help Haiti and has pledged to match up to $1M of contributions with his own money. He is also back and forth to Haiti helping with the efforts to bring some normalcy to the country.  As of this newsletter, the fund has succeeded expectations.  

Industry participants can contribute to the The Haiti Fund in the following ways:

1. Make check payable to the Boston Foundation with Haiti Fund in the memo line.
   Checks should be sent to Fund Administration, The Boston Foundation, 75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA  02116.
2. Donate by credit card. Click here to access the foundation’s secure site.  Select Haiti
   Fund in the drop down menu.
3. Fund advisors can login to Advisor Xpress and recommend a grant to the Boston Foundation with the grant to be used for the Haiti Fund.  

Successful Building Contractors Conference Held in San Juan 
More than 120 attendees participated in the AGC Building Contractors Conference on January
20-22, 2010 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  The Conference included the debut of the AGC Lean
Construction Forum, which featured 7+ hours of educational sessions, interactive
demonstrations and open discussion. Conference presentations can be found here.

Adding IPD to BIM projects boosts savings by up to 20%
The savings to building owners on projects in which the architects and engineers use building
information modeling as their modeling tool are estimated at 10%, according to Dennis
Neeley of the American Institute of Architects. When contractors add Integrated Project
Delivery to incorporate construction modeling to the BIM projects, savings are coming in at
20%, writes Neeley. Reed/ACP Construction Data (2/8) 

BD&C Building Team Awards due February 26
It’s time to enter BD+C 13th annual Building Team Awards, where the focus is on both the
quality of the project and the Building Team’s collaboration.  All entries must be received by
February 26.  more » » »  

National Gypsum tests heat-absorbing drywall
National Gypsum is experimenting with drywall that can absorb heat, effortlessly cooling a building and eliminating the need for air conditioning in some areas. The new eco-friendly drywall contains wax capsules that, as they melt, pull heat from the surrounding air.

Legislative/Executive/Regulatory

Expect more on site compliance inspections, EPA’s 2010 enforcement budget warns
President Obama’s proposed federal budget for FY2011 released this month would add $18 million to EPA's enforcement and compliance assurance program.  Click here.

President Issues Memorandum designed to crack down on tax delinquent contractors
On January 20, President Obama issued a presidential memo that directs federal agencies to block government contractors delinquent in their taxes from receiving new contracts.  In addition, the memo would require the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to conduct a review of the accuracy of certifications of non-delinquency in taxes that companies bidding for federal contracts are required to submit.  The President’s goal is to ensure that tax delinquent contractors are not awarded further federal contracts.  Read More 

Congress Concerned About Commercial Real Estate Market 
 On February 1, Congressmen Paul E. Kanjorski (D-PA) and Ken Calvert (R-CA), along with 77 other bipartisan House members, sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernake suggesting they take further steps to ensure the health of the commercial real estate market. Read More 

Calendar of Events

Registration
To register for any of the AGC programs, you must go to www.agcmass.org and click on the date of the program. Unless noted otherwise, sessions are held at the AGC Conference Center in Wellesley.

February 

Feb 24 - 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM - OSHA 10-Hour Training Course with Chris Ziegler.  Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org.

Feb 26 - 8:30 - 10:30 AM - Conversations with ...Catherine Wetherell, Deputy Director of Capital Programs and Environmental Affairs New projects coming on line at Massport will be a topic, as well as how to respond to Massport Request for qualifications for both general contractors/CMs and subcontractors. Contact Barbara Canoni canoni@agcmass.org 

March

Mar 2 & 9 - 8:30 AM-12Noon -Leed Green Associate Prep Exam - 2- Part Program to be run on consecutive Tuesdays March 2nd and 9th. LEED Green Associate Exam Prep provides a comprehensive summary of the information needed to pass the LEED Green Associate exam.The  course will introduce you to the principles of LEED 3.0 standards and procedures, the requirements for the new Green Associate (GA) and the updated rating systems and categories.  Presented by Patricia Burke and Dee Spiro, The Green Roundtable. Contact Barbara Canoni canoni@agcmass.org.

Mar 4 - 7:00 AM - 6:30 PM - OSHA 30-hour Training Course - March 4-5 & 6, 2010 - Save time, money, anxiety and loss of production.  Have your safety team updated on the latest standards and OSHA compliance by an outstanding group of safety experts assembled by AGC. Register on line today. Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org. At Blue Hill Country Club, Canton.

Mar 10 - 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM - OSHA 10-Hour Training Course with Chris Ziegler.  Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org.

Mar 11 - 8:30 - 10:30 AM - Social Media Strategies - Presented by Karen Euler.  Karen will discuss the theory behind and practical implementation of social media strategies for marketing purposes as well as measuring their effectiveness and grappling with return on investment. She will give an overview on the array of services/tools and then focus on the popular ones:  Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and blogs.  Contact Barbara Canoni canoni@agcmass.org 

Mar 12 - 8:30 - 10:00 AM - Virtual Construction - This presentation is sponsored by the IT Interest Group and is open to anyone interested in attending. Vico Software, Inc. is a provider of software and services to the building construction industry. Vico's 5D Virtual solutions pioneered the category of BIM for Construction, and they remain the industry's most integrated approach to coordination, quantity takeoff, cost estimation, project scheduling, and production control. Presented by: David Wilkinson, Vico Software. Contact Barbara Canoni canoni@agcmass.org 

Mar 16 - 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM - Work Zone Traffic Control -This workshop is for public or private agency personnel or contractors working in a public way.  Road crews, utility workers, and contractors may benefit from this workshop, which uses multi-media training, group activities, open discussions, hands-on and problem-solving activities. Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org 

Mar 17 - 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM - Flagger Training/Skills Course - The objectives of this half-day training are to become familiar with, or refreshed on, flagger requirements, qualifications, work zone methods and components.  Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org 

Mar 20 - 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM - OSHA 10-Hour  Training Course with Chris Ziegler.  Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org.

Mar 23 - 8:30 - 10:30 AM - Paperless Environment Workshop Please join us for a breakfast presentation with our new partner, Paperless Environments, who will demonstrate the use of technology to create a central repository for e-mail, electronic documents and files for instant access, even from remote locations.  Presenter: Mike Carbino.  Contaact Barbara Canoni canoni@agcmass.org 

Mar 26 - 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM - AGC Series of BIM Programs and Workshops - Test Driving BIM - In this unique and interactive session we’ll evaluate the advantages of implementing BIM into your business and test drive the best productivity features that users can leverage immediately. Through brief demonstrations and hands-on test drives you’ll experience REVIT, Navisworks, and QTO first hand.  Throughout the session we’ll have open discussion about selecting, implementing, and using the right software for your business. Remaining workshops in the series will be held on April 2, April 9, April 23 and April 30. Presented by Troy Mifsud, President, myCADD and certified Autodesk Software Specialist and Anthony Governanti, Business Consultant - Service Point, USA -Contact Barbara Canoni canoni@agcmass.org 

Mar 30 - 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM - OSHA 10-Hour Training Course with Chris Ziegler.  Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org.

April

Apr 2 - 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM - AGC BIM/VDC Series  - Workshop 1 - BIM/VDC Coordination (Clash Detection with Revit & Navisworks) Wouldn’t it be great to avoid last minute changes that occur in the field?  In this workshop you’ll learn how to perform “interference checks” (clash detection) with two different software packages: Revit and NavisWorks.  We’ll discuss the pros and cons of each application so you’ll have a good understanding of how each tool could help you. Remaining workshops in the series will be held on April 9, April 23 and April 30. Contact Barbara Canoni canoni@agcmass.org 

Apr 9- 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM -AGC BIM/VDC Series - Workshop 2 -  BIM/VDC Estimating (Revit and QTO) In this workshop you’ll learn how to perform quick preliminary takeoffs in Revit and then move into Autodesk QTO where you’ll use the model along with 2D documents to develop a more detailed takeoff. We will teach techniques that can deliver new efficiency and accuracy to your estimating process.  Remaining workshops in the series will be held on April 23 and April 30. Contact Barbara Canoni canoni@agcmass.org 

Apr 12, 13 & 14 - 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Monday & Tuesday; 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Wednesday - OSHA 502 Update for Construction Industry Outreach Trainers -  The course is designed for personnel in the private sector who have completed the 500 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry and who are active trainers in the outreach program.  It provides an update on such topics as OSHA construction standards, policies and regulations.  1.7 CEUs. Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org.

Apr 23 - 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM - AGC BIM/VDC Series  - Workshop 3 - BIM/VDC Construction Sequencing (Revit and Navisworks) In this workshop you’ll learn how to take a BIM model into Navisworks and how to link building model elements to your construction schedule in order to assist with 4D planning in a visual way.  Remaining workshop in the series will be held on  April 30. Contact Barbara Canoni canoni@agcmass.org 

Apr 27 - 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM - Insiders Insight Redux at the Seaport Hotel, Boston. During this tremendous downturn, college and universities have been busy planning and reorganizing their operations. Hear what they have been doing to streamline their processes and how this will effect the way construction business may be done in the future. Presenters: Pamela Delphenic, Director of Planning, MIT; Nancy May, Vice President, Capital Projects, Northeastern University; Maureen McDonough, Director of Program Administration, Harvard University Allston Group. Moderator: Donna Denio, Founder of Center for Balance by Design. Contact Barbara Canoni canoni@agcmass.org 

Apr 28 - 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM - OSHA 10-Hour  Training Course with Chris Ziegler.  Contact Louise Rullie rullie@agcmass.org.

Apr 30 - 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM - AGC BIM/VDC Series  - Workshop 4 - BIM/VDC Modeling - Filling in the Gaps (From PDF and CAD to Revit) Models that you receive from the design team are often not developed, detailed or organized in a way that best suits a CM.  In this session we’ll take an introductory look at how to edit and update the models to best suit your needs.  You’ll leave this session with an understanding of how to get the information you need from the model to the field. Contact Barbara Canoni canoni@agcmass.org 

Calendar Near and Far

February 25  5:00 - 7:30 p.m. -  Join us for the first meeting of the newly formed LCI New England Chapter - Program Title: "Introducing Lean Construction to Manage Projects and Improve Reliability - Two Perspectives" at Emerging Enterprise Center, 1000 Winter St/Ste.
400, Waltham.  For more information click here 

FREE Webinar – February 25  2 – 3:30 p.m. ET.  One Mistake from Collapse: The 5
Things Construction Executives Must Know to Survive in 2010 
2010 promises to be a most challenging year for commercial contractors. Backlogs are down, in years, bid lists are way up, and margins are practically non-existent. What do you need to know to SURVIVE the current downturn, turn things around, and re-emerge whole and healthy for the future? Read More

March 2 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. ET Webinar - EPA's Construction Stormwater Program: What
the New Mandated Discharge Limits, Monitoring Requirements and Prescriptive E&S Controls Mean for Contractors 
Prepare now for first-time nationwide discharge limits and monitoring requirements for
construction site stormwater runoff. Read More 

March 8 – 12 -  BPI Building Analyst Professional training/certification course Charles River Internet Center, Boston – presented by Green Education Services - This course will teach you how to monitor and evaluate the current energy consumption of buildings while also showing you how to analyze conditions that have a direct effect on human health.  Visit http://www.greenedu.com/bpi-energy-auditor-training or call 1-800-355-1751 to learn more!"

AGC Federal Contractors Conference 
April 26-29, 2010 | The Mayflower Hotel | Washington, D.C.
The 2010 AGC Federal Contractors Conference will be held April 26–29, 2010, at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. This meeting is the only national event where contractors and federal agency personnel can meet in a collaborative forum to review federal construction contracting issues and trends from around the United States. These insightful and highly productive exchanges have solidified the need for both federal construction contractors and the federal construction agencies to share information on a wide variety of issues, foster better communication, and create real solutions. Read More

April 29  5:30 – 7:30 p.m. – ACE Mentoring Scholarship Fundraiser -  SAVE the Date
Joe’s American Bar & Grille on the Waterfront, Boston.
 

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Welcome New members   

Subcontractors 

M & A Architectural Preservation, Inc.
433 Market Street Lawrence, MA  01843
(978) 683-0880

Restoration and installation of wood windows, facades, towers, interiors. Company contact Susan Muckle, President

Interest Groups/Committee Meetings

Safety Committee Meeting - February 22 - 6:00 PM - Blue Ginger Restaurant, Wellesley. 

AGC/BSA/ABC/IPD Meeting - March 3 - 8:00 AM at the BSA, Boston

IT Committee Meeting and Vico Presentation - March 12 - 8:30 - 10:00 AM - AGC Conference Center

Fiscal Affairs/HR Committee Meeting March 24 7:30 - 9:00 AM - AGC Conference Center