June 5, 2014 This newsletter is delivered electronically to our members. INDUSTRY NYS Transportation Resource Center Design-Build Project Announced The NYSDOT and Thruway Authority will co-locate in a new facility to be built near the current Thruway headquarters at Exit 23. The Thruway Authority will procure this new 2,000 occupant building via design-build. The RFQ and project information can be found at the project webpage: http://www.thruway.ny.gov/external/rfq/index.html A Pre-RFQ informational meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 from 10:00 am to Noon at The Desmond, 660 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY. Attendance by Proposers at the Pre-SOQ informational meeting is required. Staff Contact: Karen Morrison AGC of America Launches Effort to Cut Construction Accidents Local D.C. Contractors Hold Safety Stand Down On Monday, June 2, AGC released a new state-by-state analysis of construction safety and announced a new effort to cut worksite accidents during a visit to a Washington, D.C. construction site participating in a nationwide safety stand-down program. During the event, association and federal officials observed all construction activity come to a halt so that workers could participate in safety training programs. Stephen Sandherr, AGC CEO, released the new state-by-state construction safety analysis and outlined the steps the industry is taking to improve safety. Jim Maddux, director of the Construction Directorate for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), spoke about the national safety stand-down the agency organized. “Every craft worker has a right to get home safely to his or her family every night,” said Sandherr. “We, our members and our industry are committed to taking every step possible to improve construction safety.” As part of the new safety effort, AGC will conduct an exhaustive analysis of the details of each of the 806 construction fatalities that took place across the country in 2012. The objective, Sandherr noted, is to identify the common threads among the fatality incidents. Noting that “the best safety programs are based on a solid understanding of vulnerabilities,” Sandherr said the association will share its findings with member firms, the federal Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) and every other construction firm and association that wants the data, free of charge. He added that the new effort is designed to complement many steps AGC and member firms are already taking to address workplace safety. Click here http://www.agc.org/galleries/news/2014_Construction_Fatality_Percent.pdf to see the state construction fatality data and here to see the state construction injury data. Editors’ Note: It should be noted that the data shows that in the last available data year (2012), NYS ranked 12th in the nation in the Construction Fatality Rate (Fatalities per 100,000 Workers) 24th in the nation relative to percentage of improvement – or lack thereof when it comes to NYS. If the proponents of maintaining the status quo in NYS relative to the Scaffold Law were to be believed, you would think NYS would rank a heck of a lot higher. Staff Contact: Joe Hogan New Report Finds EPA Economic Analysis of Wetlands Rule Deeply Flawed A new report released last week is sharply critical of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) estimates of probable costs and benefits associated with the proposed rule on “Waters of the United States.” The report finds that EPA has significantly underestimated the economic impacts the rule will have on local communities and businesses. Read More FASB and IASB Issue Improved Converged Standard on Revenue Recognition On May 28, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) released the final standard for revenue recognition. The standard is vastly improved for the construction industry from the first iteration based largely on an intense education effort by AGC members who are active in the AGC Financial Issues Forum. It will improve the financial reporting of revenue and improve comparability of the top line in financial statements globally. The core principle of the new standard is for companies to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration (that is, payment) to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Read More ***Don’t Forget to RSVP*** AGC NYS Will Host Attorney General Candidate John Cahill at a Roundtable Discussion with AGC NYS Members on June 26th in Albany On June 26th from 12-1:30, AGC NYS will host Attorney General Candidate John Cahill at a roundtable discussion with AGC NYS members and staff at the Fort Orange Club in Albany. Mr. Cahill, an accomplished attorney and a former top aide to Governor Pataki, is running against current Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in this year’s November elections. We strongly encourage our members to attend this event as Mr. Cahill supports a number of AGC NYS’s top legislative proposals such as hydraulic fracturing and easing burdensome regulations on business. The event is free to attend but space is limited; to RSVP please contact Stacy Manny at [email protected] by June 20, 2014. Register Now for Our 2014 Summer Meeting, July 17-20, 2014 Once again AGC NYS will host it’s Summer Meeting at the Sagamore Resort located on Lake George. We have developed a full program for this event which will include a presentation of AGC’s highest honor—the S.I.R. award, to Joseph “Bud” Gigliotti on Friday evening, July 18. In addition, we will once again have the associated trade show so make sure to reserve a booth before they sell out. There are several sponsorships still available for this event and an opportunity to congratulate Buddy on his award in our Cornerstone Magazine. Click here for complete meeting information including all sponsorship opportunities. If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Newell at [email protected] or by phone at 518-456-1134. Staff Contact: Cathy Newell Last Chance to Register for the 25th Annual Anthony S. Santaro AGC Scholarship Classic On Monday, June 23, 2014 the Associated General Contractors of New York State will host the 25th Annual Anthony S. Santaro AGC Scholarship Classic at one of America's premier golf destinations, Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York. THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER FOR THIS TOURNAMENT is Wednesday June 18, 2014. FORMAT: Fivesome scramble on Shenendoah & Kaluhyat courses or 2-man best ball competition on Atunyote (limited spots available) and Kaluyat. Registration opens at 8:00 am Shotgun start at 10:30 am (tee times assigned for Atunyote) Lunch provided on each course Reception at 4:00 pm Awards dinner at 5:30 pm Click here to download your registration and sponsor form now. Questions concerning registration or sponsorship should be directed to: Brendan Manning, 518- 456-1134 or [email protected]. Paid registrations will be processed on a first-come, first- served basis. Staff Contact: Brendan Manning BUILDING New York City Construction Codes Take Effect October 1 Prepare now for the 2014 NYC Construction Codes, which go into effect on October 1. Register for an Upcoming Code Training View a Recent Seminar on Changes Read the Build Safe│Live Safe Conference Presentations Learn About a New Code-Required Certification: Adhesive Anchors Staff Contact: Joe Hogan NYS Thruway Authority Issues RFQ for NYS Transportation Resource Center Design- Build Project In somewhat of a surprise move, the NYS Thruway Authority (TA) issued an RFQ of a new NYS Transportation Resource Center to be constructed on the grounds of the current TA Headquarters under a Design Build arrangement. Based on an initial perusal of the RFQ, it appears that the expectation is for a project valued over $100 Million. From an evaluation of the RFQ’s, to be submitted by July 18th, a shortlist of no more than 4 teams will be invited to offer a proposal. A $100,000 stipend will be made available to each of the shortlisted proposers (other than the team awarded the contract). A MANDATORY Pre-SOQ Informational Meeting will be held on June 10. NOTE: You may remember that when NYS DOT put out the RFP for the Rochester intermodal design build project, AGC NYS expressed grave concern that even where a single contract were authorized within the requirements of the Wicks Law (section 135 of State Finance Law) it could be found that the remainder of the laws strictures relative to MEP sublisting could not practically be met. We have no such concern with this project. The TA’s enabling legislation in Public Authorities Law does not bind it to Section 135 of State Finance Law. That was confirmed by the NYS Court of Appeals in 1959 in the case of Plumbing, Heating, Piping and Air Conditioning Contractors Association et al v. NYS Thruway Authority et al. Staff Contact: Joe Hogan AGC NYS Meets Again with the STA to Discuss the NYSSCA’s FID Process In its second meeting, the AGC NYS/STA (Subcontractors Trade Association) focused on the New York City School Construction Authority’s FID (construction inspection) department and processes. The group discussed the various problems with the process and the negative impacts those processes often cause SCA projects. With those problems in mind, the group looks at a variety of possible solutions. The leadership of the liaison group plans to meet with SCA President Grillo and her key staff later this month to discuss those solutions. Staff Contact: Joe Hogan AGC NYS Building Membership Luncheon-Utica, June 24th AGC NYS Chairman Vince Iannelli will join AGC NYS Staff for a Building Membership luncheon in Utica on June 24.