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The Íæż½ã½ã BIMForum met in Dallas May 28-29 and again proved to be the greatest venue for industry collaboration. The theme of the meeting was "BIM, Now More Than Ever: From the 30 Day to 30 Year Perspective."The presentations and discussions addressed ways to achieve immediate return on investment with BIM, how models can be created to foster greater collaboration and what owners increasingly want to see. Held in conjunction with two sessions of Íæż½ã½ã's new BIM 101 courses, the conference had more 300 architects, contractors, engineers and software providers in attendance over three full days. The next BIMForum meeting will be held in Philadelphia, Pa., October 8-9, 2009.

The leaders of the top building construction firms, owners, specialty contractors and service and supply companies will soon gather at the Íæż½ã½ã Building Contractors Conference June 10-13 at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va. Rob Nichols, President & COO of The Financial Services Forum, will join other experts such as Íæż½ã½ã Chief Economist Ken Simonson and Scott Winstead of FMI Corporation to address many timely topics, including key public policy issues affecting the financial services industry, taking advantage of hidden opportunities, the stimulus, federal labor law changes and strategies for success in this market.  In addition to several networking opportunities with colleagues and owners, an interactive "Tools for Tough Times" moderated panel discussion will share what firms are doing to survive in this economy.Program information, registration details and hotel/travel information can be found at www.agc.org/homestead. For more information, contact Cassia Griffin at (703) 837-5408 or griffinc@agc.org.

The 2009 Update to Íæż½ã½ã's State Law Matrix will be available in June!  The Update will include new information on immigration and statute of repose issues.  Íæż½ã½ã's State Law Matrix is the most comprehensive, definitive and concise publication available regarding a wide range of state law issues that can affect your public or private construction project.  State Law Matrix is an essential resource you should use before completing any construction contract to improve compliance and enforceability under state law.  State Law Matrix is available as a complete subscription package or by region.  The complete package includes all regions listed below:Northeast Region: CT, DE, DC, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, WVMidwest Region:   IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WISouthern Region:  AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, OK, PR, SC, TN, TX, VAWestern Region:   AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WYÍæż½ã½ã Members receive special pricing:Complete Package (All Regions):Retail Price: $295.00     Member Price: $195.00Individual Region: Retail Price: $145.00     Member Price: $95.00To purchase or find more information about State Law Matrix, please visit www.Íæż½ã½ã.org/Bookstore.

Gain insight into the green incentives and sustainability provisions contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.  Understand the details of these provisions as well as the potential impact on construction project financing and lending standards. Information will be provided on the current credit and lending issues as well as the impact on financing contained in portions of the ARRA, specifically green incentives.  Andy Lutz, a Managing Consultant in the Denver, CO office of Navigant Consulting, will explore ARRA and its impact on the construction market on June 3 from 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM (ET).  Register today!  For more information, please contact Carrie Harper at harperc@agc.org.

There are only three webinars left in this four-part series.  This webinar series provides an overview of the existing process and walks attendees through the changing landscape in Federal Contracting.  It's more important than ever that contractors -- those experienced in Federal work or those looking to move into this market -- are aware of the ramifications of the new administration, rule and regulation updates, and the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on the Federal contracting process.  Learn more here.May 28, 1:30 - 3:00 PM (ET) - The Contract Award ProcessJune 4, 1:30 - 3:00 PM (ET) - How to Handle Claims and DisputesJune 11, 1:30 - 3:00 PM (ET) - The Recovery Act

The leaders of the top building construction firms, owners, specialty contractors, and service and supply companies will soon gather at the Íæż½ã½ã Building Contractors Conference June 10-13 at The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA. Rob Nichols, President & COO of The Financial Services Forum, will join other experts such as Íæż½ã½ã Chief Economist Ken Simonson and Scott Winstead of FMI Corporation to address many timely topics, including key public policy issues affecting the financial services industry, taking advantage of hidden opportunities, the stimulus, federal labor law changes, and strategies for success in this market.  In addition to several networking opportunities with colleagues and owners, an interactive "Tools for Tough Times" moderated panel discussion sharing what firms are doing to survive in this economy makes this a conference not to be missed.  Detailed program information, registration details, and hotel/travel information can be found at www.agc.org/homestead.  Register today!

As you increase your use of BIM, you are probably also increasingly aware of the lack of good building product models.  The Íæż½ã½ã BIMForum is interested in your experience, opinions and needs in this area. The link below will take you to a short survey.  The highlights of the results of the survey will be presented at the Íæż½ã½ã BIMForum meeting in Dallas, TX, May 28 - 29 and posted on-line.  This information will also be communicated to building product manufacturers to encourage them to make the investment in good quality models of their products.  Please take a few moments to help us create a collective voice on this important issue.  Click here to take the survey.

The acting head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) gave a preview of how the agency will operate under the new administration.  During an address to the Small Business Labor Safety Roundtable last week, acting OSHA chief Jordan Barab said the agency plans to hire between 130 and 160 new safety enforcement inspectors over the coming weeks. Of those new inspectors, 35 will be exclusively assigned to review safety procedures on stimulus-funded projects.  He added that the agency was bringing on an additional 20 people to help write new safety standards. While these moves clearly indicate a greater emphasis on more regulatory and enforcement efforts, Mr. Barab did back down from earlier reports that the agency would walk away from its efforts to partner with employers.  He noted, for example, that while the agency has suspended its practice of setting quotas, early reports that the agency was planning to disband its VPP and alliance programs were not true.He added that the agency was planning on circulating a proposed Globally Harmonized Systems rule within the administration for review "very soon."For more information contact, Kevin Cannon, Director of Safety and Health at (703) 837-5410 or cannonk@agc.org.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new "Renovation, Repair, and Painting" program requires contractors who work in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities to be certified and to follow specific lead-safe work practices by April 2010.  The agency recently announced that it has begun to review and accredit training providers to conduct the courses that contractors covered by the lead rules are required to complete.  Such contractors should start planning now in order to meet the upcoming compliance dates; EPA expects training opportunities to begin in summer 2009.Approximately one year ago, EPA published a new rule to address lead-based paint hazards created by certain renovation, repair and painting activities (see Íæż½ã½ã's Environmental Observer, April-May 2008).  Specifically, contractors performing work that disturbs lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities (residential, pubic or commercial buildings) and schools built before 1978 must be properly trained and certified (i.e., certain contractors will need to complete an EPA-accredited training course) and follow specific lead-safe work practices to prevent lead contamination.  Providers of renovation and dust sampling technician training must be accredited. Until that time, EPA recommends that anyone performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools follow lead-safe work practices.  For example, all contractors should contain the work area, minimize dust and clean up thoroughly. Current Requirements & Next Steps Currently, contractors who perform renovation, repairs and painting jobs in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities must, before beginning work, provide owners, tenants and child-care facilities with a copy of EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) | En Español (PDF).  Contractors must document compliance with this requirement.  EPA's pre-renovation disclosure form (PDF) may be used for this purpose. According to EPA, contractors who perform renovation, repairs and painting jobs should also:Take training to learn how to perform lead-safe work practices.Provide a copy of your EPA or state lead training certificate to your client.Tell your client what lead-safe methods you will use to perform the job.Learn the lead laws that apply to you regarding certification and lead-safe work practices beginning in April 2010.Ask your client to share the results of any previously conducted lead tests.Provide your client with references from at least three recent jobs involving homes built before 1978.Keep records to demonstrate that you and your workers have been trained in lead-safe work practices and that you followed lead-safe work practices on the job. To make recordkeeping easier, you may use the sample recordkeeping checklist (PDF) that EPA has developed to help contractors comply with the renovation recordkeeping requirements that will take effect in April 2010.Read about how to comply with EPA's rule in the EPA Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right (PDF) | en Español (PDF).Read about how to use lead-safe work practices in EPA's Steps to Lead Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting (PDF).For additional information, visit EPA's Web site at http://epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm.  In the coming months, EPA will also post a list of accredited trainers on its website.  You can also call the National Lead Information Center (NLIC) at 1(800) 424-LEAD [5323] to find out more.

Íæż½ã½ã continues to update its stimulus website to provide comprehensive information on the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act and the impact on the construction industry. Included on the site is a breakdown of construction spending by program, with additional details on allocations. The site also includes analysis of the various tax provisions within the legislation that affect the construction industry and an overview of some of the policy implications of the legislation. Íæż½ã½ã has posted information on the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council's recently-released reporting requirements for contractors and procurement officials disbursing stimulus funds. Íæż½ã½ã encourages individuals to view the information and participate in the public comment period by June 1.The intent of the site is to provide members, and more broadly the construction community, the widest possible range of current information about the stimulus. Íæż½ã½ã also aims to highlight the stimulus funds at work and Íæż½ã½ã members hiring employees based on stimulus awards. The section "Stimulus At Work" highlights the work our members are doing to help ensure the success of the stimulus package. Visit www.agc.org/stimulusatwork to share your success stories related to the stimulus.