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Subcontractors USA highlights opportuni ties and news relevant to the construction, energy, architecture, manufacturing, educa tion, engineering, oil and gas, transportation, and IT industries we serve. We hope you find this issue not only informative but inspiring and educational as well.

This month's issue of Subcontractors USA highlights Bexar County’s Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department (SBED). The SBED continues its concerted effort to con nect small businesses with billions of dollars in contracting opportunities. One of the SBED’s initiatives serving Small, Minority, Women, and Veteran Business Owners (SMWVBO) is the annual Bexar County Business Confer ence held on Wednesday, December 7, 2022.

“Small businesses are the engines of our economic progress; they’re the glue and the heart and soul of our communities.” — 46th and current president of the United States, Joe Biden

This conference is a forum for SMWVBOs to develop relationships, acquire knowledge, and access opportunities that exist with public and private sector entities for the procurement of construction, professional services, goods, and other services. It is also an opportunity to further enhance the knowledge of procure ment staff on the availability and ability of firms with the desire to do business with them.

As always, thank you for your continued support of Subcontractors USA . When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the com munities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

CERTIFIED: HMSDC Port of Houston Metro City of Houston HISD HUB VBE DBE

Architecture Industry

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) By the Numbers report for 2021 showcases the annual performance of the architecture and engineering firm signatories of the 2030 Commitment.

The By the Numbers report can be explored on AIA’s website at AIA.org.

With buildings contributing almost 40 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, architecture and design firms have the opportunity to transform their practice and contribute to significant emission reductions. The AIA 2030 Commitment offers architects and engineers a way to publicly show their dedication and track progress toward a carbon-neutral future by working toward the goal of carbon-neutral buildings by 2030.

The By the Numbers report for 2021 amalgamates predicted energy use data in completed projects by 2030 Commitment signatories, including 20,652 projects reporting an overall 50.3 percent reduction in predicted energy use intensity (pEUI).

Other key findings in the report include:

• 5.5 percent of whole building gross square footage reported in 2021 met the 80 percent target, an increase from 4.3 percent in 2020. This represents 161,625,553 gross square feet and 748 projects.

• In 2021, 2030 Commitment signatories reported 505 all-electric buildings, up 67 percent from 2020.

• 276 whole building projects were reported as net-zero in 2021, representing both 2.1 percent of projects and gross square footage. 67,399,844 gross square feet were reported as net-zero in total in 2021.

Demand for Design Services Accelerates

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

emand for design services from U.S. architecture firms grew at an accelerated pace in August, according to a new report from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).

AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for August rose to 53.3 compared to 51.0 in July (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). During Au gust, the score for new project inquiries rose to 57.9 from 56.1 the previous month, while the design contracts

ARCHITECTURE

score softened slightly with a score of 52.3, down from 52.9 in July.

“While a strengthening billings score is encouraging, the flat scoring across regions and sectors is indicative of a nationwide deceleration over the next several months, said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD.

“A variety of economic storm clouds continue to gather, but since design activity continues to increase, we can expect at least another 9–12-month runway before building construction activity is negatively affected.”

Key ABI highlights for August include:

• Regional averages: South (52.9); Midwest (51.4); West (50.2); Northeast (49.8)

• Sector index breakdown: multi-family residential (52.0); institutional (52.0); commercial/industrial (51.2); mixed practice (51.2)

The regional and sector categories are calculated as a three-month moving average, whereas the national index, design contracts, and inquiries are monthly numbers.

For more information, please visit www.AIA.org.

Source: The American Institute of Architects

Key ABI highlights for August include:

Visit AIA.org to learn more about how architects are impacting climate action initiatives.

Source: The American Institute of Architects

“The progress made by the 2030 Commitment participants is commendable and gives us hope the building sector can pivot away from being such a large carbon emission contributor,” said 2022 President of The American Institute of Architects Dan Hart, FAIA. “However, the need for more firms to participate and actively work toward reducing energy use in their projects remains crucial.”

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

The price of materials and services used in non residential construction jumped 12.6 percent in September from a year earlier despite a dip of 0.2 percent last month, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of govern ment data released recently. Association officials note that the construction industry was suffering the most from inflation, adding that new Buy America rules set to go into effect as soon as next month will only make the situation direr.

“Today’s price report shows that costs for construction continue to outpace those of other industries,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Furthermore, the steep runup in diesel prices in the last few weeks is likely to make projects still more expensive to complete.”

The producer price index for inputs to nonresi dential construction—the prices charged by goods producers and service providers such as distributors and transportation firms—decreased 0.2 percent from August to September but nevertheless rose 12.6 percent since September 2021. That outpaced the 8.5 percent year-over-year rise in the overall producer price index for finished goods, the economist noted.

Retail diesel fuel prices soared by 39 cents per

gallon in the past week, bringing the year-over-year increase to $1.64 or 45.7 percent, Simonson added. He said construction is especially sensitive to diesel costs because most projects require thousands of truckloads to deliver equipment and materials and to move or haul away dirt, debris, and equipment at the end of the project.

Prices of several widely used goods posted double-digit increases over the past 12 months. The producer price index for diesel fuel leaped by 65.9 percent including 11.7 percent in September. The index for liquid asphalt, used in paving projects, jumped 43.3 percent despite an 11.8 percent decline last month. The index for paint and other architectural coatings rose 27.2 percent over 12 months. There were also unusually large year-over-year increases in

the price indexes for gypsum products such as wallboard, 18.4 percent; plastic construction products, 17.9 percent; truck transportation of freight, 16.3 percent; asphalt and tar roofing materials, 15.3 percent; concrete products, 14.3 percent; insulation products, 13.4 percent; and flat glass, 10.3 percent.

Association officials urged the Biden Administration to reconsider plans to implement a series of new Buy America requirements associated with a host of federal infrastructure investments. They noted a recent survey of member firms showed most contractors will struggle to find materials under the new Buy America guidelines. With materials hard to find and prices continuing to spike, artificially limiting the supply of goods will only undermine the buying power of those new federal infrastructure investments, they cautioned.

“It stands to reason that further limiting the sup ply of already scarce materials will lead to even more inflation in the cost of those materials,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive of ficer. “Imposing new Buy America requirements at a time like this will undermine the potential benefits of new federal infrastructure investments.”

For more information, please visit www.agc.org.

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Source: The Associated General Contractors of America

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How Will the Looming Recession Impact Construction Jobs?

Jobs Relatively Safe In The Recession:

obs come, and jobs go. There isn't much of a call for harpooners on whaling ships anymore.

Of course, ten years ago, most people couldn't imagine anyone working as a cryptocurrency investiga tor. It's not just innovation, though. Economic forces can squeeze people right out of certain fields. With a recession looming or already here, MerchantMaverick. com has created its latest report: "Jobs Most Likely To Be Affected By the Recession" to help job seekers make an informed decision.

When economic activity slows, certain fields are hurt more than others. Traditionally, consumers delay or cancel spending when times get tough, and that can shrink entire sectors of the economy. Workers in those sectors must hope that they can keep their jobs. On the other hand, jobs in other fields are relatively safe from economic fluctuations since the demand for services remains largely constant.

MerchantMaverick.com, the business product com parison site for small business owners, started with current job data and historical trends to determine the fields most susceptible to an economic downturn. It then factored in the impact of COVID, since the economy is still reeling from massive dislocations due to an extended lockdown and voluntary consumer lifestyle changes.

Key Findings

• Jobs in construction are at risk. Current data appears to indicate that construction jobs are more likely to vanish than jobs in any other sector.

• Truck drivers, who normally see job losses during recessions, appear to be safer than usual. Job losses in trucking during COVID may have made the remaining jobs more secure than during other economic slowdowns.

• Unsurprisingly, jobs with inelastic demand remain

By Subcontractors USA News Provider By

he U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that contracts have been awarded for the purchase of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) following a Notice of Sale an nounced on September 19, 2022. The contract awards are part of President Biden’s announcement on March 31, 2022, to release as much as 180 million barrels of crude oil to address the significant global supply disrup tion caused by Putin’s war on Ukraine, act as a wartime bridge for domestic production to increase, and aid in lowering energy costs for American families.

A total of thirteen (13) companies responded to the no tice, submitting 91 bids for oil from two SPR sites – West Hackberry and Big Hill. The sale is fully subscribed and the contracts were awarded to the following companies:

safer. Healthcare workers, teachers, and government workers will always have jobs since people will always get sick, kids will always need to learn, and the government will always...be the government.

Top Jobs Most Likely To Be Affected By The Recession:

• Construction Worker

• Automotive Technician

• Middle Manager

• Wholesale Sales Representative

• Assemblers and Fabricators

Teachers, Doctors, Nurses

• Utility Worker

• Government Workers

• Financial Planner

• Truck Drivers

Methodology:

• Job Opening Rates By Industry, 5/22 (25%)

• Layoff & Discharge Rates By Industry, 5/22 (35%)

• % Change In Employment, 12/07 - 6/09 (20%)

• % Change In Employment, 2/20 - 4/20 (20%)

"Between COVID, inflation, and a slowing economy, these are especially tough economic times for everyone," says Julie Titterington, Editor-in-Chief of MerchantMaverick.com. "Entire job sectors will suffer before we get through this."

Source: MerchantMaverick.com

oil deliveries will take place from the West Hackberry and the Big Hill SPR storage sites from November 1, 2022, until November 30, 2022. In ad dition to the 10.15 million

of

oil awarded for November delivery, 155 million barrels have already been delivered as a result of the Administration’s historic use of the SPR.

The SPR is the world's largest supply of emergency crude oil, and the federally-owned oil stocks are stored in underground salt caverns at four storage sites in Texas and Louisiana. The SPR has a long history of protect ing the economy and American

in times of

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Biden-Harris Administration Launches $1 Billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Program To Enhance Energy Systems in Rural and Remote Communities

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

The Biden-Harris Administra tion, through the U.S. De partment of Energy (DOE), recently issued a Request for Informa tion (RFI) seeking public input on a new $1 billion program to improve energy generation in rural or remote commu nities across the country. Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastruc ture Law, the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program will strengthen the resilience, reliabil ity, and availability of energy systems, helping communities unlock the public health and cost-saving benefits cleaner, more efficient energy provides. The new program reflects the Biden-Harris Ad ministration’s continued commitment to ensuring no commu nities are left behind in the historic transition to a clean en ergy future.

“For America to flourish, rural Amer ica must suc ceed,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.“Thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, DOE is making critical investments in en ergy infrastructure that strengthens the foundation of rural communities in America.”

Nearly one in six Americans live in a remote or rural community. Due to low population density and isolation from larger electric grids, these communi ties face higher energy costs and poor electrical reliability. Rural communities also have a disproportionately high share of low- and moderate-income families, who have limited ability to cope with high electricity costs.

Provide or modernize electric generation facilities;

• Develop microgrids; and

• Increase energy efficiency.

The Office of Clean Energy Demon strations will manage the ERA program and is charged with identifying and demonstrating innovative solutions to make energy systems in rural or remote communities more resilient to the worst effects of climate change, while also supporting new economic opportunities and creating high-quality jobs.

DOE welcomes public input from a wide range of stakeholders, includ ing energy project developers, utilities, community organizations, environ mental justice organizations, as well as state, local and Tribal governments to shape this program. To help inform the implementation of the ERA program, the RFI seeks input on the types of en ergy dem onstration projects, pro grammatic design con siderations, equity, en vironmental and energy justice, and workforce and transfer of knowledge gained through ERA demonstrations to ensure that the projects selected are scalable and replicable.

DOE will host a series of in-person and virtual workshops for commu nities and interested stakeholders to learn more, ask questions and discuss the types of projects that can improve their energy systems as they prepare to respond to the RFI.

DOE expects to announce a funding opportunity to solicit project proposals in 2023. Participation in the RFI will not affect participation in any funding opportunities or other opportunities resulting from this program.

The ERA program will provide federal support to rural or remote communities to:

The ERA program will provide federal support to rural or remote communities to:

Improve the overall cost-effectiveness of energy generation, transmission, or distribution systems;

• Site or upgrade transmission and distribution lines;

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation in rural or remote areas;

Feedback to this RFI can be submit ted to ERA@hq.doe.gov until Novem ber 28, 2022, at noon, EST. Find out more on OCED Exchange.

For more information, please visit energy.gov.

Source: The U.S. Department of Energy

The Pioneering Wireless Crane Camera by Scarlet Is Expected To Improve Construction Site Safety and Boost Productivity

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

equipment for tower cranes, luffing cranes, mobile cranes, and other heavyduty cranes. The whole system is an active safety technology that provides crane operators and safety managers with direct 2K live video footage of the surrounding area below the hook and other viewpoints on the construction site, serving as the second pair of eyes for crane operators and construction site HSE (Health Safety and Environment) managers to overcome blindspots and identify potential hazard zones.

Tech Co-Founder and Managing Director. Hercules is the crane camera system that adopts advanced wireless technology for seamless and stable audio-visual output and the first to have Starlight-enhanced 2K resolution camera for night vision. In addition, Hercules supports up to four camera placements in different parts of the crane and worksites for wide-ranging views, improving communication between crane operators and riggers. Smoother communication boosts productivity. Making more picks within the same period of time is no longer empty talk.

Hercules from other competi tors is the ability for high-level customization with the network video recorder (NVR) and ON VIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) protocol, allowing integration with the client's own system. Carried with a dual-powered Lithium Ion and solar battery that can last 40 hours, Hercules's wireless tech nology has overcome the latency in transmitting images, providing real-time video feeds that helps operators make informative decisions in all kinds of lifting operation. With the starlight camera and defogging functions, Hercules pro vides better visuals under harsh weather and dark environments.

many high-rise buildings or in underground construction,

communication and overall awareness during lifting operations.

The integration of technology in the construction industry is getting more well-accepted nowadays. "We have been getting positive feedback from our old clients during the exclusive pre-launch," said Dr. David Huang. With the expected growing global tower crane market to reach USD 10 billion by 2028, Hercules is anticipated to be the market leader in the wireless crane monitoring system industry.

The Hercules Crane Hook Camera is now available worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.crane-camera-hercules.com.

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Scarlet Tech, a leading instrumentation and construction technology

photo provided by Can-lift

At H-E-B,we value our partnerships with women and minority suppliers. Through their contributions, we better understand the needs of our customers and add to the growth of our company and the communities we serve.

Black Buffalo 3D Global Industry First:

Coded Solution for 3D Construction Printing

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

lack Buffalo 3D Corporation, a leading pro vider of large-scale 3D printers for construction, recently announced that its NEXCON printers and proprietary 3D concrete ink mix—sold through its partner MAPEI Corporation as PlanitopTM 3D in North America—have been approved by the ICC Evalu ation Service (ICC-ES), meeting AC509 requirements for 3D printed bearing, nonbearing, and shear walls up to 40' height. Evaluation reports from ICC-ES are the most-preferred resource used by officials internationally to verify that new and innovative building products comply with code requirements. The ICC-ES certifies that Black Buffalo 3D construction technology meets the requirements of AC509, "3D Automated Construc tion Technology for 3D Concrete Walls" and has issued ESR-4623, available upon request at www.bb3d.io/ contact. Black Buffalo 3D provides the only complete 3D construction printing solution in the world to meet internationally recognized building codes.

Materials matter and Black Buffalo 3D's proprie tary—PlanitopTM 3D —construction ink was specially developed through years of research, testing, and evalu ation by independent and in-house material scientists at Black Buffalo 3D Corporation, its partner MAPEI Corporation—a leading construction materials provider for the building industry—and various 3rd party labs including Intertek Group plc, a 130-year-old global as surance, testing, inspection, and certification supplier.

"Black Buffalo 3D's goal has always

been to make 3D construction printing a coded alternative to traditional construction," said Black Buffalo 3D

Founder and Interim CEO, Derek Chung. "Our AC509 certification is the result of years of hard work and dedication, and marks a milestone not just for us, but for the whole 3D construction printing industry recognizing Black Buffalo 3D clients can print structures that are equivalent to CMU block."

Fine-tuning the BB3D AC509 Concrete Mix—sold

as PlanitopTM 3D in North America—and BB3D's NEXCON printers for the 3D construction industry was no small feat. The AC509 certification represents the final step in the lengthy approval process; milestones already achieved include several 16+ hour print sessions on NEXCON™ printers by the Black Buffalo 3D team, the need for Intertek to purchase a stronger machine to test the walls, and tons of hard work from all parties involved. The verification process included testing the material, machine, and printed walls to verify that each component and the final product could meet AC509 criteria at every stage of the 3D printing process.

"Planitop™ 3D will unlock the true potential of 3D construction printing by providing contractors and builders with internationally accepted certification that their projects will be strong and durable," added Luigi Di Geso, President and CEO of MAPEI Corporation. "And the resulting structures will be built quickly and at a fraction of the cost of traditional construction, which means that affordable housing can be within reach for more people."

3D construction printers are poised to improve the way the world approaches challenges related to attain able housing, industrial buildings, emergency shelters, and resilient infrastructure. Additive manufacturing offers a faster, more efficient approach to residential, commercial, and custom construction. On-demand and on-site 3D printing is now a legitimate coded technology. Additional details can be found in ESR-4623 available through request at www.bb3d.io and through ICC-ES PlanitopTM 3D is now available for sale directly through MAPEI for all 3D construction printers.

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Source: Black Buffalo 3D Corporation

Freshly 3D printed wall samples being examined at Black Buffalo 3D facility prior to transport to Intertek Lab plc for further testing and analysis.

Black Buffalo 3D printed walls being tested as part of the process to confirm strength and durability. These structural walls were printed with a NEXCON printer and Planitop 3D ink.

RRC Completes Successful Year Exceeding Goals To Protect Texas, Maximize Resources

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

ith Fiscal Year 2022 in the books, the Rail road Commission continued its track record of surpassing critical goals that help protect public safety and the environment while also helping the state maximize the use of its natural resources.

The RRC – which regulates the state’s oil and gas industry; critical natural gas infrastructure; intrastate pipelines; the alternative fuels LNG, CNG, and LPG; and surface mining of coal and uranium – is held to a high standard by the Texas Legislature through annual performance goals.

From plugging abandoned oil and gas wells to conduct ing inspections and facilitating an increase in drilling permits, RRC’s staff in Austin and district offices across the state exceeded important goals to protect communi ties – all during a year in which international conflict amplified the importance of the state’s energy production.

“RRC staff’s strong performance helped keep Texans’ safe, while at the same time ensuring the vital oil and gas industry continued to support national and international energy demand and boosted the Texas economy,” said Wei Wang, RRC Executive Director. “We continue to leverage cutting-edge technology such as artificial intel ligence and drones to improve efficiency for staff and operators, and we will use our experience to extend our success through the next year.”

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Average number of LPG/CNG/LNG safety inspections per inspector 1,200 1,270

Number of drilling permit applications processed 12,300 13,551

RRC staff is already hard at work in the Fiscal Year 2023. The agency’s new Critical Infrastructure Division will conduct first-of-its-kind weatherization inspections, and the Oil and Gas Division will plug even more wells using federal grants.

For more information, please visit www.rrc.texas.gov.

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Source: Railroad Commission of Texas

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FORUM LINKS SMWVBOS TO PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES, Accelerating Business Growth

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

Bexar County’s Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department (SBED), led by Renee Watson, continues its concerted effort to connect small businesses with billions of dollars in contracting opportunities. One of the SBED’s initiatives serving Small, Minority, Women, and Veteran Business Owners (SMWVBO) is its annual Bexar County Business Conference held on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at the Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall located at 3201 E. Houston, San Antonio, Texas 78219.

The SMWVBO Conference is an opportunity for the county Purchasing Department to make direct contact with local vendors. SMWBEs can get their questions answered and meet the buyers who make decisions daily to solicit or recommend awards that will directly impact their business. It also provides a place for other county departments to provide information regarding their services or programs for SMWBEs. They include the County Clerk, Tax Office, District Attorney - Hot Checks Section, and Dispute Resolution Office.

This conference is a forum for SMWVBOs to develop relationships, acquire knowledge, and access opportunities that exist with public and private sector entities for the procurement of construction, professional services, goods, and other services. It is also an opportunity to further enhance the knowledge of procurement staff on the availability and ability of firms with the desire to do business with them.

Sponsors for this year’s conference:

• CPS Energy

• University Health

• Bexar County Community Arenas

• Bexar County Military & Veterans Services

• The Center for Health Care Services

• San Antonio River Authority

• The City of San Antonio

• Port San Antonio

• San Antonio River Authority

• Alamo NEX Construction

• Edwards Aquifer Authority

• Subcontractors USA

• Spectrum

• Spurs Sports and Entertainment

• VIA Transit • Alamo Colleges

• JOERIS

One of the many reasons why this annual event is impactful and effective in linking SMWVBOs to procurement opportunities in various industries and sectors is because the SBED requires all sponsors and exhibitors to have contracting opportunities and/or a registration process available for SMWVBOs.

After more than 22 years, we continue to successfully connect SMWVBOs to lucrative contract opportunities in various sectors and industries. We highly encourage small businesses to join us on December 7th on this platform providing the opportunity for you to meet with federal, state, and local agencies, plus private companies who want to do business with SMWVBOs.”

- Renee Watson, Director of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department for Bexar County

SUBC USA: What makes this conference different from other similar events held by local chambers?

SBED: This conference strongly encourages SMWVBOs to spend their time wisely as attendees and not be an exhibitor. Local chamber trade shows are usually designed to enhance member business opportunities through exhibiting. However, the conference is open to anyone who would like to be an exhibitor. The county SMWBE Program Manager has received comments from several SMWVBOs that did exhibit in the past years and now make the effort to attend and visit with the numerous procurement officials. The conference does have several large minority-owned businesses that exhibit each year because they have subcontracting opportunities for other SMWVBOs. Because of the tremendous contributions of the county, city, and sponsors, the event is free to attend and includes meals. The cost to the exhibitor is very reasonable, and it allows local entities to participate which also includes meals for all staff.

SUBC USA: Why should an SMWVBO attend?

SBED: The conference is designed in an attempt to meet the needs of those in several areas:

• A person who owns a business that is available and has the capacity to do business with the public and private sectors

• A person who owns a business that is available, but needs help building the capacity to do business with the public and private sectors

• A person who owns a business that is performing work in the private sector, but has not sought public sector opportunities (and vice versa)

• A person who owns a business and needs help getting technical or financial assistance

• A person who has the desire to start a business and would like to be prepared, being educated about what opportunities and assistance exists

• A person who may be working a day job, but would like to start a business one day in the future

• A person who would like to network with other business owners, public and private sector staff, and leaders, to enhance their development and overall quality of life

SUBC USA: Are any new panels/workshops added to this year’s conference that you want to mention?

SBED: This year includes a luncheon emceed by Jelynne Leblanc Jamison, the president and CEO of the Center for Health Care Services (CHCS), and we have also partnered with CHCS to host a workplace mental health workshop. Additional workshops and topics include:

• Social Media Strategy

• HR Red Flags

• Cybersecurity

providing information, tools, and resources to these businesses so they have every opportunity to understand the process and do business with the SBED.

SBED: We have the Bexar County Supplier and CDMS Training scheduled for January and February 2023 and will roll out the Mentor Protégé Program Operations Boot Camp with completion of the Associated General Contractors of America’s (AGC) Basics in Construction Training. Our department will also be implementing mandatory data collection to increase tracking and reporting of solicitation, awards, and payments with SMWBE/HUB/DBE at the prime and sub-levels for Goods/ Commodities/Other Services, Professional Services, and Construction.

SUBC USA: Since last year, are there any new changes, systems, procedures, or programs that have been implemented to help the small business community?

SBED: The SBED has had some major changes since last year, including procurement processes and compliance, certification procedures and oversight, and introducing programs to help small businesses recover and grow.

Bexar County is in the process of implementing a race-conscious and more aggressive race-neutral program because of findings in the 2021 Disparity and Availability Study done by Griffin & Strong as adopted by the Bexar County Commissioners Court in December 2021.

SBED together with the Purchasing Department is on course to revise the purchasing manual to ensure solicitations and outreach are tracked and prime and subs participate with mandatory data collection for compliance and reporting.

The SBED has brought back the AGC San Antonio Chapter/ Bexar County Basics of Construction. This course is a prerequisite to be considered for the very successful Bexar County/AGC Mentor Protégé Program. In order to ensure compliance and reporting, during the Fiscal Year 2022, the department was increased by five positions, for a total of 12. The additional staff will serve the all-important functions for data collection, compliance, staff and vendor training, and outreach.

Additionally, due to staff outreach efforts and procurement awareness, the vendor sessions are held twice a month for the Bexar County Supplier and Contract and Diversity Management (CDMS) workshops.

SUBC USA: Is there anything else that you want to share with our readers?

SBED: Since July 2021, the Texas HUB Program has transferred certification services to the Texas Unified Certification Program (TUCP) partners. The South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency provides certification services for local jurisdictions. We highly encourage vendors to pursue reciprocity, and if not currently DBE Certified, to pursue the Federal Certification designations.

• Marketing To Government Agencies

• UTSA Procurement & Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for Federal, State, and Local Contracting Opportunities

For breakfast, we are extending the federal panel (Federal Opportunities and Resources). For lunch, keynote speaker Jimmy Holmes, president and publisher of the SA Business Journal will be connecting the dots for public and private sectors for business recovery and growth. We will also be going live on all social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, for people who are unable to attend in person.

SUBC USA: Talk about some of your other upcoming 2023 events and programs available,

This conference has provided more than a billion dollars in direct spending at the prime level to attendees by Bexar County. The department was recognized and commended in the 2021 Disparity and Availability study for this race-neutral outreach event. Because of this partnership with local stakeholders, this conference attracts state and federal agencies to bring their procurement staff with opportunities for face-to-face contact with vendors. The event is free for the public, with no-cost parking and complimentary breakfast and lunch. The SBED is investing in this opportunity for SMWVBOs to grow their business.

To register and for information on the conference, please visit www.Bexar.org/SMWBE.

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Contractors: What Does Fútbol Have To Do With Permitting?

By Helen Callier Contributing Writer

Afew months ago, I was a featured workshop speaker providing insights and tips for navigating the construction industry. Most folks that have heard me speak before or have read any of my articles know that I am a storyteller sharing real-life stories from experiences from projects and often makes stories become more alive by using sports analogies.

So, as I was emphasizing a point about the importance of staying consistent in providing excellent service in the mar ketplace to sustain business and win new work, I began to talk about one of the greatest US NFL football players – Jerry Rice, the renowned wide receiver that was and is the epitome of con sistency. While team members would tease him during practice for catching the football and run ning full out to the end zone to score, Rice knew that being con sistent in performance, regardless of the circumstances, was vital to win championships. And his con sistency helped to bring three NFL Super Bowl rings to his team.

As I was sharing this story, one per son in the audience began to laugh and said, that’s not football. Then I realized that everyone in the room may not be familiar with US football or one of the greatest athletes of all time. What this person was not aware of is that I could have talked easily about Edouard Mendy or Peli’ Santos, who is regarded as the GOAT in fútbol to stress the importance of consistency.

Now, what does this have to do with building permitting?

In fútbol…soccer, there’s an art to goal keeping. The goalie’s eyes are kept on the ball at all times while keeping their feet shoulder-width apart. The goalie’s brain is always scanning the field and their body is in sync ready to take action at a moment’s notice. To some, it may appear that the

goalie is lounging around, but this is not the case. They are completely focused on moving swiftly and catching the ball.

To be successful in permitting, taking tips from the goalie is helpful because if you fail in one area then you can face a loss and significant delays.

Below are 5 tips on being consistent in pulling your building permit in a timely manner.

Submitting: Submit QA/QC permit package to minimize missing items or deficiencies with plans, specs, etc. before and while submitting to jurisdiction.

Monitoring: Keep a watchful eye during the plan review phase to see how reviews are progressing.

Responding: Stay on your toes and be ready to respond quickly to any permitting jurisdiction comments or RFIs.

Paying: Pull sales order, pay for building permit, pick up or download stamped approved plans and permit and then get going!

Thanking: Say thank you to the permitting staff for

their assistance and keep a positive attitude toward construction and when Inspector visits the job site. Thanking the permitting staff also goes a long way in nurturing relationships with staff as you come back for another permit then another and another.

Like in fútbol, there will be challenges along the way in permitting your project. Stay determined, follow the above tips to be consistent; and if you require expert assistance then ask for help.

At PermitUsNow, we are committed to pulling permits for our Architect, Con tractor, and Project Owner clients without delay, eliminating their frustrations with the permitting process. Plus, we make it easy for you to work with us. Simply: 1) Email us your plans, 2) Follow up on our feedback for any missing items, and 3) Let us get your permitting done for you. So, send us your plans today, and we’ll free you up to focus on doing what you love - building your customers’ dreams.

You can call PermitUsNow at 1.844.PERMIT.4. Visit us on the web at permitusnow.com.

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#BuildCustomersDreams #BuildSafe

Below are 5 tips on being consistent in pulling your building permit in a timely manner.

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US Department of Labor Announces the Selection of OSHA Training Institute Education Centers Centers

extend safety and health training opportunities throughout the US

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the addition of a new organization to its OSHA Training Institute Education Center network and the renewal of 25 existing education centers. OTI Education Centers are non-profit organizations that offer training courses on OSHA standards and occupational safety and health topics to workers and employers across the country.

Since 1992, the OTI Education Center program has provided training nationwide to the private sector and federal personnel from agencies outside OSHA and trained more than 42,000 people in the fiscal year 2022.

The centers also help administer OSHA's Outreach Training Program and fulfill the program's monitoring requirements. They are the sole distribution channel for Outreach Training Program trainer courses, including OSHA standards and update courses. The program trained more than three million people from fiscal 2020 through fiscal 2022. This voluntary program is not a training requirement of any OSHA standard.

Following a national competition, the new and re newed OTI Education Centers were announced on April 18, 2022. The competition evaluated applicants on organizational commitment, experience, and quali fications; staff experience and qualifications; location and training facilities; marketing and administrative capabilities; Diversity Equity Inclusion and Accessibility; and language accessibility.

OSHA does not fund OTI Education Centers. The centers are supported through established tuition and fee structures and provide instructors and facilities. For more information on the OTI Education Centers Program, the Outreach Training Program, and the Of fice of Training and Education, please visit the OSHA Training webpage.

The new and renewed OTI Education Centers are listed below. An asterisk indicates the new center for 2022:

The new and renewed OTI Education Centers are listed below. An asterisk indicates the new center for 2022:

Region I

• Keene State College – Manchester, NH

Region II

• Atlantic OSHA Training Center, a consortium that includes Rutgers School of Public Health –Somerset, NJ (lead organization); Universidad Ana G. Mendez – Bayamon, PR; and University at Buffalo – Buffalo, NY

• Rochester Institute of Technology –Rochester, NY

Region III

• National Resource Center, a consortium that includes West Virginia University –Morgantown, WV (lead organization); and CPWR – Center for Construction Research & Training –Silver Spring, MD

• Mid Atlantic, a consortium comprised that includes Chesapeake Region Safety Council – Baltimore, MD (lead organization); and Northampton Community College – Bethlehem, PA

Region IV

• Eastern Kentucky University – Richmond, KY

• University of South Florida – Wesley Chapel, FL

• Georgia Institute of Technology – Atlanta, GA

• Southeastern OTI Education Center, a consortium that includes North Carolina State University – Raleigh, NC (lead organization); and University of Tennessee – Nashville, TN

• The University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa, AL

• Volunteer State Community College - Gallatin, TN

Region V

• Mid-America OTI Education Center, a consortium that includes Ohio Valley Construction Education Foundation –Springboro, OH

• Great Lakes OSHA Education Center, a consortium that includes University of

Cincinnati, College of Medicine – Cincinnati, OH (lead organization); Eastern Michigan University – Ypsilanti, MI; and UAW Health & Safety Department – Detroit, MI

• National Safety Education Center, a consortium that includes Northern Illinois University –DeKalb, IL (lead organization); and Construction Safety Council – Hillside, IL

Region VI

• Texas A&M University Engineering Extension (TEEX) – College Station, TX

• University of Texas at Arlington – Arlington, TX

• Mid-South OTI Education Center, a consortium that includes Alliance Safety Council – Baton Rouge, LA (lead organization); and Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge, LA

• Oklahoma State University – Stillwater, OK

Region VII

• Great Plains OSHA Education Center, a consortium that includes Metropolitan Community College – Independence, MO (lead organization); Barton County Community College – Grandview Plaza, KS; and Saint Louis University College for Public Health & Social Justice – St. Louis, MO

Region VIII

• Mountain West OSHA Education Center –Salt Lake City, UT

• Construction Education Foundation –Denver, CO

Region IX

• University of California, San Diego – La Jolla, CA

• Arizona State University – Tempe, AZ

• California State University, Dominguez Hills –Carson, CA

• Chabot-Las Positas – Pleasanton, CA

Region X

• University of Washington – Seattle, WA

Learn more at www.OSHA.gov.

Building the Future

More than Bricks & Mortar

As

Turner

Justina Mann

Liliana Rambo

Marsha Murray Director,

Rhonda Arnold

OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost and confidential occupational safety and health services to small- and medium-sized businesses in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. On-Site Consultation services are separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations. Consultants from state agencies or universities work with employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice for compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing and improving safety and health programs.

It's confidential, too. Your name, your firm's name, and any information you provide about your workplace, plus any unsafe or unhealthful working conditions that the consultant uncovers, will not be reported routinely to the OSHA inspection staff.

Your only obligation will be to correct serious job safety and health hazards -- a commitment that you are expected to make prior to the actual visit and carry out in a timely manner.

What Happens During an On-Site Consultation Visit?

tion; however if you wish you may limit the visit to one or more specific problems.

The On-Site Consultants Will

The On-Site Consultants Will

Help you recognize hazards in your workplace.

• Suggest general approaches or options for solving a safety or health problem.

• Identify the kinds of help available if you need further assistance.

• Provide you with a written report summarizing findings.

• Assist you to develop or maintain effective safety and health programs.

Provide training and education for you and your employees.

Process and Benefits

Process and Benefits

Using a no-cost consultation service largely funded by the OSHA, employers can find out about potential hazards at their worksites, improve their safety and health programs, and even qualify for a one-year exemption from routine OSHA inspections.

The service is delivered by state gov ernments using well-trained professional staff. Most consultations take place on-site, though limited services away from the worksite are available.

Primarily targeted at smaller businesses, this safety and health consultation program is completely separate from the OSHA inspection effort. In addition, no citations are issued or penalties are proposed.

Because consultation is a voluntary activity, you must request it. To make a request, locate your state's Consultation Program's contact information using our OSHA's Consultation Directory. The consultant will discuss your specific needs with you and set up a visit date based on the priority assigned to your request, your work schedule, and the time needed for the consultant to adequately prepare to serve you. OSHA encourages a complete review of your firm's safety and health situa

The On-Site Consultants Will Not

The On-Site Consultants Will Not

• Issue citations or propose penalties for violations of OSHA standards.

• Report possible violations to OSHA enforcement staff.

• Guarantee that your workplace will "pass" an OSHA inspection.

For more, please visit www.OSHA.gov.

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Entrepreneurial Equity: METRO Expands Efforts To Support Business Owners

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

METRO’s Board of Directors voted recently to create two programs to ensure equal access and opportunity for veterans and people living with a disability seeking to do business with the Authority.

The Veteran Owned Business Enterprise (VOBE) and the Disability Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE) programs will be run by the Office of Economic Business Opportunity, formerly known as the Office of Small Business.

The programs will allow the office to identify and target the businesses more effectively, implement more inclusive practices, and assist in providing a full and fair opportunity to compete for procurement opportunities with METRO

"This is a step in the right direction to benefit many business owners in their reach," Board Chair Sanjay Ramabhadran noted during the board meeting.

The Office of Economic Business Opportunity also oper ates the Small/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (SB/DBE) programs with an annual goal of 35 percent small business participation.

"This is a very important program that we have been looking at for some time," said Board Member Lex Frieden. "I want to applaud METRO's staff for putting together a great plan for a program that will benefit our community."

26 eligibility standards can participate as DBEs.

• Help remove barriers to the participation of DBEs in DOT-assisted and locally funded contracts.

• Assist the development of firms that can compete successfully in the marketplace outside the DBE program.

apMetro has established a Disadvantaged Busi ness Enterprise (DBE) program in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 26. CapMetro's overall DBE goal for FY2020-22 is 19% of the Federal financial assistance expended in DOT-assisted contracts, exclusive of FTA funds to be used for the purchase of transit vehicles. It will obtain 10% from Race Neutral participation and 9% from Race Conscious measures.

The DBE Program

• Ensures equal opportunity in transportation contracting markets.

• Addresses the effects of discrimination in transportation contracting.

• Promotes increased participation in federally funded contracts by small, socially, and economically disadvantaged businesses, including minority- and women-owned enterprises.

The statute requires that at least 10 percent of the amounts made available for any Federal-aid highway, mass transit, and transportation research and technology program be expended with certified DBEs.

It is CapMetro’s Policy to:

• Ensure non-discrimination in the award and administration of DOT-assisted and locally funded contracts.

• Create a level playing field on which DBEs can compete fairly for DOT-assisted and locally funded contracts.

• Ensure that the DBE program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law.

• Ensure that only firms that fully meet 49 CFR part

Federal Regulation, 49 CFR, Part 26, Subpart E, section 26.81 states that each state must implement a "one-stop" certification process for DBEs. Each entity receiving DOT funds is required to enter into and sign an agreement establishing and supporting a Unified Certification Program (UCP) within the state.

In response to this mandate, 6 agencies have agreed to perform the certification of DBEs within the state of Texas under the Texas Unified Certification Program (TUCP).

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A COMPANY FOR ALL!

Tellepsen is committed to building a company that truly represents the diverse community we have served for 113 years. Texas Southern University and Tellepsen are working together to positively impact the success of students who are focused on career pathways in the construction industry Through this partnership, we endeavor to provide pathways for the next generation to thrive and succeed as we work together to build for Houston’s future.