Finding Contracting Opportunities

So you have decided you want to throw your hat in the ring and go for the big contracting opportunities with public agencies. The first question is where do I start looking? The good news is most if not all public agencies, whether they are school districts, CalTrans, cities, airport authority and public utilities post most of their bidding opportunities on their websites. The AGC of San Diego has a great link to almost every agency in San Diego.

But......Do you just go to the website find a bid date and submit your bid? I would not recommend this strategy. I would recommend doing your homework on the agencies that you are interested in working with.

I would start by utilizing my local Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). That is a mouthful isn't it! For the most part PTACs are collaborations between the Department of Defense and local government agencies. Unlike many "outreach facilitators" Their services are free or really low cost. Yes....no poverty pimping here.

There are PTAC offices all through out the nation, but here is a list of the PTACs in California.
They are located in:

• Los Angeles
• Riverside
  
• Sacramento
• San Diego
  

The forums include presentations by agency representatives about how to do business with them. Often what is included will be a contracting opportunity look ahead, a break down of the rules and contracting regulations. The list of contracting opportunities is usually a list of which engineers and project managers are working on a project. These are the best contacts to follow up with if there are questions about a project.

Another strategy is to join and work with your contractor association or business organization, such as chamber of commerce. There are trade specific organizations such as the National Electrical Contractor Association. There are many chambers of commerce. Some are specific to an area, while others focus on ethnic groups. These could be black, Asian or Latino/Hispanic business associations. But with any and all associations, KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING FOR YOUR DUES! These organizations are working for you. They should also be meeting with the policymakers and agencies to make sure that the organization has the most up to date information about opportunities.

Good luck!

California's Water Crisis

More than likely you know that California is facing a major water crisis. As the globe is starting to deal with the effects of climate change irregular precipitation is a major problem for California, specifically southern California. Water projects are often the largest public works programs with regards to cost and impact. Where there is water there is life and wealth, where there is no water there is often poverty and a larger stratification of incomes.

One of the biggest issues that water planners are faced with is more water at that comes at one time. Much of the water that we get is from melting snow, much of our infrastructure is based on the assumptions that the traditional climate cycle would remain the same. Lets say that the mountains act like our freezer and store our water for us for when we need it later in the year. With shorter winters that bring water sooner or heavier rainfalls that are intense, our current infrastructure can not handle the sudden influx of water. So much of that life giving water heads straight to the ocean.

Currently the California legislature is debating several solutions. For the most part most of the options are on the table. These include Republican sponsored initiatives that are supply side oriented that look to build a "peripheral canal" around the bay area delta. This is opposed by most Democrats and nearly all environmentalists. Democrats and environmentalists are backing a plan that emphasizes conservation and underground storage. Either solution is going to mean jobs and work.

The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) has put together the a website
that outlines the crisis. It can be found here http://www.calwatercrisis.org.

Helmets to Hardhats

Helmets to Hardhats is a great employment solution for our veterans that are transferring out of the Armed Forces. While in the military many people learn great construction skills. Many people that are in the services serve as combat engineers where they learn a great deal about construction.

Helmets to Hardhats is a great path to apprenticeship. In some cases the apprenticeship programs will give credit for some of the time that is served. Another major advantage of apprenticeship is that, apprentices earn while the learn. Instead of paying some tech college, someone can get out of the service and start making more than "living wages".

Lastly on some project labor agreements Candidates from Helmets to Hardhats get priority dispatches from the hiring halls to the projects.