Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an emerging technology that is rapidly gaining acceptance throughout the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, and specialty contractors have been at the forefront. ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½'s BIM Education Program provides individuals with the background they need to implement and use BIM technologies and practices.The first course of this program, BIM 101: An Introduction to Building Information Modeling, was released in April 2009 and provides participants a broad overview of BIM and introduces the important concepts that will be necessary for the advanced courses and BIM adoption. The Participant's Manual and Instructor's Guide for this course can be purchased through the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Bookstore and classes are currently scheduled at many ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Chapters.The second course in this program, Unit 2: BIM Technology, will be released in late 2009 and will provide participants with a broad understanding of all available BIM tools and how they work together on a project. Registration is now open for two field tests, the first at the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., on September 24 and October 13 (register and learn more here), and the second in conjunction with the Fall BIMForum meeting on October 7 in Philadelphia, Pa. (register and learn more here). Many ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Chapters are also scheduling courses for Winter 2010.In 2010, further courses will be developed to: examine the legal and risk management issues that are important when utilizing BIM on a project; study the work-flow process on BIM projects; take an in-depth look at case studies; and study emerging trends in BIM.Additional information can be found at www.agc.org/BIMEP or by emailing curriculum@agc.org.
Developed by ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ and Zurich Services Corp, the Highway Worker Safety Program focuses on the leading causes of fatality and injury for employees managing and performing work on highways in America. In this webinar, learn how to effectively navigate and use this program to train supervisors and empower company employees to work safely. Understand the key exposures that cause 90% of all highway worker deaths and the best controls to eliminate and minimize these exposures.  Learn more at www.agc.org/HWSP.
Whether you are a current subscriber to ConsensusDOCS standard construction contract documents or not, you can benefit from learning why more and more people are using ConsensusDOCS as their contractual foundation.On September 28, 2009 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 p.m. ET, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ will host a free ConsensusDOCS webinar, titled "Why Owners Choose ConsensusDOCS Over AIA." Our panel of experts will compare and contrast select AIA documents. They will also discuss the benefits of using ConsensusDOCS standard construction contract documents to help save you time and money. After a 60-minute presentation, you will have an opportunity to ask the panelists questions.Register today for this free webinar sponsored by ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ of America! Please contact Megan McGarvey at mcgarveym@agc.org or 703-837-5369 should you have questions.
This summer, the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Specialty Contractors Council asked ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ specialty contractor members to complete a survey that will be used to guide the future of the SCC and will ensure that its interests are aligned with those of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½'s specialty contractor members. Thank you to the 720+ members who completed this survey! For more information on ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ of America's Specialty Contractors Council and its Executive Committee, please visit www.ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½.org/SCC.
As an ongoing leader in construction industry contract documents, ConsensusDOCS has done it again! In June 2009, ConsensusDOCS, the unique collaboration of 22 leading industry associations, released its new subsubcontract agreement - the ConsensusDOCS 725. It is now easier for subcontractors to contract with subsubcontractors! ConsensusDOCS has created a new standard contract document specifically designed to address the unique characteristics of subsubcontracting. Replacing the need to use a purchase order or try to alter a subcontract, a fair contract document is now available to address the increasing specialization of the industry and the greater use of sub-subcontractors. This straight-forward six-page agreement provides an ideal base for the somewhat simpler subsubcontracting relationship. The ConsensusDOCS 725 includes essential provisions addressing issues including safety, change orders, payment, indemnity and much more.The ConsensusDOCS 725 Subsubcontract Agreement also coordinates important flow-down clauses and incorporates similar terms to upstream agreements. Additionally, the ConsensusDOCS 725 contains flexible provisions for the incorporation of exhibits to address scope of work, schedule, insurance and other subjects. While modified to address the special needs of subsubcontracting, the new subsubcontract document is still based upon the risk allocation philosophy found in the rest of the ConsensusDOCS family.This new ConsensusDOCS subsubcontracting agreement, as well as every document in the ConsensusDOCS family, was developed through a collaborative effort of a team of professionals representing every part of the construction process, including designers, owners, contractors, subcontractors and surety professionals. The organizations endorsing these agreements, including ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ of America (a founding sponsor), believe that they represent a fair and reasonable consensus among the collaborating parties of allocation of risk and responsibilities in an effort to appropriately balance the critical interests and concerns of all project participants.All project stakeholders affected, directly or indirectly, by subsubcontracting practices would benefit in using the new ConsensusDOCS 725 Standard Subsubcontract Agreement. Please visit the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Contracts Website for more information. All ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ members receive a 20% discount on all ConsensusDOCS purchases through the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Bookstore.
Current subscribers won't want to miss out on the free ConsensusDOCS upgrade featuring 11 new standard construction contract documents, including a Federal Subcontract and Subsubcontract. In direct response to customer feedback, the new release also incorporates a software feature allowing users to choose whether or not to print the ConsensusDOCS endorsing organization logo box on their contracts.Upgrade today by visiting the ConsensusDOCS powered by DocuBuilder 6.3 Download Center.ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ members receive a 20% discount on all ConsensusDOCS products when purchased through the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Bookstore.Please contact Carrie Ciliberto at cilibertoc@agc.org or 703-837-5367 for additional information.
Many negotiators fail to realize that successful negotiating is a talent - a talent that can be improved by learning the right skills. Negotiating doesn't mean tricks and intimidation. The ability to successfully negotiate is a skill that can be learned. In this two-day course, participants will gain valuable working knowledge of negotiating and listening and how it will benefit their relationships, both personally and professionally. Click here to learn more!
On June 10, 2009, ConsensusDOCS, the first and only widely-endorsed standard construction contracts, released its Federal Subcontract Agreement designed specifically for federal government construction projects. The ConsensusDOCS 752 Subcontract for Federal Government Construction Projects was drafted specifically to assist contractors and subcontractors to meet new and complex federal laws and regulations.  The release of the ConsensusDOCS 752 is especially timely in light of increased federal government construction activity generally, as well as through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, commonly known as the federal stimulus funding bill. The ConsensusDOCS Federal Subcontract is the only standard agreement created to address new terms and conditions essential to comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation ("FAR"). Even seasoned federal government contractors, but especially contractors new to the federal market, should consider utilizing this new contract document when subcontracting Federal work. The 752 addresses:Ethics ComplianceFederal Prompt Pay ActE-VerifyConsensusDOCS has also created a guidance document to this newly-published document. The sample exhibit of FAR requirements for federal construction work references more than 50 FAR requirements and was written for use in conjunction with the ConsensusDOCS 752, specifically section 12.14. Any contractor considering federal subcontract work should consider the new ConsensusDOCS standard subcontract and corresponding guidance document found here as a helpful tool.You can also access a free podcast regarding the ConsensusDOCS 752 - Please visit http://www.ConsensusDOCS.org/podcasts/news_podcasts.html to download this free 5-minute podcast.ConsensusDOCS offers a complete library of standard contract documents that are available for use in setting terms between designers, owners, contractors, subcontractors and sureties. The documents were created by a broad coalition of more than 20 leading construction organizations, including ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½. For more information about ConsensusDOCS, please visit www.agc.org/contracts.
August 13, 2009, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM ETOn Thursday, August 13, 2009, from 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM EDT, labor and employment law attorney Bert Brannen of Fisher & Phillips, LLP and construction-industry HR expert and consultant Doug Mure will take a tag-team approach to explaining the legal, practical and emotional aspects that HR professionals in the construction industry are faced with and how to avoid the pitfalls when forced to release employees. For more information and to register, click here!
On August 5, 2009 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET, ConsensusDOCS will host a webinar titled Introducing the Subsubcontract. The expert panel will explain the new ConsensusDOCS 725, the industry's first and only standard agreement designed specifically for use between a subcontractor and subsubcontractor. The panelists will discuss the unique benefits and challenges of using a simplified agreement to help you understand provisions that are well-suited to the somewhat simpler relationships that subcontractors typically share with subsubcontractors, including:Value in adopting a fair form agreement tailored to the subsubcontract relationshipFlexible provisions for the incorporation of exhibits and other documentsCoordinating flow-down clauses and payment terms with other Upstream AgreementsÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ members pay just $99 ($229 retail price). Please contact Megan McGarvey at mcgarveym@agc.org or 703-837-5369 should you have questions.