Since President Barack Obama was inaugurated last month, he has initiated many changes which will impact federal contracting: first, he issued an executive order requiring a successor vendor on a services contract to offer a preceding contractor’s employees jobs under the new contract; second, in another executive order, he encouraged the use of project labor
February 2009
Corps of Engineers Issues New Safety Manual
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, through its Office of Safety and Occupational Health, has released a new edition of the Corps’ Safety and Health Requirements Manual, EM 385-1-1, that streamlines information for easier access and quicker use. According to the Corps, “The safety manual is a major key to the success of the…
Use of Project Labor Agreements Encouraged in Executive Order Issued by President Obama
On February 6, 2009, President Obama issued an Executive Order encouraging agencies to use Project Labor Agreements ("PLAs") in federal construction projects with a total cost to the Government of $25 million or more. The purpose of the Order is to avoid some of the problems which typically arise during the completion of such large…
Early Contractor Involvement – Another Experiment by the Corps of Engineers in "Creative Contracting"
In recent years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has attempted to employ "innovative" contracting methods but, in doing so, has often limited the number of contractors who have had the opportunity to perform major construction projects. One of the justifications for these “innovative” methods has been that there will be a reduction in the …
