Category: Procurement

December 3, 2019

The project planning process starts with a proposal estimate. Taking the time and effort to make a great proposal plan is a sure way to give the executing team the best shot for project success. The proposal estimate will have […]

November 15, 2019

Construction input prices remained unchanged on a monthly basis in October but are down 2.2% year-over-year, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices […]

October 25, 2019

More than 1,000 days into the current administration, there is no escaping that the “Trump tariffs,” as they have come to be known, have caused a significant hike in material costs on most construction projects. The tariffs on imported materials […]

October 15, 2019

When rebuilding after a disaster, applying design-build process and thinking is much more effective than is perceived. The Build Back Better¹ philosophy of recovery after a disaster has wide acceptance. But there is a culprit in its full potential: bias. […]

October 11, 2019

Construction material prices are sometimes an unknown when planning a project. Whether related to tariffs, supply chain concerns or a volatile raw materials market, there could be fluctuations that can impact the bottom line for both owners and contractors. For […]

September 13, 2019

Using this method, owners manage only one single source design-build entity contract as opposed to the multiple contracts used in traditional design-bid-build project delivery. Design-build entities are selected based on a procurement process that asks them to develop a design […]

September 6, 2019

Some seasoned government contracting firms have spent decades studying ‘best practices’ associated with winning new business. They know exactly what it takes, and because of that, they incur less risk when pursuing projects. These firms also win lots of government […]

August 28, 2019

As the light shines brighter on construction technology companies, it has become evident we are in a period of change in the industry. Equipment is getting smarter and rental companies are now able to do more with less. Lindsey Anderson […]

August 12, 2019

In my world, I’m often asked for a list of “best practices” when estimating or managing a construction project. Here are some thoughts, based on personal experience and discussions I’ve had with other folks in the industry. The short answer […]

July 26, 2019

The steel and aluminum tariffs imposed in 2018 had a significant effect on Caterpillar, with Bonfield last year citing material costs up 2% due to higher steel prices, but the effects appear to be stabilizing now. “It’s now been a […]

July 18, 2019

In comments to Engineering News-Record, Brian Deery, senior director of the Associated General Contractors of America’s highway and transportation division, said that the new rules would only affect direct federal contracts with agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers […]

June 17, 2019

Grenfell had undergone a substantial renovation in the years leading up to the fire, and, according to a BRE Global report on the fire, the pre-renovation makeup of the exterior would have been able to better withstand the fire. In […]

March 21, 2019

The U.S. International Trade Commission said on Mar. 20 that domestic producers were being harmed by imports of fabricated structural steel from Canada, China and Mexico. That means an investigation into whether Canada, Mexico and China’s imports are harming U.S.-based […]

February 5, 2019

By not purchasing materials made in the U.S. for projects that receive federal financial assistance, infrastructure contractors reportedly have left as much as $45 billion of sales for American manufacturers on the table, according to the Federal News Network. Each […]

December 26, 2018

Construction on a $1.25-billion chemical complex recently announced for St. James Parish is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2019. In November, Wanhua Chemical Group of China announced plans to build a manufacturing plant on a 250-acre site […]

October 4, 2018

featuredRoad marking materials market is expected to reach $5.66bn by 2024 according to a recent report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). TMR anticipates the vendor landscape of the global road marking materials market to be largely consolidated with major leaders […]

September 18, 2018

Construction Supply Group has completed the acquisition of Constar Construction Supply, a Californian supply distributor. Construction Supply Group is a leader in the distribution of construction materials, accessories and tools, primarily for professional concrete and masonry contractors in the United […]

September 10, 2018

The Middle East’s multi-billion-dollar construction industry has led to an increased demand for stone, according to Middle East Stone. A raft of new mega projects valued at $29.19 billion were launched in the Middle East and North Africa’s residential, hospitality, […]

September 5, 2018

An upturn in home-buying and commercial development is a boon for the construction industry, but the pressure to grow can squeeze construction companies grappling with cash flow, expenses and expansion. In April, privately-owned housing starts jumped 12.4%, to an annualized […]

August 31, 2018

According to Markets Insider, the quota exclusion news drove U.S. steel manufacturers’ stock prices down Thursday, with the stocks of U.S. Steel (-6%), AK Steel (-4%) and Steel Dynamics (-2%) all taking a hit. However, the Trump administration most certainly […]