On May 6, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee unanimously approved two water-related infrastructure bills. The America鈥檚 Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 (AWIA), as amended, would invest the nation鈥檚 water resources infrastructure and clean water infrastructure and the Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 (DWIA), as amended, would invest in the nation鈥檚 drinking water infrastructure. 黑料不打烊 applauded the Committee鈥檚 bipartisan efforts to develop the bills and highlighted provisions that it supports. Last month, 黑料不打烊, along with four other organizations, was invited by EPW to submit a written statement on the discussion drafts. These bills will now go to the full Senate for consideration.
On April 22, 黑料不打烊, along with four other organizations, was invited by the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee to submit a written statement on two water-related discussion drafts released. America鈥檚 Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 would invest the nation鈥檚 water resources infrastructure and clean water infrastructure and the Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 would invest in the nation鈥檚 drinking water infrastructure. As part of its legislative process, EPW is soliciting feedback from stakeholders on the discussion drafts through May 1, 2020. Information on how to submit feedback can be found here. 黑料不打烊 is continuing to review the discussion drafts and encourages chapters and members to share their feedback on them.
On March 18, 黑料不打烊, along with other coalition partners, urged Congress to support compensation for federal contractors during the COVID-19 outbreak. Legislative language was included in the letter to authorize contract equitable adjustments in cases where federal facility access limitations or denials bar contractors from performing their duties as required.
On Jan. 31, the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OSD) released the final version of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). The Department of Defense (DOD) will begin including the final CMMC model as 鈥済o/no go鈥 in all new solicitations starting in late summer/early fall of 2020. On the same day, defense officials held a news conference discussing the final version of CMMC. For further information on this, click 鈥渓earn more.鈥
Major General Scott A. Spellmon has been nominated to be the next Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). If confirmed by the Senate, Maj. Gen. Spellmon will replace the current commander, Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, whose term expires on May 19, 2020. In his current role as Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, he has been pivotal in overseeing the implementation of billions of dollars in natural disaster related construction recovery efforts. Confirmation hearings on this nomination are expected in the coming month. If confirmed, 黑料不打烊 looks forward to continuing to work closely with Maj. Gen. Spellmon and USACE.
On Jan. 16, Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) introduced bipartisan, 黑料不打烊-backed legislation to prohibit federal agencies from using reverse auctions on federal construction contracts. On Dec. 19, the Senate unanimously passed a companion bill to this measure. Reverse auctions in federal contracts typically require contractors to bid against each other in real time with ever increasing lower prices in order to win a particular contract. Several federal agencies have advised against this practice due to the administrative burden it requires, as well as acknowledging that the guaranteed low price at time of bidding often does not mean the project will be lower in cost at the close. 黑料不打烊 supports commonsense procurement reform to improve the delivery of federal construction projects.
On Jan. 7, the Senate confirmed 黑料不打烊-backed nominee Jovita Carranza to lead the Small Business Administration (SBA). Administrator Carranza previously served as Treasurer of the United States at the Department of the Treasury under President Trump and served as Deputy Administrator for SBA under President George W. Bush. Prior to these appointments, Administrator Carranza spent 30 years working for the United Parcel Service (UPS). As administrator, she will be a key voice in shaping the administration鈥檚 pro-business agenda and advocating on behalf of the nation鈥檚 small businesses and contractors.
On Dec. 20, President Trump signed two spending packages totaling $1.4 trillion, preventing another year-end government shutdown and providing annual funding to all agencies of the federal government through September 30, 2020. Overall, federal construction accounts saw about a nine percent increase鈥攐r $12.4 billion鈥攊n funding in comparison to FY2019 funding levels. A full 黑料不打烊 analysis of federal and federal-aid construction accounts for FY2020 can be found here.
On Dec. 19, 黑料不打烊 will host a webinar for federal contractors titled Cybersecurity鈥 New Mandatory Requirements for Defense Contractors. The Department of Defense (DOD) will begin mandating cybersecurity certifications for all companies that do business with the agency in the fall of 2020. Under the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), defense contractors, including subcontractors, will be required to be certified among the different levels in order to be eligible for contract award. This webinar will give an overview of the new requirements for contractors, explore the potential impacts of compliance failure for federal contractors, and review the steps federal contractors need to take to become compliant. Click here to register.
On Dec. 17, the Senate passed S. 1790, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020. This compromise legislation overwhelmingly passed the House on Dec. 9 and will now head to the President鈥檚 desk for his signature. This measure includes roughly $11.8 billion for military and military family housing construction. While the bill rejected the Administration鈥檚 request for more than $7 billion for border wall construction, it did not include earlier provisions that would have barred the reprograming of funds for projects along the southern border. The agreement also did not include controversial provisions surrounding PFAS substances, instead opting for less stringent measures that give direction to EPA and DOD to regulate.