Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/145703
48 • AUGUST 2013 • WORLD FENCE NEWS ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In a committee hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives, the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) has urged "targeted Congressional inter- Best Selling Gas Powered Driver 1000's Sold Worldwide 1st in Quality – 1st in Service GUARANTEED! On the market for over 2 years! ASA urges "targeted Congressional intervention" to improve federal contracting process for construction specialty trade contractors and subcontractors vention" to address several obstacles that specialty trade contractors and subcontractors continue to face to participation on federal construction projects. Two of the biggest obstacles are the bidding/proposal process and slow payment or nonpayment for work properly performed, ASA chief advocacy officer E. Colette Nelson told the Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business during the hearing on "Building America: Challenges for Small Construction Contractors." "Contractors at all tiers need to be assured that the bidding and contract award process is clear and efficient, or the most qualified contractors will avoid federal projects," she said. "Once awarded a contract, subcontractors need assurance that they will be paid promptly for work properly performed." Specifically, ASA recommended that Congress: • Deter bid shopping and bid peddling by prohibiting the use of reverse auctions for construction and construction-related services at both the prime and subcontract levels. • Deter bid shopping at the subcontract level by requiring the prime LOGICAL DECISIONS, INC * 9, 6, & 11 GAUGE PREFORMED STEEL * 1 5/8 ", 1 7/8", 2 3/8", 3", & 4" *DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS* * CORRECTIONAL & MILITARY APPROVED Powerful 1720 BPM. Weighs 35 Pounds. 2 Models Available. Drive posts up to 27⁄8 OD USA HONDA OEM Certified. Call for our special pricing and packages. * GALVANIZED, ALUMINIZED, VINYL COATED, & STAINLESS STEEL Call 702-293-3222 or visit www.RediDriver.com 800-676-5537 www.LDI.com 225-274-1115 contractor to submit with its bid a list of the subcontractors it intends to use. • Encourage small business participation on design-build contracts by requiring the use of the two-step method for the procurement on all but the smallest contracts. • Increase access to surety bonds by small firms by increasing to 90 percent the guarantee available to sureties under the SBA Surety Bond Guarantee Program. • Assure subcontractor and supplier payment by applying to individual sureties the same standards currently applied to corporate sureties. • Assure subcontractor and supplier payment on the construction components of projects financed by public-private partnerships by requiring surety bonds on such contracts. • Assure payment to the smallest of subcontractors and suppliers by exempting the Miller Act from periodic inflation adjustments. The ASA "Statement for the Record" is available on the ASA web site, www.asaonline.com. Books address fence industry business practices Business consultant and World Fence News contributor Tom Luby (president of Profit Builders International) has available two books designed to help fence company owners and managers improve their overall business and operating procedures and their bottom line. The Close features fence industry specific sales, marketing and advertising tools, including: • Value selling and how to maximize the profitability of every sale; • Building fencing relationships with your customers and your community; • How to "sell backwards" for higher profits by removing all obstacles to your success; • Profiling and market segmentation to maximize marketing and advertising efforts. Roadmap to Success is a business guide to managing a fence company, covering day-to-day management problems and their solutions, including: • Business development and building people management skills; • Profit and expense controls and A/R procedures; • Business planning and growing your company profits. Visit www.profitbuilder.org, e-mail tluby@profitbuilder.org, or call 941-981-3677 (office) or 941-807-7666 (cell).