Blogs

Government Contracts

Government Contracts Seminar with ABC-Metro on October 29

We are pleased to invite our readers to a seminar on October 29, 2009, The “Other” Kind of Contracting: Best Practices for Government Sales Success. As active members of Associated Builders and Contractors – Metro Washington Chapter, we are very pleased to have the opportunity to speak at this ABC-Metro Washington event.

October 15, 2009

Construction

Basics of Mechanics Liens in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia

We have recently discussed the need for construction industry players to know the basics of liens and bonds. We have also examined one case example of what can go wrong in mechanic’s lien matters by examining the failed Granby Tower project in Norfolk. Expanding on this thread, we will now turn to laying out some…

October 14, 2009

Construction

The Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor in Arlington Makes the NY Times

In case you missed it, Arlington County’s Rosslyn-Ballston corridor made the NY Times on Thursday. The article, entitled “An Oasis of Stability Amid a Downturn”, provides how well Arlington County is weathering the current real estate market as compared to other locations of the country. The article cites Arlington’s 8.6% office vacancy rate against the…

October 12, 2009

Construction

LEED 3.0: Changes Reflect the Need to Increase Energy Focus

We have previously discussed the New York Times article criticizing the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating systems developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its arguable lack of translation to improved energy efficiency. We also discussed energy codes and their interplay with LEED and ongoing reporting. More recently, similar concerns…

October 12, 2009

Construction

Modifications to Virginia’s Historical Preservation Statute – A Recipe for Mischief?

I don’t know how many people out there have been paying attention, but the General Assembly made an interesting addition to Virginia’s historic preservation statute (VA Code Section 15.2-2306) this past spring. Prior to this addition, Section 15.2-2306.A.1. of the Code of Virginia used to allow a locality to adopt or amend its zoning ordinance…

October 11, 2009

Construction

Cowboys Practice Facility Collapse: NIST Finds Serious Design Flaws

The story of the collapse of the Dallas Cowboys practice facility continues to point towards serious design flaws as the culprit. The National Institute of Standards and Technology press release regarding its report states that the practice facility collapsed, “under wind loads significantly less than those required under applicable design standards”. A full copy of…

October 7, 2009

Construction

Virginia Stormwater Regulations Update

As noted in our previous stormwater regulation discussion, The Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board has been considering amending their regulations. Per the Virginia Association of Counties, the Board adopted an amended version of the regulations last night. The extensive amendments will translate to a new public comment period to begin on October 26. The…

October 6, 2009

Construction

Crossing Your t’s and Dotting Your i’s: Perfecting Appeals of Public Contract Decisions in Virginia

Be aware that the procedural requirements of Virginia Code Section 15.2-1246 [pdf] apply to appeals denying claims arising under contracts covered by the Virginia Public Procurement Act, according to the recent case, Viking Enterprise, Inc. v. County of Chesterfield, Record No. 080215 (Jan. 16, 2009) [pdf]. In Viking Enterprise, Viking entered into a written contract…

October 5, 2009

Government Contracts

An Aggressive Bidding Environment … the Perfect Storm for Claims

The construction industry is receiving somewhat mixed economic signals lately. On the good news front, the home building industry which has been mired in recession far longer than the rest of the economy is showing signs of life. Bloomberg reported that sales of new homes climbed in August to a high for the year. The…

October 2, 2009

Construction

Mechanic’s Liens and Construction Bonds 101

Mechanic’s liens and construction bonds can provide critical payment protection for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers working on construction projects. In this Bean, Kinney & Korman article published in the BKK Construction & Land Use Newsletter, Juanita F. Ferguson explains that mechanic’s lien rights and bond claim procedures vary significantly between Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. The article notes that Virginia generally requires a Memorandum of Mechanic’s…

October 1, 2009