Convention Sponsorships Available
If you are interested in sponsoring one or more of the events at this year’s convention in Rome, please let us know as soon as possible. We want to be able to include your company’s name in the program, which will be going to print in the near future. Your company name will be displayed at the actual event and the e-newsletter as well. There are numerous opportunities to get your company noticed during the event. We very much appreciate our sponsors! Click here for thesponsorship form.
Hall of Fame Scholarships Applications Available
The Hall of Fame Scholarship announcements have recently been distributed to Ohio colleges for students earning Associate or Bachelor degrees in a construction-related field. If you know of someone who may be interested in applying, have him or her contact Rachel Sirca at [email protected]or Emily Pickens at [email protected]. Application deadline is February 24, 2017.
Career Day at the Estimating Competition
The 17th Annual Estimating Competition will take place on February 17 and 18, 2017 at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center. Approximately 70 students will be representing numerous colleges/universities throughout Ohio. If you are interested in meeting the students and talking with them about your company, then a table top display is what you need! There is no cost! The job fair hours are 10:00 am – 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 18. Space is limited, so we will be reserving spaces on a first come – first served basis. Send an e-mail to Rachel Sirca ([email protected]) with your company name and all those who will be attending your display (for nametag purposes). You are also welcome to watch the competition!
Evaluation of Contractor Performance Scores (C-95s)
When you receive your Evaluations of Contractor Performance this year, you may notice that scores are lower than they have been in previous years. In January of 2016, ODOT implemented a new Supplement 1131 which brings about some changes to the previous policies the Department uses and scores given to contractors when the Project Engineer does not fill out an evaluation within 90 days of the completion of the work or December 31, whichever comes first. Contractors are now given a score of 8 instead of 10 when this situation occurs.
The descriptions of the ratings for the allowable scores of 10, 8, 5, or 1 were changed in calendar year 2010. 10s are only to be given when performance meets the criteria listed in the Appendix of Supplement 1131, and ratings of 5 or 1 must be justified with comments. A rating of 1 requires written notice to the contractor during the life of the project. The Supplement outlines appeals procedures for scores you do not agree with.
OCA would like all of its members to be aware that these changes were opposed every time they were brought to our attention and this change was discussed at length with ODOT representatives during Heavy/Highway Specification Committee meetings. We were successful in getting ODOT to agree that a contractor’s prequalification factor would not be reduced unless their average rating was below a 75 (previously this was 85 – meaning that auto evaluations of 8 would reduce a contractor’s prequalification factor). Lower evaluation scores, even for acceptable performance, on Form C-95 is the result of ODOT’s philosophical change when assigning these values.
Central States Withdrawal Liability Skyrockets
© 2017 by Andrew J. Martone, Hesse Martone, P.C.
The [Teamsters’] Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan’s withdrawal liability valuation (which establishes the basis for withdrawal liability assessments during the January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 period) as of December 31, 2015 prepared by Segal Consulting reports that the total level of the Fund’s unfunded vested liability (the amount that the Fund is “in the red”) is $29.2 billion, an increase of $4.8 billion from 2014.
This approximately $5 billion increase in the Fund’s level of unfunded vested benefits is more than twice the size of prior years’ increases. The Segal Report attributes this substantial increase to a number of factors, the most important of which are:
1. The Fund lowered it assumed net rate of return on investments from 7.5% (which it had used for years) to 6.25%;
2. The Fund’s rate of return on its investments for 2015 was lower than was projected.
Central States also updated the mortality tables used by the Fund to calculate the life expectancy of people receiving benefits. Two important notes: (1) the Fund’s level of unfunded vested benefits was calculated prior to reduction for the value of outstanding claims for withdrawal liability that can reasonably be expected to be collected; and (2) the Fund’s level of unfunded vested liability for the Fund’s “New Employer Pool” was zero, meaning that the Fund lists the New Employer Pool as being fully funded.
ODOT Construction Program Results for CY 2016
At the beginning of a new year, OCA frequently receives requests for information regarding the results of ODOT’s prior year construction program. Much of the information we see is based on the state fiscal year which is not aligned with the primary activities of the construction season or with many members’ fiscal year. ODOT recently provided program results for 2016 and it can be viewed by clicking here.
For a look ahead at ODOT’s anticipated construction program broken down by letting dates, please visit the ODOT link at:
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/ContractAdmin/Contracts/Construction/ODOTUnsold.xls
Make Your Voice Heard & Participate in the ARTBA Quarterly Survey
The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), our national affiliate, is now conducting its 4th Quarter 2016 Industry Conditions Survey and would appreciate your participation. As in the past, ARTBA will use the survey results in its advocacy efforts by showing elected officials and the media true “on the ground conditions” within the industry. This survey takes about 5-10 minutes to complete, asks for general information, and is confidential. Responses are due January 9, 2017. Take the survey online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GKND7JH.
Click here forPDF version of the surveythat can be filled out manually and either faxed or scanned in.
Thank you for your help!
Final Acceptance of ODOT Projects
Proj. #
|
Company Name
|
District
|
Date
|
583(12)
|
Shelly Company
|
D11
|
1-30-16
|
362(13)
|
Shelly & Sands, Inc.
|
D11
|
4-07-16
|
139(14)
|
Cross Roads Construction
|
D11
|
4-27-16
|
312(14)
|
Buds, Inc.
|
LAW
|
11-28-16
|
370(14)
|
Double Z Construction
|
GRE
|
11-30-16
|
407(14)
|
Aero-Mark, Inc.
|
D11
|
4-14-16
|
454(14)
|
Complete General Construction
|
FAI
|
11-28-16
|
456(14)
|
Complete General Construction
|
MOT
|
11-08-16
|
490(14)
|
Shelly & Sands, Inc.
|
D11
|
11-14-16
|
517(14)
|
Shelly & Sands, Inc.
|
D11
|
11-14-16
|
15(15)
|
Shelly & Sands, Inc.
|
D11
|
11-03-16
|
43(15)
|
Shelly & Sands, Inc.
|
D11
|
11-14-16
|
75(15)
|
Complete General Construction
|
NOB/WAS
|
11-30-16
|
136(15)
|
Complete General Construction
|
HIG
|
11-21-16
|
161(15)
|
Ohio-West Virginia Excavating
|
D11
|
3-21-16
|
243(15)
|
Alan Stone Company
|
ADA
|
11-21-16
|
328(15)
|
Coopers Excavating LLC
|
ADA
|
12-13-16
|
332(15)
|
Armstrong Steel Erectors
|
D11
|
11-14-16
|
378(15)
|
Walls Bros. Asphalt Co.
|
DAR
|
11-03-16
|
473(15)
|
BOG Construction
|
D11
|
11-22-16
|
493(15)
|
Buds, Inc.
|
ATH
|
11-30-16
|
496(15)
|
Cosmos Comprehensive Constr.
|
DAR/MER/SHE
|
11-03-16
|
565(15)
|
BCC Ohio, Inc.
|
MER
|
11-29-16
|
577(15)
|
A & A Safety, Inc.
|
D11
|
11-03-16
|
595(15)
|
Parker Corporation
|
MRG
|
11-30-16
|
604(15)
|
BCC Ohio, Inc.
|
CHP
|
11-02-16
|
1015(15)
|
International Contractors
|
D11
|
11-07-16
|
1037(15)
|
Shelly & Sands, Inc.
|
D11
|
11-21-16
|
1039(15)
|
Shelly & Sands, Inc.
|
D11
|
10-28-16
|
1063(15)
|
A & A Safety, Inc.
|
D09
|
12-05-16
|
3012(15)
|
Cross Roads Construction
|
COS/LIC
|
11-09-16
|
3023(15)
|
Shelly & Sands, Inc.
|
MEG
|
11-30-16
|
3046(15)
|
Eagle Bridge Co.
|
CLE
|
11-30-16
|
7013(15)
|
Alan Stone Co.
|
D11
|
10-19-16
|
7014(15)
|
Parker Corporation
|
ATH
|
11-30-16
|
8022(15)
|
Shelly & Sands, Inc.
|
PER
|
11-15-16
|
1(16)
|
Coopers Excavating LLC
|
ADA
|
12-15-16
|
11(16)
|
American Pavements, Inc.
|
DISTRICT WIDE
|
12-13-16
|
51(16)
|
PDK Construction
|
D10
|
11-30-16
|
62(16)
|
Strawser Construction
|
AUG/MER
|
11-08-16
|
70(16)
|
Evans Landscaping, Inc.
|
BUT
|
11-03-16
|
129(16)
|
Dura Mark, Inc.
|
D07
|
11-30-16
|
160(16)
|
Evers Steel Construction LLC
|
CLA
|
11-30-16
|
207(16)
|
Alan Stone Co., Inc.
|
CLE
|
12-07-16
|
312(16)
|
Stanley Miller Construction
|
COS/MUS
|
12-14-16
|
1004(16)
|
Lake Erie Construction
|
DISTRICT WIDE
|
12-15-16
|
1033(16)
|
R.C. Construction Co.
|
GUE
|
11-21-16
|
2000(16)
|
Custom Landscape Contractors
|
WAS
|
11-30-16
|
7002(16)
|
Ohio-West Virginia Excavating
|
D11
|
11-28-16
|
7017(16)
|
John R. Jurgensen Co.
|
HAM
|
12-15-16
|
|