Whether you are a current subscriber to ConsensusDOCS standard construction contract documents or not, you can benefit from learning why more and more people are using ConsensusDOCS as their contractual foundation.On September 28, 2009 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 p.m. ET, Â鶹´«Ã½ will host a free ConsensusDOCS webinar, titled "Why Owners Choose ConsensusDOCS Over AIA." Our panel of experts will compare and contrast select AIA documents. They will also discuss the benefits of using ConsensusDOCS standard construction contract documents to help save you time and money. After a 60-minute presentation, you will have an opportunity to ask the panelists questions.Register today for this free webinar sponsored by Â鶹´«Ã½ of America! Please contact Megan McGarvey at mcgarveym@agc.org or 703-837-5369 should you have questions.
This summer, the Â鶹´«Ã½ Specialty Contractors Council asked Â鶹´«Ã½ specialty contractor members to complete a survey that will be used to guide the future of the SCC and will ensure that its interests are aligned with those of Â鶹´«Ã½'s specialty contractor members. Thank you to the 720+ members who completed this survey! For more information on Â鶹´«Ã½ of America's Specialty Contractors Council and its Executive Committee, please visit www.Â鶹´«Ã½.org/SCC.
As an ongoing leader in construction industry contract documents, ConsensusDOCS has done it again! In June 2009, ConsensusDOCS, the unique collaboration of 22 leading industry associations, released its new subsubcontract agreement - the ConsensusDOCS 725. It is now easier for subcontractors to contract with subsubcontractors! ConsensusDOCS has created a new standard contract document specifically designed to address the unique characteristics of subsubcontracting. Replacing the need to use a purchase order or try to alter a subcontract, a fair contract document is now available to address the increasing specialization of the industry and the greater use of sub-subcontractors. This straight-forward six-page agreement provides an ideal base for the somewhat simpler subsubcontracting relationship. The ConsensusDOCS 725 includes essential provisions addressing issues including safety, change orders, payment, indemnity and much more.The ConsensusDOCS 725 Subsubcontract Agreement also coordinates important flow-down clauses and incorporates similar terms to upstream agreements. Additionally, the ConsensusDOCS 725 contains flexible provisions for the incorporation of exhibits to address scope of work, schedule, insurance and other subjects. While modified to address the special needs of subsubcontracting, the new subsubcontract document is still based upon the risk allocation philosophy found in the rest of the ConsensusDOCS family.This new ConsensusDOCS subsubcontracting agreement, as well as every document in the ConsensusDOCS family, was developed through a collaborative effort of a team of professionals representing every part of the construction process, including designers, owners, contractors, subcontractors and surety professionals. The organizations endorsing these agreements, including Â鶹´«Ã½ of America (a founding sponsor), believe that they represent a fair and reasonable consensus among the collaborating parties of allocation of risk and responsibilities in an effort to appropriately balance the critical interests and concerns of all project participants.All project stakeholders affected, directly or indirectly, by subsubcontracting practices would benefit in using the new ConsensusDOCS 725 Standard Subsubcontract Agreement. Please visit the Â鶹´«Ã½ Contracts Website for more information. All Â鶹´«Ã½ members receive a 20% discount on all ConsensusDOCS purchases through the Â鶹´«Ã½ Bookstore.
Current subscribers won't want to miss out on the free ConsensusDOCS upgrade featuring 11 new standard construction contract documents, including a Federal Subcontract and Subsubcontract. In direct response to customer feedback, the new release also incorporates a software feature allowing users to choose whether or not to print the ConsensusDOCS endorsing organization logo box on their contracts.Upgrade today by visiting the ConsensusDOCS powered by DocuBuilder 6.3 Download Center.Â鶹´«Ã½ members receive a 20% discount on all ConsensusDOCS products when purchased through the Â鶹´«Ã½ Bookstore.Please contact Carrie Ciliberto at cilibertoc@agc.org or 703-837-5367 for additional information.
Many negotiators fail to realize that successful negotiating is a talent - a talent that can be improved by learning the right skills. Negotiating doesn't mean tricks and intimidation. The ability to successfully negotiate is a skill that can be learned. In this two-day course, participants will gain valuable working knowledge of negotiating and listening and how it will benefit their relationships, both personally and professionally. Click here to learn more!
On June 10, 2009, ConsensusDOCS, the first and only widely-endorsed standard construction contracts, released its Federal Subcontract Agreement designed specifically for federal government construction projects. The ConsensusDOCS 752 Subcontract for Federal Government Construction Projects was drafted specifically to assist contractors and subcontractors to meet new and complex federal laws and regulations.  The release of the ConsensusDOCS 752 is especially timely in light of increased federal government construction activity generally, as well as through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, commonly known as the federal stimulus funding bill. The ConsensusDOCS Federal Subcontract is the only standard agreement created to address new terms and conditions essential to comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation ("FAR"). Even seasoned federal government contractors, but especially contractors new to the federal market, should consider utilizing this new contract document when subcontracting Federal work. The 752 addresses:Ethics ComplianceFederal Prompt Pay ActE-VerifyConsensusDOCS has also created a guidance document to this newly-published document. The sample exhibit of FAR requirements for federal construction work references more than 50 FAR requirements and was written for use in conjunction with the ConsensusDOCS 752, specifically section 12.14. Any contractor considering federal subcontract work should consider the new ConsensusDOCS standard subcontract and corresponding guidance document found here as a helpful tool.You can also access a free podcast regarding the ConsensusDOCS 752 - Please visit http://www.ConsensusDOCS.org/podcasts/news_podcasts.html to download this free 5-minute podcast.ConsensusDOCS offers a complete library of standard contract documents that are available for use in setting terms between designers, owners, contractors, subcontractors and sureties. The documents were created by a broad coalition of more than 20 leading construction organizations, including Â鶹´«Ã½. For more information about ConsensusDOCS, please visit www.agc.org/contracts.
August 13, 2009, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM ETOn Thursday, August 13, 2009, from 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM EDT, labor and employment law attorney Bert Brannen of Fisher & Phillips, LLP and construction-industry HR expert and consultant Doug Mure will take a tag-team approach to explaining the legal, practical and emotional aspects that HR professionals in the construction industry are faced with and how to avoid the pitfalls when forced to release employees. For more information and to register, click here!
On August 5, 2009 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET, ConsensusDOCS will host a webinar titled Introducing the Subsubcontract. The expert panel will explain the new ConsensusDOCS 725, the industry's first and only standard agreement designed specifically for use between a subcontractor and subsubcontractor. The panelists will discuss the unique benefits and challenges of using a simplified agreement to help you understand provisions that are well-suited to the somewhat simpler relationships that subcontractors typically share with subsubcontractors, including:Value in adopting a fair form agreement tailored to the subsubcontract relationshipFlexible provisions for the incorporation of exhibits and other documentsCoordinating flow-down clauses and payment terms with other Upstream AgreementsÂ鶹´«Ã½ members pay just $99 ($229 retail price). Please contact Megan McGarvey at mcgarveym@agc.org or 703-837-5369 should you have questions.
The theme for the Fall Â鶹´«Ã½ BIMForum meeting, to be held on October 8-9, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pa., will be "BIM as the Evolving Standard of Care: Driving Process Transformation for Designers, Contractors and Owners." The BIMForum Leadership is submitting this call for proposals to solicit ideas for presentations that explore the depth and breadth of this topic. Click here for more details about the Fall Â鶹´«Ã½ BIMForum Call for Presentations!
Past Chair Doug Isaacs Honored at Keynote Luncheon[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"3813","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-full wp-image-91 alignright","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"207","height":"187","alt":"dsc_0050crop"}}]]The Â鶹´«Ã½ Specialty Contractors Council Executive Committee held a very productive meeting in Hot Springs, Va., on June 11, 2009, during the Â鶹´«Ã½ Building Contractors Conference. A major topic was engagement of Â鶹´«Ã½ specialty contractors, and a survey, open here for input, was initiated to capture member needs and demographics. The Executive Committee also discussed the SCC Strategic Plan and internal procedures, the current state of respective local markets and further outreach to Chapters and members regarding the formation of Chapter Specialty Contractors Councils. In addition, the meeting focused on refining the final language of a guidance document for specialty contractors regarding retention, which will be released soon. During the Conference keynote luncheon, Â鶹´«Ã½ President Doug Pruitt (Sundt Construction) recognized Doug Isaacs (Crawford Roll Lite Door Sales) for his years of service as the Chair of the Specialty Contractors Council from 2006-2008. Pruitt presented Isaacs with a plaque to honor his dedication to the SCC, the Association and Â鶹´«Ã½ specialty contractor members. Presentations from the June 2009 Â鶹´«Ã½ Building Contractors Conference are available at www.agc.org/homestead. For more information about the Â鶹´«Ã½ of America Specialty Contractors Council and its Executive Committee, visit www.agc.org/SCC.