Category: Industry News

2024 ICI Safety Program Awards

Posted on by Jim Wood

ICI is accepting applications for the 2024 ICI Safety Program Awards.

To be considered for an award, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Current Indiana Constructors membership.
  • No IOSHA citable work-related fatalities since January 1, 2022.
  • Must have active jobsites available for visit during July through October 2024.
  • Must allow random and unannounced jobsite validation and worker interviews.

Awards will be announced at ICI’s Annual Meeting on Friday, Dec. 6.

Completing the application:

  • Application form which is filled in and submitted once you have completed all the requested information.
  • The application form will also request independent documentation. The documents should be provided in a PDF file format and included as attachments to the email when you send your application.

For award consideration, all materials must be current and complete, submitted no later than Friday, Aug. 2.

Please contact Jim Wood at (317) 634-7547 if your company is unable to participate electronically.

INDOT Piloting ASSHTOWare Project

Posted on by Dan Osborn
Source: Joe Novak, INDOT Construction Management

“INDOT is taking another step toward replacing its legacy construction management software, AASHTOWare Project (AWP) “SiteManager”, with its newer web-based version “Construction & Materials.” Six contracts will be selected from the May 2024 letting to use the new software with a currently estimated use for all contracts let on/after May 2025. Standard software vendor support for SiteManager ended in June 2023, all support will end in June 2027 although contracts can exist in the system longer.”

Novak added that INDOT does not expect any significant impacts on contractors during the AWP pilot projects. All Contractor interaction with ITAP applications is planned to remain intact. However, some report generation may not be fully available initially such as IC642’s and Progressive Records. INDOT is currently working to make the reports available.

Contact ICI Director of Government Affairs Dan Osborn with questions about the changes.

INDOT’s First CMGC Project

Posted on by Dan Osborn

On April 8, INDOT posted on its website a draft request for proposals for the US 31 and I-465 Interchange Modification Project. This is INDOT’s first use of the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) progressive project delivery method. CMGC, along with Progressive Design-Build (PDB), were included in the 2023 Indiana House Enrolled Act 1049. The Indiana legislature passed House Enrolled Act 1196 in 2014 allowing Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) for state education institutions. House Bill 1196 added that other public agencies could begin using CMc in 2017 except for highway construction contracts. The 2023 law makes INDOT work the last public construction area to embrace this new contracting method.

CMGC and PDB both revolve around two-phase project delivery. In both methods, an owner contracts with a contractor (CMGC) or contractor-designer team (PDB) for the first phase to provide and/or assist with preconstruction services such as project development, permitting, utility coordination, design, schedule and cost estimating. Phase I culminates in the development of one, or multiple, guaranteed maximum price (GMP) packages. Upon owner GMP approval, the CMGC or PDB will proceed with Phase II construction scope. INDOT plans to retain an independent cost estimator (ICE) to provide scope, schedule and cost verification services during Phase I. The main difference between CMGC and PDB is that the owner contracts with the designer of record under the CMGC method while a designer contracts directly with a contractor under the PDB method.

A key purported benefit of the progressive project delivery methods is early collaboration during Phase I or development that includes comprehensive risk identification, analysis of time and costs associated with each risk and assignment of responsibility to mitigate risks if they are realized during the construction phase. The contractual tool used to record and track risks is called a risk register. The risk register becomes part of the contract documents agreed upon prior to moving to Phase II.

INDOT must receive at least two proposals prior to entering into a CMGC or PDB contract under Indiana law. INDOT Major Projects Division staff and their consultants have worked to get industry feedback over the past year through online solicitation, public meetings and meetings with ICI member companies. Indiana law limits INDOT to enter into two progressive contracts per year until 2028.

Contact INDOT Major Projects Delivery Director Jeff Clanton with questions.

INDOT Publishes Intelligent Work Zone Toolkit

Posted on by Dan Osborn

INDOT’s Traffic Administration Office Manager Dave Boruff delivered an early Christmas present on Dec. 11 – notice that the long-anticipated Intelligent Work Zone Design and Implementation Toolkit is available on the Traffic Administration webpage.

“We started developing the Toolkit in 2020. In doing so, we reached out to manufacturers and contractors to get their input on content, the devices, and measures that should be included and how they should be described,” explained Boruff. “The idea behind the Toolkit is to help those involved with planning and implementing work zones become more familiar with treatments that may not currently be standardized but can help improve safety and mobility,” he added.

traffic queue truck

The Toolkit provides readers with equipment (tool) information, strategies and step-by-step guides to address work zone risks such as speed, detour alerts and lane shifts. One such tool is the queue truck warning system as shown in the image above.

ICI would like to thank INDOT for the collaborative execution of this toolkit as Boruff and other INDOT staff invited ICI and ACEC representatives to work on this initiative together.

 

2023 LDC RETREAT REPORT

Posted on by Dan Osborn

WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 26

It was quite toasty at 82° F.

We had around 15-30 attend the informal reception in the Valley Bar. Fish convinced the John the barkeep to open the extra room for us at no cost. John was fantastic and accommodating. Those in attendance had a great time. A few tables stayed after we closed our tab.

THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 27

The day started out at 88° F. Whew.

Dr. Rich Arkanoff spoke about the book, “The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team”, by Patrick Lencioni. Most session attendees participated in a survey and received their results prior to attending Dr. Arkanoff’s presentation. With great energy and engagement, he showed them how they could leverage their “genius” and help develop that of their coworkers.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 27

Hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk at 93° F.

Eric Fisher presented advice to contractors to build their “on-ramp” for new talent – including a recommendation for a talent acquisition specialist position for high school recruitment.

Dan Osborn brought MORE HEAT to the day filling in the attendees about newly enacted project delivery methods Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) Progressive Design-Build (P D-B) and Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT).

Many folks hit the pool for a couple hours prior to the welcome reception.

THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 27

Still sweltering at 91° F.

The welcome reception turnout was great – almost 60 attendees! They gathered at the Valley Bar adjacent to the casino for drinks and heavy apps. Lots of shop talk about projects they worked on together. New attendees met old attendees and forged new friendships.

FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 28

It was a scorcher at 93° F.

It was *so hot* our 13 golfers chose sports drinks and water over beer. What else is there to say?

The after-golf pool party featured attendees moving back and forth between the pool and the poolside bar all afternoon, enjoying the best of both worlds and making the most of their time with friends.

You can find photos of the event here.