To better serve our membership, the MCAA Construction Technology Initiative is launching a new feature, a video series on updates in the world of construction tech. The videos are powered by BuiltWorlds, so you won’t want to miss these regular updates.
Check out the first, and future editions, of this valuable tool on our Construction Technology Initiative page. Play the video now!
MCAA has now released its third installment of the Construction Technology Research Series with a report produced by JB Knowledge Labs on BIM to Field Software.
This report analyzes and compares software that links information from the office to the field by utilizing tablets, smartphones and laptops. Products like Autodesk’s BIM 360 Glue, Bluebeam Revu, Trimble Field Link and Fuzor are just a few of the two dozen softwares that were comparatively analyzed for the study.
The report is a complimentary benefit of MCAA membership and can be downloaded here.
Josh Bone, the lead author of the report provided a companion webinar on August 23 to flesh out more detail from the research. As with all MCAA webinars, participation is complimentary as part of your MCAA membership.
The companion webinar can be viewed or downloaded here.
The effective/enforcement date for two provisions in OSHA’s recently revised Recordkeeping Rule has been extended from August 10, 2016 to November 1, 2016.
The two provisions postponed address:
The deadlines for submitting injury and illness reports remains the same.
For more information on these recent rule changes, see MCAA’s Safety Bulletin – Subject: OSHA’s Revised Recordkeeping Rule – Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses.
The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation recently received a $1,000 contribution from Pat Lynch of CCI 
Mechanical, Inc. of Salt Lake City, UT. Lynch is a member of the MCAA Board of Directors.
MCERF appreciates this contribution and the support it brings to the Foundation’s education initiatives.
Find out more about MCERF and its programs and then contribute.
MCAA Government Affairs Committee Chairman Bill Albanese and Committee member Jim Gaffney joined in support of the Foundation for Fair Contracting’s (FFC) challenge of an over-broad Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) shield by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to withhold certified payrolls in a prevailing wage audit on a NASA job in Greenbelt, MD.
FFC requested certified payroll information on two firms performing on the NASA job. NASA redacted the wage rate information on the certified payroll records, citing an FOIA exemption that permits agencies to refuse disclosure of information or documents that would reveal trade secrets and commercial or financial information considered privileged and confidential.
NASA’s rationale was that revealing actual wages paid to contractor employees on prevailing wage jobs could be used by competitors to predict future bids and estimates and, therefore, undercut that firm’s future competitive position.
MCAA members Albanese and Gaffney filed affidavits in conjunction with FFC’s administrative appeal explaining why the certified payroll information could not be used to predict future project labor estimates and bidding.
MCAA President Tom Stone did a terrific job representing all MCAA members in his address August 2nd to the UA General Convention in San Diego. Interrupted a number of times by applause, President Stone started strong by telling the delegates that “We are proud to be a union contractor and have been for 110 years since our founding in 1906.” He recognized that what all of us — MCAA contractors and UA members — have in common is our shared interest in the future of this, the very best industry in America!
President Stone thanked General President Bill Hite for his leadership over the last twelve years. He told General President-Elect Mark McManus “Every member of the MCAA congratulates you and looks forward to continuing this great partnership — and working with you and your team in the future.”
Planning to build or renovate a fabrication shop for your business? You may want to read through MCAA’s latest management resource, Factors to Consider in Establishing, Operating and Maintaining a Fabrication Shop.
Developed by an Advanced Leadership Institute (ALI) team as a Class 15 project, this Management Methods Bulletin takes you through all the considerations that affect your decision to establish a fabrication shop, design issues, equipment needed, and operating and maintenance concerns as well.
The bulletin contains drawings and photos to help you plan your facility. This is an excellent resource that may help you avoid costly design, operating and maintenance mistakes.
This resource is free as an MCAA member benefit. Download your copy now.
If you’re seeing this page, then you know that the old mcaa.org has been replaced by a bright, shiny new family of websites to better serve our members. The sites you can see now are the publicly available sites. If you’re a member, you should have received an email on July 29th with new login information that will allow you to login to access our Resource Center with hundreds of resources available to download free as a benefit of membership. You’ll also be able to access our new Virtual Trade Show with direct links to the latest product information from our Manufacturer/Supplier Council members. If you didn’t receive your password, contact us! We appreciate your patience as we transitioned to this new site!
The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) received a $2,500 contribution from the Braconier Plumbing & Heating Company, Inc. (Englewood, CO), raising its total contributions to $12,750.
The MCERF Board of Trustees is very grateful for the generous contribution which will help the Foundation continue its support of education and research programs that keep our industry growing, thriving and advancing. Find out more about MCERF programs and activities and then consider making a donation.
Visit MCERF.org for more information.
PCA Chairman and MCAA Board of Directors member Armand Kilijian joined the Plumbing Podcast to discuss the importance of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to plumbing contractors.
The podcast covers plumbing contractors’ increasing use of BIM on job sites, strategies for starting and optimizing a BIM department within a company and how to leverage the data from the BIM model through fabrication, project coordination and total stations.
MCAA’s Board of Directors met July 15-16 to consider the association’s program and financial priorities for the coming year. Dr. Scott Taylor of Babson College started off the meeting with a session aimed at helping MCAA’s leaders maintain and build on their leadership effectiveness despite the press of professional and personal obligations that can prove overwhelming and distracting.
Board members and past presidents also reviewed reports on MCAA’s finances, its advocacy efforts to win Phase 2 of multiemployer pension reform, the activities of its committees and subsidiaries, plans for upcoming conferences, webinars and podcasts and plans for MCAA 2017. Board members also learned about a new initiative to enhance the WebLEM. Members also previewed MCAA’s newly redesigned website. The Board of Directors will next meet in conjunction with MCAA’s 2017 convention in San Diego, CA.
The latest regulatory notice affecting the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) provides 11 changes to the small business subcontracting plan procedures required of prime contractors on covered prime contracts ($1.5 million or more), the most significant of which is the subcontractor listing and payment protections.
The prime contractor must make demonstrable good faith efforts to use the same small business subcontractors they relied on in preparing and presenting their bid, proposal and small business utilization plan to the contracting agency for approval.
If the prime contractor fails to utilize the relied-upon small business subcontractors, the prime must provide a written explanation to the contracting agency within 30 days of contract completion. Failure to use the named subs can be the basis for future adverse prime contract performance evaluations and responsibility determinations.
The regulations also prohibit prime contractors from attempting to bar small business subcontractors from discussing subcontract plan compliance or prime contract payment problems with the contracting agency directly.
The regulations also require that prime contractors notify the contracting officer in writing if they pay a small business subcontractor a reduced amount or if payment is held more than 90 days after the prime has been paid.
And, any record of payment violations is to be recorded in the prime contractors’ past performance evaluation in the Federal Awardee Past Performance information System (FAPPIS).
MCAA testified in support of these provisions on May 23, 2013 before the House Small Business Committee. Read the testimony here.
Employee reviews are a management asset that can strengthen administrative relationships and improve employee productivity and satisfaction.
MCAA’s latest management resource—Employee Reviews—provides information about how to prepare for and conduct employee reviews effectively so that supervisors and employees benefit from the experience.
Helpful forms are also provided to guide you through the review process.
This latest bulletin is a product of MCAA’s Management Methods Committee, but was prepared by an Advanced Leadership Institute Course 15 project team. The bulletin received an award for the best management resource produced by an ALI team.
MCAA/MSCA members can download this valuable management asset now!
The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) received a $2,500 contribution from the MCA of New York, which raised it’s total contributions to $135,000.
The MCERF Board of Trustees is very grateful for the generous contribution which will help the Foundation continue its support of education and research programs that keep our industry growing, thriving and advancing. Find out more about MCERF programs and activities and then consider making a donation.
Visit MCERF.org for more information.
The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) received a $1,000 contribution from the West Michigan MCA.
The MCERF Board of Trustees is very grateful for the generous contribution which will help the Foundation continue its support of education and research programs that keep our industry growing, thriving and advancing. Find out more about MCERF programs and activities and then consider making a donation.
Visit MCERF.org for more information.
The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) received a $5,000 contribution from FitzGerald Contractors (Shreveport, LA), a payment on its pledge of $100,000.
The MCERF Board of Trustees is very grateful for the generous contribution which will help the Foundation continue its support of education and research programs that keep our industry growing, thriving and advancing. Find out more about MCERF programs and activities and then consider making a donation.
Visit MCERF.org for more information.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has raised civil penalties for violations of its rules. OSHA raised the penalties to account for the rate of inflation, which has increased since penalties were last raised in 1990.
The new Interim Final Rule, which was published in the Federal Register on July 1, will take effect on August 1, 2016 for violations that occurred after November 2, 2015.
The differences in the penalties are shown below:
Type of Violation Previous Penalty Amount New Penalty Amount
Willful or Repeat $5,000 to $70,000 $8,908 to $124,709
Serious $7,000 $12,471
Other-Than-Serious Up to $7,000 Up to $12,471
Failure to Correct Up to $7,000 Up to $12,471
Violation of Posting Up to $7,000 Up to $12,471
Disruptive technology, robotics, drones, 3D printing, cloud computing and storage, BIM and much more were the hot topics at the MCAA Construction Technology Conference in June in Indianapolis. BuiltWorlds, MCAA’s technology partner that presented the exhibit of new construction devices and products at the conference, captured all the speakers and their presentations in a detailed article that not only described the technologies but also how contractors are using them in operations, such as fabrication shops, and projects to improve productivity, efficiency and profits. Read the article.
JBKnowledge’s latest research report in the MCAA Construction Technology Research Series – BIM Software Analysis – was featured in a webinar on June 23.
Josh Bone, the report’s principal author, led the webinar and offered insights into the study findings, explained the differences in the software tested and answered questions about BIM and virtual design and construction processes and systems.
If you missed this chance to learn more about the software available for these technologies and how they can help improve your business operations and projects, and you’re an MCAA or MSCA member, you can listen to the archived webinar as a benefit of membership.
You can listen to the webinar here and download the BIM Software Analysis Report here in our Resource Center. Questions about the study? Contact Sean McGuire.
The annual round of MCAA local affiliated association summer board meetings continues to bring strong support for the national MCAA Political Action Committee (MCAA-PAC). All members of MCA of New Jersey’s board of directors just contributed to the MCAA-PAC. The MCA of Connecticut, ARCA-MCA, CPMCA and the MCA Kansas City, among others, also have 100% board participation. Last year, the Association Executives Council (AEC) also responded with strong participation by local affiliate executives. The MCAA Board of Directors members have contributed generously to the MCAA-PAC. With multiemployer pension reform leading MCAA’s legislative priorities, participation levels have increased markedly. Lend your support to MCAA advocacy efforts by contributing to the MCAA-PAC by making a contribution today.
