The American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts (ACEC/MA) is the business association of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island engineering industry, representing over 110 independent engineering companies engaged in the development of transportation, environmental, industrial, and other infrastructure. Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Boston, MA, ACEC/MA is a member organization of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) based in Washington, DC. ACEC is a national federation of 51 state and regional organizations. With the support of our member firms, ACEC/MA works to protect and promote your business. ACEC/MA's work with state leaders, legislators and with state agencies has led to the following recent victories: LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY - 2010 Design Professionals Day at the State House: About 70 members of ACEC/MA, BSCES, MALSCE and other design associations visited state legislators to discuss the importance of maximizing private sector innovation, infrastructure funding, qualifications-based selection (QBS), mechanic’s lien law for design professionals, Lyme disease and dam safety. Fact sheets on each of these legislative issues are posted on the ACEC/MA website (May 2010).
- ACEC/MA continues to work with the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) and others to promote QBS. ACEC/MA presented on QBS to the MMA’s Policy Committee on Public Works, Transportation and Public Utilities in February and to the Massachusetts Highway Association in May 2010.
- 2010 Consulting Congress Day, Washington, DC: ACEC/MA leaders held discussions with the Massachusetts Congressional delegation (or staff) on issues including funding for transportation and water projects and contracting out federal design work to engineering firms (April 2010).
- ACEC/MA worked with MassDOT to win passage of clarifying language added to the QBS law passed in July 2009 as part of the Transportation Reform Law (May 2010).
- ACEC/MA won passage of a bill in the 2009–2010 session to create a Water Infrastructure Finance Commission. (The bill was passed and withstood a gubernatorial veto to become law.) ACEC/MA has an appointed seat on the Commission; William Callahan was appointed to represent ACEC/MA (February 2010).
- ACEC/MA won passage of a Senate amendment to the Municipal Relief Bill to exclude engineering and architectural services from reverse auctions held by municipalities.
- ACEC/MA testified at the January 2010 public hearing at the State House on expanding the mechanic’s lien law to include design professionals.
- ACEC/MA obtained clarification on the ethics reform law that was enacted in summer 2009 and effective on January 1, 2010. ACEC/MA held an information session for our members and additional clarification of the law is posted on our website.
- ACEC/MA, in cooperation with BSCES, MALSCE and MSPE, submitted draft professional development hours (PDH) regulations to the Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors (October 2009).
- ACEC/MA continues to protect the interests of private sector engineers by supporting or opposing legislation that affects the industry.
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE - Completed the 11th Emerging Leaders Program, the highly regarded six-week seminar for rising stars of member firms that focuses on leadership, business financial management, risk management, marketing, strategic planning, government affairs and human resources (March 2010).
- ACEC/MA held our second Everest Program for C-Level Leaders (October 2009).
- ACEC/MA developed and launched the Odyssey Program for future C-level leaders in our business practice. This extended leadership skills development program ran over nine months with eight formal training sessions and one individual session (September 2009).
- Conducted a member firm survey (October 2009) and program survey (May 2010) to better understand and serve our members.
- ACEC/MA Building Engineering Committee continues to work with the Massachusetts School Building Authority on the Owner Project Manager issue as well as model school program.
MASSACHUSETTS AGENCIES - ACEC/MA Environmental Affairs Committee had meetings and presentations with DEP on the State Revolving Fund/ARRA funding opportunities, met with US EPA Region 1 on the ARRA “Buy American” waiver process, and met with MEPA Director Alicia McDevitt on upcoming MEPA initiatives. ACEC/MA has several representatives on technical advisory committees: Joe Freeman on the MEPA Greenhouse Gas Advisory Committee, Sean Wooster on the DEP Solid Waste Master Plan Advisory Committee, and Mike Hanlon on the DEP Sustainable Water Resources Advisory Committee.
- ACEC/MA has representatives on the Massachusetts School Building Authority Advisory Board, MSBA Designer Selection Panel, MassDOT Construction Streamlining Task Force and Joint EOT/ACEC/MA/CIM Accelerated Bridge Program (ABP) Task Force.
- ACEC/MA Building Engineering Committee continues to work with the Mass. School Building Authority on the owner/project manager issue as well as model school program.
- Partnering meetings were held with key agency leaders at MassDOT, MBTA, Massport, DCAM and DCR to discuss issues of concern to members. For example, the MBTA salary freeze request and Administration and Finance’s (ANF) 3% reduction in fees request from all Commonwealth vendors and service providers.
- ACEC/MA sent a letter to MassDOT and ANF objecting to their request for firms to provide 3% reduction on invoices (May 2010).
- ACEC/MA is continuing to negotiate new guidelines for determining overhead, which will permit more favorable financial terms on new contracts.
- ACEC/MA held a joint workshop with MassDOT’s ABP to discuss MassDOT’s new project controls and a separate workshop on innovative contracting methods with FHWA, MassDOT, and CIM. ACEC/MA’s task force worked closely with MassDOT reviewing and commenting on the project controls before they were formally issued (January 2010)
- ACEC/MA representatives serve on the MHD Construction Streamlining Task Force and the Joint EOT/ACEC/MA/CIM Accelerated Bridge Program Task Force.
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