| Volume 5, Issue 34 | December 11, 2013 |
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This federal program will definitely appeal to some
 An interesting federal program that most taxpayers have never heard of has catalyzed a wave of new development by public officials and private developers. The program involves awards of low-income housing tax credits to developers and it has been credited for generating more than 100,000 homes, $7.1 billion in revenue and 95,000 new jobs annually, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
Under this program, government officials at the state and federal levels are able to award tax credits to private developers. Once awarded, the developers are then allowed to sell the tax credits to investors who provide funding for specific projects. The money generated from the tax credits lowers the overall cost of a project for developers, who then pass on the savings to housing occupants in the form of lower monthly rent.
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| FDOT announces plans for state infrastructure projects | |
$57 million of $300 million allocation to go to State 390 for its expansion
 The Florida Department of Transportation has announced a five-year work program that will result in $300 million in new infrastructure projects. Chief among the projects is a $57 million expansion of State 390. That project will include expanding the roadway from two to six lanes.
With traffic projections for that roadway increasing rapidly, traffic forecast models indicated the expansion should result in the tripling of lanes, not just their doubling, according to Ian Satter (pictured), FDOT spokesperson. Satter said the project's preliminary work will likely start in 2015, with construction to follow two years later.
Satter said officials expect a "substantial increase" in traffic on State 390 in the near future. "We want to make sure we're meeting the needs not only for the next five to 10 years, but for the next 10, 20, 30 years," he said.
In addition to the State 390 project, other projects will include additions, deletions, advancement and deferments for projects in the 16 Florida counties in the northwest portion of the state. The work program would provide for $3 billion in projects for those counties between 2015 and 2019.
Another large project to begin in 2015 will be the $88 million construction of a flyover system at the intersection of 23rd Street and U.S. 98 in both directions over the Hathaway Bridge. The funding will also address adding more capacity on state roadways that connect to Interstate 10, including the proposed widening of State 77 in Washington County from the Bay County line to I-10.
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| Cleveland schools strike deal with RTA for student rides | |
Could mean safer routes to schools for many students, money savings
 The Cleveland, Ohio, school district has entered into a quid pro quo agreement that will result in a savings as well as increased safety for its students. Students who live more than a half mile from school will now be able to ride a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) bus.
Students in sixth grade and up can get bus passes if they live more than a half mile from school, which officials say should increase the bus ridership from 8,500 to a much as 14,000. School District Chief Executive Officer Eric Gordon (pictured) not only will help students in their transportation to school, but will also increase ridership for the RTA. The school district is one of the RTA's largest customers. Gordon also noted that if more students do not have to walk to school, it "better assures their attendance at school."
While state law does not require school districts to provide for student transportation for those living within two miles of their school and does not require any transportation for high school students, the district and RTA have partnered for numerous years to allow high school students who live three or more miles from their schools to ride the bus and students in the sixth through eighth grades two or more miles from their schools to also ride the bus. Gordon said allowing students to ride the bus helps ensure they will be at school, since crime, weather, safety issues and time it takes to walk to school all contribute to making students less likely to attend.
In the past, the district has paid $1.50 for each rider or $3 for a round-trip. The new contract calls for the cost to the district for the first 9,000 students to be $2 per round-trip and additional students will cost $1 per round-trip. Gordon said both the school district and the RTA "are getting a better efficiency out of the system."
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| Upcoming education opportunities | |
Nine-phase renovation project planned for Pennsylvania high school
A nine-phase, multi-million-dollar remodeling project has been scheduled to begin at the Penn-Trafford High School in Penn, Pennsylvania, in spring of next year. The project is expected to extend through summer 2016. A cap of $32 million has been put on the project by school officials. The school board is expected to award contracts for general construction, plumbing, electrical and HVAC in May of next year. The project includes remodeling of the auditorium to add more restrooms, storage for props and expansion of the lobby. Also included are a kitchen renovation with new equipment, renovations to locker rooms and the gym, expansion of the pool deck and creation of a fine arts wing. Infrastructure improvements will include improved lighting in parking lots, additional parking spaces and a new bus loop.
New Jersey school to benefit from $37.8 million in school facilities grants
 The state has awarded $37.8 million to Monmouth County, New Jersey, which will be used for school construction. The funds will be used for more than 170 projects in 26 school districts in the county. "This funding will allow for state-of-the-art facilities for our students, resulting in a safe and efficient learning environment that will enhance their opportunities for success," said Assembly Republican Budget Officer Declan O'Scanlon (pictured). O'Scanlon said this partnership between the state and local governments shows what can be done to address the needs of schools when there is a collaborative effort. He said these partnerships not only benefit teachers, students and administrators, but also taxpayers, because it eases the local property tax burden. He said that makes much-needed projects more affordable for residents of the township.
Pennsylvania voters approve sale of bonds for school expansion, renovation
Voters in the Clearfield, Pennsylvania, school district recently approved the sale of more than $9.36 million in bonds to help defray the cost of an expansion and renovation project at the Clearfield Elementary School. The high school will be renovated as will the elementary school so that they can accommodate all of the 7-12 and K-6 classrooms. The high school project is expected to cost $36.5 million and the elementary project $10.5 million.
Central Michigan University to have hotel built on campus by 2015
 Construction is expected to begin next April on a new, six-story Courtyard by Marriott hotel on the campus of Central Michigan University. The proposed hotel (as seen in accompanying artist's rendering) is expected to be completed in August 2015. The university will execute a lease for the hotel with a private firm, Lodgco, to fund the $12 million to $15 million hotel. Lodgco will in turn pay an annual rental fee of $175,000 for 30 years, plus $200,000 per year afterwards to the university. The city will benefit through tax revenues generated by the hotel complex. The land being leased will be tax free. This project will not be the first for the university related to long-term property leases. Other projects include 99-year leases with the Fairfield Inn and Bennigan's restaurant. The university will have architectural control and final approval of the design of the hotel. University officials say the project also will offer opportunities for student internships and gives the university yet another diverse revenue source.
Correction
In the Nov. 13, 2013, edition of the Government Contracting Pipeline, a story indicated that the University of Virginia had received application approval from the city of Charlottesville to build a six-story student housing unit. Although the housing unit targets University of Virginia students as residents, it is owned and will be built by a private-sector firm, Landmark Development. We regret the error.
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| Other upcoming contracting opportunities | |
New York town gives approval of $30 million for variety of projects
The town board of Brookhaven, New York, recently approved $30 million in capital spending, the largest portion of which will be for open space preservation and drainage. Projects in that category were awarded $11.5 million of the $30 million total. Another $4.4 million was allocated for parks and recreation improvements and $4 million is set aside for landfill improvements. Building upgrades were awarded $3.7 million, with projects including HVAC, plumbing and electrical system renovations. Other projects throughout the town will share the remaining $6.4 million. More than a dozen bond resolutions were approved to be funded out of the capital budget for 2014.
Palo Alto likely to outsource its street-sweeping services
 Hoping to save about $413,000 annually, the Palo Alto, California, Finance Committee recently voted to support privatizing street-sweeping services for the city. That savings would help bring the city's refuse fund back into the black, after facing a $2 million deficit. This is another example of outsourcing for the city. City officials already have outsourced landscaping at the city's municipal golf course, which officials say has improved the quality and efficiency of the work previously done by the city. The street sweeping would be in residential areas during the months when leaves fall in the city and street sweeping would be reduced to every other week for the period from March 1 through October. Sweeping of streets in critical areas such as the downtown area, the business district, parking lots, bike paths and other areas would not be reduced. Emergency response cleanups would be performed by city employees or contracted out. Despite some complaints that outsourcing will result in a lowered quality of service, Public Works Director Michael Sartor (pictured) said the service provided by the city already is higher than that of other nearby cities, most of which sweep streets only every two weeks or every month.
TWDB approves more than $5 million for water-related projects
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has approved financial assistance totaling $5,003,608 for a variety of water-related projects in the state. The funding inludes:
- City of Robstown - $866,143, including a loan of $490,000 and $376,143 in loan forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, to replace existing lines in its wastewater collection system;
- GM Water Supply Corporation (Sabine and San Augustine Counties) - $765,000 loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to help defray the costs of a new water treatment plant;
- City of Cisco - $677,050, including a $475,000 loan and $202,050 in loan forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, to finance planning and design costs relating to lift station replacements, treatment plant modifications and a reuse system;
- City of Huntington - $248,844, consisting of a $125,000 loan and $123,844 in loan forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, to finance planning and design costs of renovations to the city's wastewater treatment plant;
- City of Ingram - $1,185,000 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance the installation of new gravity sewer lines in the central and eastern portions of the city;
- City of Ladonia - $394,650, consisting of a $200,000 loan and $194,650 in loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, to finance improvements to reduce water loss;
- City of Mission - $569,000, including a $284,000 grant and a $285,000 loan from the Economically Distressed Areas Program, to finance planning, acquisition and design of a proposed project that will provide first-time wastewater service to the city's north side; and
- City of San Saba - $297,92, consisting of a $165,000 loan and $132,921 in loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, to finance planning and design of a proposed project to reduce water loss and improve efficiency.
Construction slated for three Louisiana parish facilities construction projects
 With design plans in their final stages, officials in Terrbonne Parish, Louisiana, are expecting to go out for bids on three facilities projects. Officials say the projects - a new juvenile detention center, an animal shelter and a public works yard will be under construction by next year. Another project, an Office of Emergency Preparedness, is in the initial design stage and officials say it, too, could be under construction sometime next year. Parish President Michel Claudet (pictured) said the construction on roads leading to the site of the facilities is nearing completion, as is plumbing groundwork. Once the roads are completed in January, bids will go out on the buildings. The Juvenile Justice Center will likely be the first facility under construction, said parish officials. Some $7.3 million in federal funds will be used to build the new detention center after the existing center was flooded during Hurricane Ike. The new facility will include more outdoor recreation space, an indoor gym, smaller dorm rooms and a teaching kitchen. The existing center will then be converted to a women's jail facility. The public works yard is expected to cost $2.5 million and will serve south Terrebonne. Another $2.4 million will be spent on the new animal shelter that will replace the overcrowded current facility.
$105 million approved for major access roads to port terminals
Funding of $105 million was recently approved by the New York and New Jersey Port Authority for improvements for five major access roads to port terminals. The project will include new pavement for the roads, new center barriers, drainage, traffic signals, curbing and signage. This recent funding approval is part of a continuing multi-million-dollar upgrade of the road network for the New Jersey marine terminals. The goal is to reduce truck congestion on existing and aging roads and help reduce emissions caused by trucks idling because of that congestion. Once completed, the projects over 30 years are anticipated to provide truckers and port users a time savings of about $63 million, reduced operating costs and $1.2 million in safety benefits.
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| Who's winning government contracts? | |
Check out these recent awards:
- Atlantic NICC Joint Venture won a contract worth up to $19.5 million from the U.S. Navy for construction, alteration and repair of industrial, commercial and utility projects.
- Oakley Construction Company has been awarded a $3.2 million contract from the state of Illinois to prepare the site for the new $44.8 million Transportation, Distribution and Logistics Center at Olive Harvey College in Illinois.
- Jacobs Engineering's Technology Division won an $11.3 million cost-plus-fixed-fee task order from the U.S. Navy under a multiple award contract for information technology services and will provide various IT services involving software development, engineering and enterprise architectural compliance through January 2015.
- Riverside Construction Co. won a nearly $18.24 million contract from the Riverside, California, County Board of Supervisors to build a railroad underpass at Sunset Avenue and the Union Pacific Railroad crossing slated to open in summer 2015.
- Motorola Solutions U.S. Federal Government Markets Division won a contract worth up to $17.2 million from the U.S. Navy for sustainment of enterprise land and mobile radio systems at 53 military installations worldwide.
- Anamar Environmental Consulting was awarded a 10-year contract with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to monitor tide, current and water level data in United States waters, with tasks including monitoring, assessing and distributing the data that NOAA's National Ocean Service Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services provides to the maritime industry.
- Braun Northwest, Inc. won a contract for $274,000 plus tax from the city of Tacoma, Washington, for a mass-casualty incident response vehicle.
- OnSite Health won a contract worth up to $137.5 million from the U.S. Army for medical services.
- TeamPersona won a three-year, $7.5 million contract from Alameda County, California, to recruit temporary county employees and handle their payroll.
- Pivotal Point won a contract worth up to $1.2 million from the General Services Administration for general purpose information technology equipment.
- All American Asphalt was awarded a $4 million contract from the Redlands, California, City Council for improvements to the intersections at Redlands Boulevard and Alabama Street and Redlands Boulevard and Colton Avenue.
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| News about public-private partnerships (P3) | |
Indiana officials studying using P3 for new criminal justice complex
 A public-private partnership (P3) could be the key to financing a new Marion County, Indiana, criminal justice complex. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard (pictured) is exploring a P3 in which a private sector partner would pay design, construction and financing costs, estimated at more than $200 million, in a lease-to-own agreement payment plan.
The private partner would also operate and maintain the facilities and keep up with necessary upgrades over a lengthy period of time. The city and county's part of the agreement would be made through long-term lease payments. The agreement could last for three decades, after which the city and county would own the complex. Plans are for a facility as large as 3,500 beds, and might also include community corrections, probation and some of the county clerk's office employees.
The proposed facility could house more than 20 criminal courts, a jail, a juvenile area and offices for criminal justice agencies. All this could be done, he said, without raising taxes to pay for it. City officials will soon issue a request for qualifications from interested private-sector firms. Ballard calls P3s the "hallmark" of Indianapolis for the last four decades and he looks forward to a partnership for the criminal justice complex. City officials met last summer with private-sector firms regarding the project. City officials are confident the project can be built by a private partner cheaper than government and build it quicker as well. Ballard said private firms know government entities are lacking cash for large capital projects and are willing to work within that framework.
UConn could be looking toward P3s for renovations at Avery Point campus
 With $15 million approved by the legislature for renovations at the University of Connecticut's Avery Point campus in Groton, university officials are now looking toward improving facilities dealing with math, science and engineering. A program approved to expand and invest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) along with digital media and risk management education could result in UConn receiving $1.6 billion over the next 10 years for "Next Generation Connecticut."
The program depends in part on partnerships with engineering and manufacturing companies, with a goal of creating a talented workforce in those areas for Connecticut companies. A technology company recently pledged $10 million to create an advanced systems engineering institute at one UConn campus. The $15 million set aside for Avery Point includes $5 million for renovating the campus academic building, $5 million to renovate the community and professional building and $5 million for restoring the waterfront. Included in the academic building will be upgrades to infrastructure such as HVAC, with the number of classrooms also to be increased. At Avery Point, plans are to enlarge the community and professional building by 60,000 square feet. Sally M. Reis (pictured), vice provost of academic affairs, said UConn is trying to create more public-private partnerships, but the increase in the size of the community and professional building has not yet been approved. She said, however, that there is also a possibility that future projects could include dormitories.
Arkansas State considers P3 to develop hotel, conference center on campus
 Looking for possible public-private partnerships to help build a hotel and conference center on the Jonesboro campus, Arkansas State University Chancellor Tim Hudson (pictured) said the university already has received two proposals from would-be private partners, one from Texas and one from Illinois. Hudson said the development of the project could have a "positive impact" on the university's goal to "enhance learning for our students, increase revenues for the university and serve our city and region."
One proposal was for a 150-bed hotel and conference and meetings facility of about 75,000 square feet. The other proposal, too, is for a 150-room hotel with a 30,000-square-foot convention center and a 45,000-square-foot exhibit hall.
City officials are on the bandwagon for the project, seeing it as a way of bringing conventions to the city, thus enhancing the local economy. No price tag has yet been affixed to the project.
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| Where are they now? | |
Are you a government official who has moved into a new position or to a new agency? Did you recently retire? Were you recently named to an executive-level position at a state-supported college, university or community college? Have you secured a new job as superintendent of a public school? If so, we'd like to hear from you - and so would your friends and colleagues - for our "Where Are They Now" column. Just drop us a line at editor@spartnerships.com and let us know about your previous job and where you are now. This week we feature Aubrey Layne.
 Aubrey Layne (pictured) earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Richmond and an MBA in international business from Old Dominion University. He also is a Certified Public Accountant. He is a registered real estate broker in Virginia and North Carolina. Layne worked at Hofheimers, Inc. for 10 years and also served as its president. Layne serves as the president and principle broker of Great Atlantic Management LLC, where he is responsible for the operations and administration of great Atlantic's property management functions. He also is president of Achievable Dream Academies in Newport News, a partnership between public schools and local businesses geared at helping at-risk students succeed. In 2009, then-governor Timothy M. Kaine named Layne to the transportation board. And in 2010, Gov. Robert F. McDonnell appointed Layne to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission. Layne became chair in 2012. Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe recently announced Layne as his new transportation secretary.
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| Opportunity of the week... |
A city in Missouri has approved the building of a new water treatment plant. City officials say the more than 60-year-old plant currently serving the city needs upgrades and improvements, which would be more costly in the long run than building a new facility. Want to know more? Contact our Sales Team at 512-531-3900 or sales@spartnerships.com.
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| People | |
   Peter Hahn (top left), appointed in 2010 as Seattle Director of Transportation, recently resigned that post after having Mayor-elect Ed Murray say that he wouldn't be kept on in the new administration. White Sands Missile Range Commander Gwen Bingham (top center), a 1981 graduate of the University of Alabama, recently was promoted and awarded her second general's star at ceremonies at the facility. Cheryl LaFleur (top right) has been named acting chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, replacing previous Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, whose term ended in June, but who agreed to stay on until a replacement was named. New York City Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio has named Anthony E. Shorris, a former executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and a commissioner in the Koch administration, as his first deputy mayor. Indiana Auditor Dwayne Sawyer has announced that he's resigning to deal with family issues, just a few months after being appointed to the job and after he was expected to seek a full term as the state's chief financial officer next year. James Stewart, a retired fire captain, has been named director of the Newark    Fire Department. Noted philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah (bottom right) is leaving Princeton University to take on dual roles with New York University's philosophy department and law school and will also visit NYU's 12 locations abroad. Christine Fox (bottom center) has been picked by U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel as acting deputy secretary of defense until a permanent replacement for Ash Carter, who has stepped down, is named. David Tweedy (bottom left), the chief of capital planning at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, has announced that he is leaving the agency to work for a Canadian equity firm involved in investing in public-private partnership ventures. The governing board of Santa Fe (New Mexico) Community College has fired the college's president, Ana M. (Cha) Guzman, but did not give a reason for her termination. Missouri City, Texas, Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald, a former Philadelphia police officer for 18 years, is leaving Texas to become police chief for the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania, his hometown, with Assistant Chief Mike Berezin to serve as interim chief. Dr. Mark Sheridan will be leaving his post as dean in the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Students at North Dakota State University in March 2014 to join Texas Tech University as Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs and dean of the Graduate School.
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Does your organization or agency have an upcoming event that would be of interest to either vendors who do business with government or officials and workers in state and local government, higher education, public education or health care? Are you planning a webinar? A conference or seminar? The Government Contracting Pipeline invites government and nonprofits to send information regarding your events for consideration to be included in our FREE Calendar of Events section below. In addition to providing contact information, the day, date, time and a synopsis of the event, you may also include a link to additional information on your Web page and/or a link to online registration that we'll include. Please submit your event information to editor@spartnerships.com.
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| Calendar of events |
SBA announces HUB workshop to be held in New Orleans
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is planning a training session for business owners in New Orleans on Tuesday, Dec. 17, regarding the federal government's program for underused business zones, called HUBZones. The SBA describes the session as helping "small businesses in urban and rural communities gain preferential access to federal procurement opportunities." The session will be held at the Good Work Network, 1824 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. in New Orleans. A presentation on the Affordable Care Act for small businesses will follow the workshop. The workshop is free, but registration is required. Anyone seeking more information or to register can call 504.589.6685 or email jo.lawrence3@sba.gov.
ASPA plans 75th anniversary celebration in March in D.C.
The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) will hold its 2014 Annual Conference March 14-18, 2014, at the Mayflower Renaissance in Washington, D.C. One of the keynote presentations will be given by Elaine Karmark, a public policy expert who founded the New Democratic Movement that helped elect President Bill Clinton. She is also the founding director of the Center for Effective Public Manager at Brookings Institution. This year's conference celebrates the 75th anniversary of the ASPA. The conference programming examines the challenge of managing and leading public service organizations in the 21st century, public human resource management, budgeting and finance management and policy formulation and service delivery. Featuring more than 150 panels led by public-service experts, the event will address changing public-sector ethics, how to create smarter government and working across levels of government and sectors. Conference registration is now open and additional information is available.
TCEA convention for 2014 will be held in Austin, Texas
The Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) 2014 Convention and Exposition will be held Feb. 3-7 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. This 34th annual convention will include educators from across the country and around the world as they network and share experiences to help them better integrate technology in the classroom and improve teaching skills and learning practices. Ten specialized academies will offer in-depth tech integration tips and best practices on a variety of topics. More than 400 workshops and hands-on sessions will be held and more than 450 companies will offer the latest technology solutions in the exhibit hall. More information is available and registration is now open.
U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting set in January
The United States Conference of Mayors 82nd Conference of Mayors Meeting is planned for Jan. 22-24, 2014, at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event will feature task force and committee meetings and workshops. Registration is now open and the draft agenda is available.
2014 Energy Outlook Conference slated for Feb. 4-7 in D.C.
The 2014 Energy Outlook Conference, hosted by the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and the Association of State Energy Research Institutions (ASERTTI), is planned for Feb. 4-7, 2014, at the Fairmont Hotel, 2401 M Street, NW in Washington, D.C. The conference will focus on state-federal energy collaboration in a new budget and policy era. This year's conference will explore the national energy policy outlook and the state, federal and private-sector partnerships that will advance United States energy policy. Click here for more information.
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