Expert Insights

Climate change and the need for mitigation efforts for disaster control have resulted in more federal funding available for public entities throughout the U.S.   The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) soon will  distribute up to $500 million from a new...

Change is occurring incredibly fast - so fast, in fact, it is somewhat challenging to keep up with everything. COVID data is more positive, an extremely encouraging shift. Congress has approved billions in funding for citizens, schools, hospitals, and state and local...

Companies that contract with governmental entities will find no shortage of large projects in 2021. Pent-up demand and all types of needs are driving leaders at state, local, and education organizations to find solutions. Construction and engineering firms should be...

Dozens of media reports flood our inboxes, and there are newspaper articles daily about the COVID relief bill that Congress is expected to pass very soon. How large will it be? What will the funding cover? When and how will the funding programs work? These are all...

As the Biden administration begins to address climate change, transit authorities throughout the country will benefit from funding. Clean air is a major component of sustainability, so increased funding will flow to public transit authorities in an effort to reduce...

Big changes are in the works, and it is important to take note and prepare for a somewhat altered existence. The last 12 months have been unlike anything most of us have ever experienced, and the new year has started off with numerous surprises. Until recently, we...

The Texas SPI Team has struggled valiantly this week just as others throughout the state did. Because of the wicked winter storm that hit Texas over the weekend, most of us have been - and many still are - functioning without power and water and limited to no access...

Billions of dollars are spent each year to renew, replace, expand, or upgrade water systems. The need to do more, and spend more, increases each year. That’s because the country’s aging water infrastructure has been neglected for too long. This is an alarming issue...

It is easy for government contractors to overlook opportunities related to ports in the United States. That should not happen though because ports throughout the country have seen a surge in imports over the last several years, and many of them – undaunted by the...

Transportation infrastructure will be a high priority throughout the country in 2021. Many large projects have already been announced, and others are anticipated. However, there are significant indications that a major change is emerging in how transportation-related...

For many reasons, not the least of which are the recent cybersecurity breaches that have occurred throughout the country, governmental entities are announcing plans for large technology budgets in 2021. Additionally, public agencies simply can no longer wait to...

Many new contracting opportunities are moving quickly to the launch stage throughout the country. Planning documents and feasibility studies provide early insight into details contractors will want to know when making pursuit decisions. This year promises to be a...

The year 2020 will forever be remembered as one that created havoc, disruption, and financial chaos for U.S. colleges and universities. Institutions of higher education were hit with devastating financial losses, the need to furlough some employees and instructors,...

Law enforcement officials throughout the country will be front and center in 2021 as large projects are launched. City officials and county commissioners, in an effort to provide better citizen services, including public safety, are announcing project plans for every...

A new year is dawning and while the Strategic Partnerships Team (SPI) is brimming with excitement about a few upcoming announcements, the team is also pausing to acknowledge appreciation, gratitude, respect, loyalty and a renewed commitment to clients and friends who...

Industry leaders throughout America are sounding alarms about the dire state of water infrastructure in the U.S. A new report warns that too many public officials are ignoring repercussions that can be anticipated because of underinvesting in drinking water resources...

Even though the world is dealing with a horrific pandemic and travel has been discouraged for months, on November 29, a record was set for the number of people who passed through U.S. airports during a single day in 2020. The Transportation Security Administration...

Citizens and taxpayers throughout the country supported extremely large bond packages for all types of projects in 2020. Most of the planning, citizen outreach, and preparation is underway, and project launches are expected to begin early in 2021. Examples follow …...

Planned technology purchases point to an abundance of identity tracking cameras in 2021. Surveillance cameras, tracking devices, monitoring, recording, and capturing data - that’s the future. The purchase of camera tracking technology is a very large and strong trend....

It is next to impossible to find any governmental entity with technology systems that do not desperately need to either be replaced or modernized significantly. Although they are costly, technology upgrades are necessary, and, in spite of budget constraints, it...

As public officials begin to look at 2021, many are preparing to launch large infrastructure projects. Several of these efforts may be delivered through public-private partnerships (P3s). Most infrastructure-related projects are complex, diverse, critical in nature,...

Many cities and counties have funded feasibility studies related to large public projects scheduled for 2021. This analysis serves as a tool for governments to assess the viability and need for a significant capital investment. Based on the multitude of studies...

In government today, every large public project has technology components. The delivery of citizen services, law enforcement, mobility, health care, education, and even economic development all rely heavily on technology. And, because public officials must continually...

Throughout the country, many critical and long-overdue law enforcement capital projects are underway. Most of the projects are a result of either regional growth or dilapidated facilities that are in dire need of replacement. However, along with the construction...

Water and wastewater systems are critical components of sustainability for communities throughout America. However, most of the country’s water infrastructure is either at, or very near, the end of its useful life. At a time when funding is scarce and public officials...

The federal government funds public transportation projects throughout the U.S. and the process is designed around an abundance of planning. Once plans are finalized, it’s possible to monitor upcoming projects of all types. Today, there are few projects, if any, that...

Taxpayers, citizens, and industry leaders may not be totally familiar with Public Facility Corporations (PFCs), but that should change, especially now since public funding for critical projects is at an all-time low. PFCs are becoming somewhat common in many regions...

People often believe that bond elections only fund construction projects. Although it’s true that construction opportunities do occur when bond packages are approved, sales of certificates of obligation or general obligation spawn hundreds of other contracting...

Motorists and automobile lovers are already noticing rather rapid change. Sustainability goals adopted by elected officials at cities and counties are continuing to promote projects that support walking, biking, and using public transportation. Housing density,...

In spite of a decline in contracting opportunities in state and local government, public officials are announcing dozens of new, large projects each week. The announcements usually include upcoming solicitations for new construction projects as well as renovation and...

Cities, counties, and states are being forced to upgrade or purchase new technology. The old legacy systems are now inadequate, inefficient, and somewhat dangerous because of their vulnerability to hacking. Many of the old systems are almost completely obsolete. They...

Change is definitely in the wind. It’s almost impossible to find any industry sector that is not undergoing some degree of change, and many are experiencing historic change. Governmental entities are in the same situation. Predicting what normalcy will look like this...

Developers, engineers, and contractors who are interested in municipal projects should consider monitoring grant funding that is currently being awarded to communities for brownfield projects. A large percentage of the most recent grant funding is being awarded for...

Another round of funding from by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will guarantee the launch of numerous projects at airports throughout the U.S. This particular grant program provides smaller funding amounts, but the funding can augment projects that are part...

This time last year, I would have been preparing to travel to the upcoming P3 Conference to discuss public-private partnerships. Now, I am planning to engage audiences virtually at this year’s P3 Conference dubbed the ‘Sports, Entertainment and Facilities Conference.'...

Bridges, a critical part of America’s infrastructure, need immediate attention. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2019 National Bridge Inventory database shows that 81,000 bridges should be replaced and more than 46,000 are structurally deficient. In spite of...

Wastewater is an integral part of public infrastructure, and contracting opportunities related to wastewater projects often represent multi-million-dollar efforts. However, because of their very nature, wastewater projects are often overlooked by companies. The...

While congressional leaders work diligently to develop the next COVID recovery bill, other interesting legislation also is being discussed. Many of the conversations focus on public funding options after COVID-19. There are no disagreements when it comes understanding...

As the country battles to recover from COVID-19, transit leaders are calling for the next federal relief package to appropriate substantial funding to allow public transit to play its critical part in the economy’s recovery. In the interim, many of these transit and...