June 2006 Government Affairs Update
IN THIS ISSUE …
1. Another VICTORY for the Brooks
Act!
2. Virginia Surveyors Make
Presentation to Senators Allen and Stevens
3. Federal Prison Industries Reform
Legislation Tabled
4. FEMA Flood Hazard Map
Modernization Update
5. We Need Your HELP With H. Res. 518
6. ESRI User Conference and Summit
Another VICTORY for the Brooks Act!
We once
again were able to get a bid solicitation cancelled that violated the Brooks
Act. We received information from a member about a U.S. Army Corp of Engineers
bid solicitation that required a total award amount. This is a violation of the
Brooks Act because it makes price a consideration. (The Brooks Act requires
that qualifications based selection be used by federal agencies when selecting
a provider for A/E services, like surveying and, in some cases, mapping). We
referred the solicitation to COFPAES for appropriate action. COFPAES
Administrator John Palatiello notified the USACE
about the Brooks Act violation and within one day, the solicitation was cancelled.
Virginia Surveyors Make Presentation
to Senators Allen and Stevens
Several
surveyors from Virginia, as well as others from around the country made a
formal presentation to Senators George Allen (R-VA) and Ted Stevens (R-AK) for
their introduction and support in getting S. Res. 361, the National Surveyor’s
Week Resolution passed by the Senate. In all, 20 participants attended the
presentation, which took place on the steps of the Capitol. Dave Holland, a
county surveyor from Virginia and active member of the Virginia Republican
Party initiated the presentation.
Federal Prison Industries Reform
Legislation Tabled
It appears
that Federal Prison Industries reform legislation may die in the House of
Representatives because of modifications to the legislation being sought by the
Department of Justice. The major sticking point is a proposal by the Dept. of
Justice that Federal Prison Industries be used to produce products or furnish
services of a type for which there is no production or performance within the
United States. The sponsors of FPI reform legislation strongly oppose this
proposed modification and the legislation has been put on hold until this
proposal can be worked out.
FEMA Flood Hazard Map Modernization
Update
The latest
version of the FEMA Multi-Year Flood Hazard Identification Plan (MHIP) Version
1.6, which amends Version 1.5, is now available on FEMA’s
Flood Hazard Mapping Website at: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/mh_v1_6.shtm
. The MHIP is useful to determine when FEMA will be “modernizing” maps in
various counties throughout the country. Additionally, FEMA has posted several
Mid-Course Adjustment documents and materials on its website. The available
documents include: 1) the Flood Map Modernization Mid Course Adjustment, 2)
Executive Summary, 3) PowerPoint presentation, and 4) FAQs.
The Mid Course Adjustment documents can be found at: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/mm_mca.shtm.
Please review the documents and provide comments to ACSM so that we can pass
them on to the appropriate parties.
We Need Your HELP With
H. Res. 518
We need
your help in getting H. Res. 518, the National Surveyor’s Week Resolution
brought to the floor in the House of Representatives. Congressman Adam Putnam,
the sponsor of the resolution has informed us that he is holding off bringing
the resolution to the full House until he has 50 co-sponsors on the resolution.
There are currently 10 co-sponsors. The resolution passed the House Government
Reform Committee by unanimous consent recently. We need ACSM members to contact
their own Member of Congress and ask him or her to co-sponsor H. Res. 518, the
National Surveyor’s Week Resolution being sponsored by Representatives Adam
Putnam (R-FL) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS). If you need help, or additional
information, contact ACSM. Thanks!
Fourth Annual Survey and GIS Summit
2006—Bridging the Gap
Understanding
GIS Business Opportunities for Surveyors and Engineers
Both the
surveying and engineering industries rely on geographic data, making GIS
technology a valuable resource. Surveyors create accurate geospatial data;
based on this data, engineers design and create new infrastructure and GIS
professionals create systems for analysis and management. The Survey and GIS
Summit 2006 is an opportunity for engineers, surveyors, and GIS professionals
to learn about the most current applications and solutions available for
multidisciplinary collaboration and interoperability. The summit, taking place
August 5–8, 2006, in San Diego, California, will run concurrently with the ESRI
International User Conference.
Open to
both ESRI users as well as nonusers, the conference is a unique experience to
learn from an array of industries and people. Surveyors and engineers attending
the summit also have the opportunity to earn continuing education units or
professional development hours by attending seminar courses. The range of
scheduled courses and presentations offer a breadth of knowledge to attendees.
Some courses and presentations will delve into key topics for the industries,
including specific focus on the GIS business for surveyors and engineers. Other
presentations will concentrate on new business opportunities that peer
professionals have developed. User presentations will transport attendees into
the field and offer practical solutions and practices to common issues and
focus on GIS integration processes. Adding to the range of activities, attendees
will also be able to experience solutions at the ESRI International User
Conference Plenary Session and view user projects at the Map Gallery Opening
and evening reception, both taking place August 7.
Agenda Summary
The summit
plenary session will kick off the summit with keynote presentations, panel
discussions, and a presentation on the state of ESRI technologies. The
following days will focus on user presentations, including such topics as land
management, GIS business issues, GPS technology, integrating survey data and
GIS, and other important surveying matters. The final day of the summit will
include a full day of technical presentations by ESRI users and invited guests
as well as the ESRI User Conference Exhibit Pavilion and the surveying special
interest group meeting. To view the full agenda, please visit www.esri.com/surveysummit
For more
information about the Survey and GIS Summit 2006, visit www.esri.com/surveysummit
or send
an e-mail to surveysummit@esri.com