ACSM.NET - Government Affairs Update

November 2007 Government Affairs Update

IN THIS ISSUE …

1. FEMA Flood Map Modernization Update

2. COFPAES Fall A/E Forum and Delegate Meeting

3. Fundraiser for Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)

4. Federal Prison Industries Reform Language in Defense Authorization Bill

FEMA Flood Map Modernization Update

The FEMA FloodMap Coalition met recently with FEMA staff to go over the progress of the FEMA Map Modernization project. Here are the highlights of the meeting:

Partnerships

FEMA is working with many partners on issues relating to the project. FEMA claims these partnerships make the mapping process better and it needs to build off the partnerships. Among the groups FEMA is partnering with are private sector surveyors and engineers as well as surveyors and engineers in the federal government. It is also working with the USGS to manage and distribute the modernized maps.

New Maps

FEMA noted that the federal government, under the Flood Insurance Reform Act proclaimed that “digital is official” when it comes to the new floodmaps, but there will still be quite a few paper only maps. At this point, half of the nation has updated digital maps that comply with FEMA’s Mapping Information Platform. The standards of the Mapping Information Platform are available online at http://hazards.fema.gov .

By the end of the mapping process, FEMA expects 70% of communities nationwide to have adopted the new maps. FEMA’s measures of success for the new maps are (1) whether the maps meet FEMA’s standards in the Mapping Information Platform and (2) Whether the communities adopted the new maps.

Challenges

FEMA noted that there are several challenges that it still faces in the mapping modernization process. One of those challenges is the number of NFIP participating communities. Many communities choose not to participate in the program for a variety of reasons. Although FEMA would like every community to participate, if a community chooses not to participate, its floodmaps will not be updated. Another challenge is coastal flood hazards and areas around levees. Mapping these areas was not part of FEMA’s original plan, but it has become clear that it is necessary to map these areas. FEMA also recognizes that the mapping process is ongoing and it faces the degradation of flood hazard data.

Future of the Mapping Program

FEMA noted that new maps without follow-up is useless, therefore it is continually using engineering studies and program management techniques like its draft concept paper to stay up to speed on the mapping process. FEMA will use a Floodplain Boundary Standard to make sure the map lines are correct and will use new validated or updated engineering to make sure floodplain elevations are accurate.

COFPAES Fall A/E Forum and Delegate Meeting

COFPAES held its Fall A/E Forum and Delegate Meeting on October 23 at the American Institute of Architects. The morning session consisted of presentations on a variety of subjects. Melody Reis, professional staff for the House Committee on Small Business spoke about legislation currently in Congress affecting small business. Marvin Miller, CP, PLS, PPS of Aero-Metric, Inc. in Maple Grove, MN spoke about the I-35 Bridge Collapse and the emergency response that occurred after the collapse. Aero-Metric was one of the first A/E firms on the scene after the collapse. Bill Brodt Experimental Facilities Engineer from NASA spoke about the buildingSMARTalliance, National Building Information Model Standard and the Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBIE).

In the afternoon, the COFPAES Delegates, representatives from the COFPAES member organizations had their meeting. Here are the highlights of that meeting:

COFPAES to testify at House Small Business Committee Hearing. COFPAES has been invited to testify before Congress about procurement issues, particularly the GSA schedule. As you may know, COFPAES has been working to remove any A/E services, as defined in the Brooks Act and FAR Part 36, from existing GSA Schedules.

USACE Training. COFPAES has been successful in getting a provision in the House and Senate versions of the Water Resources bill to expand the ability of the Corps to provide training and education to the private sector by authorizing the Corps to retain fees collected for educational programs. Although President Bush vetoed the legislation, Congress recently voted to override the veto.

Design-Build. The Design-Build Industries Association is promoting the idea of revising the current design-build authority. COFPAES Staff has been meeting with DBIA and a proposal is on the table.

A-76 and Outsourcing Provisions

A series of amendments have been approved on various appropriations bills, and the Defense Authorization bill, that prevent implementation of the FAIR Act and the Bush Administration’s revision to OMB Circular A-76. These are the tools by which Federal agencies study the outsourcing of commercial activities from government employee performance to private sector performance. COFPAES is monitoring the progress of these amendments.

ACSM Delegate Rick Allen Elected Chairman of COFPAES

ACSM COFPAES Delegate Rick Allen was elected to the position of Chairman of COFPAES in 2008. Laurence Socci, ACSM Staff to COFPAES was appointed as the Secretary for 2008.

Fundraiser for Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)

ACSM recently attended a fundraiser for Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX). Congressman Sessions has long been a strong supporter of A/E related issues, particularly those related to procurement and compliance with the Brooks Act. We had the chance to speak with the Congressman personally about a number of issues affecting the surveying community.

Federal Prison Industries Reform Language in Defense Authorization Bill

There is language in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, H.R. 1585, that would make positive changes to the way the Federal government procures services when considering Federal Prison Industries (FPI) as a mandatory source provider.

Section 824 of the legislation makes positive changes to current law and gives federal managers and their contracting officers reasonable tools in dealing with FPI, despite FPI’s continual preferential status as a mandatory source of supply to which Federal agencies must look initially. Under the proposed change, federal buyers will be empowered to conduct market research to determine whether products and services available from private sector suppliers are comparable to what is being offered by FPI in terms of quality, price and time of delivery. If a contracting officer determines that a better value can be obtained from the private sector, then the purchase must be made using competitive contracting procedures.