Hartford Business Journal

10 Hartford Business Journal • April 9, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com FOCUS: Construction Following Florida collapse, accelerated bridge construction under the spotlight Q&A talks with Kevin Nursick, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, about accelerated bridge construction. Q. The bridge that collapsed at Florida International University used a con- struction method called accelerated bridge construction, or ABC, which is something the state Department of Transportation has used more readily in recent years. What is ABC and why is DOT using it? A. ABC is a bridge construction tech- nique involving the use of pre-fabricated bridge elements. The prefabricated elements range from as small as precast concrete bridge deck panels to as large as fully constructed bridge spans. Typically, in ABC projects, construc- tion of bridge components takes place in a different location from where the structures are actually installed. Bridge components are usually built off-site, in areas away from vehicle traffic, and then installed in a short time period. ABC methodology is gaining wider use because it improves work zone safety for construction workers and the traveling public, reduces overall construction-related traffic delays, and reduces the duration of bridge construction, among other benefits. Q. Can you provide a few examples of Connecticut bridge projects that used ABC? A. A recent example was the replace- ment of the I-84 bridge spans over Marion Avenue in Southington in 2014 , which used self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs). SPMTs are multi-axle, heavy-lift transport devices Kevin Nursick Spokesman for the state Department of Transportation By Joe Cooper jcooper@HartfordBusiness.com A program steering a quarter of state and municipal projects to small and minority contractors is inching closer to a major overhaul, with proposed changes that would redefine the size of a small business and create a larger pool of applicants vying for publicly financed projects. House Bill 5278 would raise the gross revenue cap to qualify as a certified small or minority contractor from $15 million to $30 million under the De- partment of Administrative Services' Supplier Diversity Program, commonly known as the "set-aside program." The higher revenue cap would only apply to businesses in 25 "distressed communities," including Hartford, New London, New Britain, Waterbury, Bridge- port and New Haven, among others. The state set-aside program requires state agencies and local governments to reserve 25 percent of contracts — for public works projects and goods and services purchases — for exclusive bidding by certi- fied small con- tractors. Of that amount, 6.25 per- cent of contracts are set aside for small companies owned by women, minorities or people with dis- abilities. Proponents pushing for the higher rev- enue cap say the program is too restrictive and that it makes it difficult to find qualified contractors in certain municipalities. Others, including the state Depart- ment of Administrative Services, which oversees state contracts, argue the $15 million cap is adequate and provides a level playing field for small companies. According to DAS, state agencies and local governments in 2017 report- ed spending more than $366 million on small and minority-owned busi- nesses assigned to state projects. The Connecticut Commission of Human Rights and Opportunities, or CHRO, is responsible for administration of municipal public works contracts. The bill, which has been raised in previous legislative sessions, is com- ing under the spotlight now as cities and towns look for ways to trim costs amid the state's budget crunch. Officials said the set-aside program does increase the costs of municipal projects by limiting potential contract bidders. The legislation recently passed out of the Commerce Committee in a 19-1 vote, but still needs approval from the House and Senate, in addition to the governor's signature before it becomes law in 2019. Supporters Robert Halligan, the chief financial officer of Beacon Light & Supply Co. in Hartford, wrote in testimony to the Commerce Committee that he wants the revenue cap increased because the current $15 million threshold is "tiny" in the electrical supplier industry. The current cap limits Beacon's ability to grow, Halligan wrote, which means the minority certified distributor of elec- trical supplies and equipment can't buy new equipment or hire new employees. A minority shareholder of the compa- ny, he warned that if Beacon's growth is restricted in Connecticut, they would re- locate to New York, which has no revenue limit for minority companies seeking work on publicly financed projects. The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities also endorsed the bill, stating that it is too difficult for some towns and cities to receive bids from minority-owned or small-business Small Biz Competition Lawmakers look to broaden access to projects earmarked for small, minority contractors Melody Currey, Commissioner, Department of Administrative Services PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Beacon Light & Supply Co. in Hartford, 180 Walnut St., is among the supporters of broadening access to the state's set-aside program for small and minority contractors.

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