Podcast: Creating Sustainable Bridges at Fort Eustis

Learn more about recycled structural composite and how Centennial built the first train bridges using this material at Fort Eustis.

Job Order Contracting Helping the Commonwealth

In the recent May edition of the Commonwealth Contractor I had the opportunity to write an article on Job Order Contracting and how it is helping the public facilities with their renovation and repair efforts. The article is titled Job Order Contracting a Collaborative Solution For Virginia Facilities Owners.

At the core of this article is the ability to share on the benefits of JOC, including:

· Responsive support allows for reduced backlog of projects

· More funds are applied to construction instead of procurement costs

· The majority of the funds go to the local economy

· Growth of small, minority and disadvantaged subcontracting businesses

· Dependable ongoing relationships

· Reduced or eliminates claims, change orders and punch lists

Every public facilities person needs a job order contracting program!

For more information public facilities managers and construction managers should look to the industry association, CJE The Center For JOC Excellence and their regional chapter.

Recycled Structural Composite Bridges Media Day

Construction is almost finished on the first ever recycled structural composite railroad bridges! Centennial built these “plastic” bridges at Fort Eustis, VA for the U.S. Army. On May 27th, we’re holding a media day at the base to unveil the bridges. If you’re a member of the media interested in attending, please email me at dcarrithers@cce-inc.com.

Stay tuned for more photos from the event!

Virginia Business Interviews Centennial About ARRA

Robert Burke from Virginia Business magazine recently analyzed stimulus funds in Virginia to see where the money went and what it was used for. He interviewed Centennial and one of its subcontractors, Pool’s Window and Doors Service, about work performed in Virginia through stimulus funds. In “The Big Fix” Centennial described how its use of IDIQ (indefinite quantity/indefinite delivery) contracts is quicker than your average delivery method at getting projects started and relies on hundreds of local subcontractors.

What has been missing in the ARRA funds is the contracting methods allowing the dollars to get to the local, small businesses. This is a challenge for local communities and could be why it is hard to see the funds actually showing up in the local markets across the US. That is why Job Order Contracting (JOC) is a great fit with the ARRA funding. It allows for open, best value, competitive bidding on an umbrella program and from that point out the funds can be driven to the local communities and mainly to the local subcontracting base.