The VSAIA is moving into a more offensive position in preparation for what it sees as attacks against the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA). Members and staff are meeting with several legislators during the interim and are engaging our legislative counsel to do the same.
The VSAIA has conducted these types of meetings in the past when conditions required them. The impetus this year comes from the nearly complete, two-year study of the VPPA concurrent with its reorganization. Unfortunately, such adjustments always attract interest in additional change that may not be in the best interest of the public.
In late July, Kathryn Prigmore FAIA, a vice president with HDR Inc., and Shaun Curran AIA, an associate with The Lukmire Partnership, joined VSAIA staff in presenting the profession’s position on the changes being considered this summer and fall to Del. David Albo (R-Springfield). Both Prigmore and Curran live in the district represented by Albo.
In this the second year of the study, the Act is being reviewed by two workgroups, each of which will report to the legislative commission established to develop and present amendments to the Act to the 2015 General Assembly. Elements affecting professional services are being reviewed by workgroup one. Architects and professional engineers’ positions are being represented by Chris Stone PE, president of Clark Nexsen, and Patrick Cushing Esq., legislative counsel to the VSAIA from Williams Mullen.
The work groups’ reports will be crafted by legislative services into a draft bill, which will be presented to the legislative commission in November.
The VSAIA is asking any members with personal relationships with legislators on the House or Senate general laws committees (go here — http://hodcap.state.va.us/publications/housecommitteechart2014-5.pdf — and here — http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?142+com+S12) to inform Duncan Abernathy, AIA, of this relationship. If you are selected, we will train you and ask that you attend a meeting with the legislator to present the profession’s positions.
The Act details how the Commonwealth and localities procure goods, services, and professional services. Procurement of professional services — including architecture and engineering — differs from that used to procure goods and non-professional services.
The details of the procurement process were set in place in 1982 to protect the public’s major investments in the Commonwealth’s infrastructure at both the state and local levels. It is intended to be transparent and deliberative, much more so than private industry specifically to avoid even the appearance of favoritism or misfeasance.
The VSAIA and its legislative partner — the American Counsel of Engineering Companies — and our legislative counsel agree that this year’s attacks require an intensive lobbying campaign to maintain the Acts protections. Other meetings in the works are with Del. Tag Greason (R-Reston) and Del. Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock), both of whom also serve on the General Laws committee. Other members of the House and Senate general laws committees will be scheduled as soon as possible.