AIA Pennsylvania To Host Debate On Separations Act

On Thursday, July 13, AIA Pennsylvania, the unifying body of the Pennsylvania chapters of the American Institute of Architects, will host a debate on the Separations Act. The moderated debate will take place at Harrisburg University and will feature key players on both sides of the Separations Act. You can find more information and register to attend the event at the AIA Pennsylvania registration page.

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Christopher I. McCabe, Esq. in Separations Act Comments Off

DGS Issues List Of Exempt Steel Products For 2017

The Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) has finally issued the list of machinery and equipment steel products which will be exempt for calendar year 2017 under the PA Steel Products Procurement Act. The list was published in the Pa. Bulletin on Saturday, May 13, 2017, and can be found here. New items on the list are noted. The 30-day comment period has now expired. Read more

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Christopher I. McCabe, Esq. in DGS, Steel Products Act Comments Off

Is The Separations Act In Danger Of Repeal?

In Pennsylvania, public construction projects are nearly always governed by the Separations Act, a law that was passed in 1913, more than 100 years ago.

The Separations Act (variations of which also appear in statutes governing Boroughs, Townships, and other government entities) provides as follows:

Hereafter in the preparation of specifications for the erection, construction, and alteration of any public building, when the entire cost of such work shall exceed four thousand dollars, it shall be the duty of the architect, engineer, or other person preparing such specifications, to prepare separate specifications for the plumbing, heating, ventilating, and electrical work; and it shall be the duty of the person or persons authorized to enter into contracts for the erection, construction, or alteration of such public buildings to receive separate bids upon each of the said branches of work, and to award the contract for the same to the lowest responsible bidder for each of said branches.

So, what does this mean? It means that for public building construction in excess of $4,000, all public owners must prepare separate specifications, solicit separate bids, and award separate contracts for general construction, plumbing, heating and ventilating, and electrical work. Read more

Posted on June 13, 2017 by Christopher I. McCabe, Esq. in Separations Act Comments Off

Philadelphia Voters Approve Best Value Contracting

It’s official! Philadelphia voters have voted in favor of the best value ballot question. Read more

Posted on May 18, 2017 by Christopher I. McCabe, Esq. in Best Value Contracting, City of Phila. Comments Off

Committee of Seventy Throws Its Weight Behind City Of Philadelphia Best Value Initiative

On Tuesday, May 16, Philadelphia voters will be asked to vote YES or NO to the following ballot question: “Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to allow for the award of certain contracts based on best value to the City?”

The ballot question is vague and confusing, and fails to inform voters that the City of Philadelphia now awards contracts on the basis of “lowest responsible bid,” a method that many believe already results in “best value” contracting for the City.

Nonetheless, the nonpartisan Committee of Seventy recently announced its support for the ballot question. The Committee of Seventy is not typically thought of as proficient on matters of public procurement, so it formed a task force comprised of Board members “with contracting experience in the public- and private-sector” to study the issue. Read more