McGreevy

Few people pay for construction work unless they intend to put the end product to use, either as their own residences or for a business or public purpose. In any case, there are repercussions — with dollars attached — if the end users can't get access when they planned. Yet more often than not, the subject of damages for delayed completion isn't adequately discussed (if it is discussed at all) at the time the customer and contractor are entering their agreement....More

I haven't talked to many contractors who are seeing a big resurgence in private development yet, but I do know some who have survived because of an American Recovery and Rehabilitation Act (Stimulus) funded project. Small towns that needed but couldn't afford a sewer upgrade or road extension took advantage of federal funds to quickly get a project going. But along with the Stimulus funds are Stimulus rules, and more of them than you might expect. So, you have to decide: is it worth it?...More

Doing business with the federal government is different. While it can be lucrative, it requires a working knowledge of a procurement system which is a world unto itself — as far away as you can get from the world of "in the old days we just worked on a handshake." Aside from the paperwork, inspections, delegation-of-authority issues, etc., every contractor working on federal work is presumed to know all of the laws and regulations that it must comply with....More

We have all heard stories of firms owned and operated by non-minority men, who appear to find a way to obtain contracts that are set-aside for women or minorities. I receive about one or two inquiries a month (more since the Stimulus Act) as to how this can be done....More