SAVANNAH POST

E-week Highlights

SAME’s Engineering and Construction Camps

Building the Builders in Afghanistan

Sustaining Member Listings

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In this issue . . .

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ISSUE 41March 2015

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MARCHSPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

Antonio R. Franco Senior Partner, PilieroMazza

Tony Franco is a senior partner with PilieroMazza and oversees the Government Contracts and Small Business Programs Groups. His over 25 years of legal experience includes all aspects of federal government contracting, representing clients on a wide range of complex regulatory matters. Mr. Franco’s practice also involves representing clients with protests and claims against the federal government and in disputes between prime and subcontractors.

Mr. Franco primarily focuses on representing clients interested in pursuing opportunities set aside under preferential procurement programs,

such as the small business, 8(a), HUBZone, SDV and WOSB programs. In representing these firms, Mr. Franco provides guidance on how to team, joint venture and position their company to successfully defend awards from size and bid protests. His practice extends to assisting firms with compliance on solicitation requirements, the FAR, and continued eligibility to participate in different small business contracting programs. Mr. Franco’s practice also encompasses the representation of Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations and Native Hawaiian Organizations, including their subsidiaries, and potential teaming and equity partners structuring transactions in a highly regulated environment. Tony is a frequent speaker and author on various aspects of federal contracting issues. He graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1986 and received his B.A., cum laude, from Tulane University. He is a member of the Bars of the District of Columbia and the States of Maryland and Florida. Tony has earned Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating, AV Preeminent®, for legal ethics and ability.

2015 MEETING DATES March 23

Regular Meeting at Pirates House

April 20Regular Meeting at Pirates House

May No regular meeting. Please attend

the JETC in Houston, TX

June 16 - 17Golf Tournament/Small Business Showcase & Icebreaker/Annual

Program Review

July 20Meeting will be held jointly withFt. Stewart at Ft. Stewart , GA

August 17Regular Meeting at Pirates House

September 21Regular Meeting at Pirates House

October 19Regular Meeting at Pirates House

November 16 (tentative) Evening meeting with Student Post

at Georgia Southern University

December 14Regular Meeting at Pirates House

SAME Savannah Post Scholarship Program applications due June 5The Savannah Post, Society of American Military Engineers may award up to five scholarships in 2015. At least three scholarships are in the amount of $1,000 for a single year open to a high school senior or current college student (freshman, sophomore, junior). One scholarship is a $2,500, 2 year scholarship open to a current college student with 2 years remaining – usually entering their sophomore or junior year this fall. The 2 year scholarship will be issued over a 2 year period and the winner will be required to be revalidated next year to ensure they continue to meet the grade and curriculum requirements. Last, one scholarship is a $5,000, 4 year scholarship open to a graduating high school senior. The four year scholarship will be issued over a four year period and the winner will be required to be revalidated each year to ensure the winner continues to meet the scholarship’s grade and major requirements. All scholarships will be awarded to the most deserving applicants based on academic achievement, participation in extracurricular activities, and affiliation with SAME. The applicant must submit a completed application by June 5, 2015. To be eligible for a scholarship the applicant must meet the following requirements: (continued on page six)

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FEBRUARY E-WEEK HIGHLIGHTS2015 SAMESavannah Post

Officers & Committee Chairs

Col Tom TicknerPost President

Joel BurkeChairman of the Board

Maureen Hoke1st Vice President

Gwen Parker2nd Vice President

Scott VeenstraSecretary

Gavin CareyTreasurer

Sally RikerFELLOW

Chris PittmanPrograms

Stephanie DammenYoung Members

Hollie DupesMembership Director

Kevin ChaffinSustaining Members

Gordy SimmonsUSACE Liaison

Frank RandonCamps & Scholarships

Margaret WaltonEmergency Preparedness &

Infrastructure Resilience Streamer

Maureen Hoke Student Post

Leadership & Mentoring Streamer

Beth Hilliard Education & Training Streamer

Scott SchmidtRelationships & Recognition

Streamer

Larry ChristopherNewsletter

The SAME Savannah Post E-Week Technical Training Day was an amazing success. We hope that all of the attendees were able to gain some valuable information and practical applications by attending the event. Please take the time to fill out the survey that you were emailed. Below are some of the highlights from the key pieces of the Technical Training Day: · 12 sponsors who supported our training day financially and with technical services· 119 attendees· 3 separate tracks with 19 quality sessions with 25 speakers· $8,000 donated to STEM Programs· $500 donated to the Wounded Warrior Project

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U.S. Army Camp Vicksburg, MS June 7 - 13, 2015Applications are due NLT March 20, 2015 to Henry Dulaney, 4155 Clay St., Vicksburg, MS 39183 or e-mail to henry.a.dulaney@usace.army.mil

US Air Force Academy Camp Colorado Springs, CO June 25 - July 1, 2015Applications are due to Frank.Randon@USACE .Army. MIL by March 27, 2015SAME Posts: selected applications due to National Registrar by April 14, 2015

US Marine Corps Camp Camp Lejeune, NC June 21 - 27, 2015 Applications are due to Frank.Randon@USACE .Army. MIL by March 27, 2015 SAME Posts: selected applications due to National Registrar by April 14, 2015

FEBRUARY E-WEEK HIGHLIGHTSApply now for SAME’s Engineering and Construction CampsIt’s that time of the year again to help spread the word about the great SAME engineering camps for high school rising sophomores, juniors and seniors! SAME Engineering and Construction Camps are fast paced, hands-on camps for high school students who are interested in engineering. At the camps, students learn engineering as well as get the opportunity to build their designs and see the results. To learn more about this exciting opportunity please contact Frank Randon at frank.randon@usace.army.mil Got to http://samecamps.org for eligibility and applications.

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What if you had to make a choice in which the outcome of that choice could impact the Gross Domestic Product of an entire country? Who would you be? The Chief of the Federal Reserve? A national leader? How about a SAME Post? There was such a choice, and the Savannah Post opted to team up with the USACE Transatlantic Afghanistan District (TAA) on an action that could well shape the development of construction procedures and material testing in Afghanistan from this point forward. One of the key tenets that USACE is focused on in Afghanistan is capacity building of the country to further enable its ability to self govern and promote business - in particular capacity building of engineering and construction skills. Currently, the Gross Domestic Product of Afghanistan is approximately $22B – in the bottom 5 percent of all countries in the world on a per capita basis. Of that GDP, however, approximately 15 to 20 percent is attributed to construction. That’s a significant figure considering that this sector of the economy is increasing in large thanks to international aid geared toward developing economic growth and strengthening the government. Afghanistan currently has very few governing building codes or processes and practices allowing for consistent known quality in the construction prod-ucts executed. This could impact this growth industry and stymie development. The Transatlantic Afghanistan District is entering into a capacity development partnership with a recently developed non-profit organization called the Afghanistan Business Association. This group was stood up via a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development in 2004 and has been promoting economic development in the construction industry. The very purpose of ABA is to support Afghan companies in the reconstruction of Afghanistan in the aftermath of war. The organization also serves as a bridge between construction companies and policy makers in the government. In the last few years, ABA has been instrumental in developing pro-cesses for adding order, standardization, and consistency to construction practices in Afghanistan. This year, TAA engaged ABA by accrediting them

to teach the Construction Quality Management course required for contrac-tors working on the $8.4 billion infrastructure build program being executed by TAA. Because of the professional manner in which ABA demonstrated their capability for this training mission, USACE has now enacted a further agreement with ABA to assign to them the responsibility for a laboratory verification program. Material testing on soil properties, concrete, water purity, and asphalt quality are key factors in successfully completing con-struction contracts. This testing is so important that only labs validated to perform in accordance with nationally recognized standards are permitted these tasks on USACE contracts. The overall goal of this partnership is to help the Afghanis develop a common standard of acceptance for all government and commercial construction in country. In addition to this partnership with USACE, the ABA is working with other organizations in the country to develop a professional certification program for engineers and architects, as well as the development of Afghani Construction Standards. However, those Afghani Construction Standards are still years in the development, and until such time as there are valid country specific standards in place, there is a void in the ability to produce consistent quality construction products. In order for TAA to turn over responsibilities for the lab validation, the ABA needed a set of ASTMs to be able to gauge and validate each test being performed by the laboratories. Consistent and accurate procedures for testing of construction materials are paramount to the quality expected by USACE. Without results that have been obtained by following a known standard of testing, the technical sufficiency of construction materials cannot be guaranteed. The professionals at the ABA are familiar with the ASTM requirements, but unfortunately the cost of obtaining the standards is beyond reasonable means for this group and they could not obtain a copy allowing them to properly validate laboratories. There are over 3,600 standards that apply to building codes and construction materials testing needed for this operation. USACE could not reasonably turn over the responsibility of lab validation to the ABA if they did not have a copy of (continued on page six)

Building the Builders in AfghanistanBy Gordon Simmons, USACE Transatlantic Afghanistan District Engineering Chief

The SAME Savannah Post teamed up with the USACE Transatlantic Afghanistan District (TAA) on an effort that will directly contribute to a more secure Afghanistan. Both organizations made it possible for Afghanistan govern its own construction standardization to further enable its ability to self-govern.

Gordon Simmons, (left) Chief of Engineering and Construction for USACE Transatlantic Afghanistan District (TAA); Ahad Wahad, (center) Deputy

Mayor of Kabul City, and Col. Pete Helmlinger, TAA Commander, discuss engineering challenges in the rapid expansion of Kabul City.

Gordon Simmons, (center) Chief of Engineering and Construction for USACE Transatlantic Afghanistan District, presents a SAME Certificate of Appreciation to Mr. Naeem

Yassin, President of Afghanistan Builders Association.

Col. Pete Helmlinger, (left) Transatlantic Afghanistan District commander, and Engineer Zafar Khan, Afghani-stan Builders Association /Pasaar, discuss the need for

national standards for material manufacturing.

JANUARY AECOMAlliant CorporationAMECAmerican StructurepointARCADIS AtkinsBarge Waggoner Sumner and Cannon Inc.Basha Services LLC.Bechtel National Inc.Bhate Environmental Assoc. Inc.

FEBRUARYBlack & Veach Special Project Corp.Brasfield & Gorrie General ContractorsBristol IndustriesBRPH Companies Inc.Building & Earth Sciences Inc. Burns & McDonnellCaddell Construction Co. Inc.Cardno, Inc.Carolinas Concrete Masonry AssociationCB&I Federal Services, LLC

MARCHCDM SmithCEMS Engineering Inc.CH2MHILLCHA Consulting, Inc.Clark NexsenCroft & AssociatesCrowder Construction CompanyCTI and Associates, Inc.Davis & Floyd, Inc.Dewberry

APRILDulohery, Weeks & Gagliano Inc.EA Engineering, Science & Technology, Inc.

ECCEXP Federal Farnsworth GroupGEL Geophysics, LLC Goodwyn Mills & Cawood, Inc.HDRHoward W. Pence, Inc.Hussey, Gay Bell & DeYoung MAYJETC Conference

JUNEJ2 Engineering, Inc.JacobsKaiser Kane, Inc. Knight ArchitectsKBR North American Government & DefenseKennedy Engineering & Associates Group LLCLBYD, Inc. LeidosLeo A DalyLowe EngineersLS3P Associates Ltd.

JULY M3 Construction Services Inc. Mason & HangerMerrick & CompanyMicah Group Energy & EnvironmentalMichael Baker Corporation Moffatt & NicholNorth Wind GroupO’Brien & Gere ParsonsPES Structural Engineers

AUGUSTSA/SC/Carolinas JETS Conference

SEPTEMBERPlexus Scientific Corp.Pond & CompanyPOWER Engineers, Inc. Q Solutions, Inc.Reynolds, Smith & Hills, Inc.Rosser InternationalSchenkel Shultz Sherlock, Smith & AdamsSiemens Industries IncSpatial Engineering Inc.

OCTOBERSpecPro Environmental Services LLCStanley Consultants Inc.Stantec Inc. STOA ArchitectsSundt Construction, Inc.TAB ServicesTEPA, LLCTetra Tech, Inc.The Polote CorporationThe Whiting Turner Contracting Co.Thomas & Hutton Engineering, Co.

NOVEMBERThompson Engineering Inc.3E Consultants, Inc.Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc.Trinty Analysis & Development CorpURS CorporationVersarVolkert, Inc.WB InteriorsWeston Solutions, Inc.Woolpert, Inc.

DECEMBERSAME Savannah Post Christmas Party

SUSTAINING MEMBER BRIEFINGS 2015The Savannah Post SAME is offering Sustaining Member firms the opportunity to submit an article on their company for the monthly newsletter and to have a two-minute briefing to discuss their firm at the monthly SAME meeting. Each firm will be asked to bring a gift to raffle. A list of all sustaining members is below with each member’s assigned month. Please contact Kevin Chafin at kchafin@cemsengineering.com or 843-875-3637 for more information.

NOTE: If you missed an opportunity to place a sustaining member article from a previous month, please remember you can still submit your article over the next three months.

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SAVANNAH POST

these ASTMs to assure work was being performed in accordance with the appropriate standards. USACE looked for ways to fund this effort, but fiscal constraints on the use of taxpayer funds prevented TAA from purchasing these standards for the ABA. TAA then reached out to the Savannah Post who quickly agreed to purchase these ASTMs and then gift them to the ABA. TAA Commander Col. Pete Helmlinger, praised the gesture as great news. “We appreciate the generosity of the Savannah SAME post!” he wrote in an email. “Your post is making a difference building partner capac-ity through the Afghan Builders Association by donating this ASTM set.” Brig. Gen. Donald Jackson, Transatlantic Division Forward Commander, also applauded the contribution. “The Savannah Post support in this effort helps make possible the prosperity of an entire nation-state,” he said. “Their eagerness to provide resources where a pressing need exists is a reflection on the character of their organization.” Throughout the world, the Society of American Military Engineers works hand-in-hand with government and private design firms and construction contractors to provide education and support to the engineering communities within the military and other government agencies. Their goal is to advance the partnership between government

1. For the $1,000 scholarship: Be a high school senior planning to enroll in, or a college student enrolled in, an engineering, science, math, or related curriculum at an accredited college or university. Enrollment must be planned for the 2015/2016 school year. 2. For the $2,500 scholarship: Be a current college student (freshman, sophomore or junior) enrolled in and engineering, science, math, or related curriculum at an accredited college or university. Enrollment must be planned for the 2015/2016 school year. Revalidation will consist of resubmitting the scholarship application and meeting the B average in an engineering, math or related major.3. For the $5,000 scholarship: Be a high school senior planning to enroll in an engineering, science, math or related curriculum at an accredited college or university. Enrollment must be planned for the 2015/2016 school year. Revalidation will consist of resubmitting the scholarship application and meeting the B average and an engineering, math or related major.4. Have a minimum of a B average (3.0 on 4.0 scale), whether college or high school. Higher grade point averages will greater preference.

http://www.same.org/

http://samesavannahpost.org/

http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/

LINKS TO KNOWIf you have an article or announcement you want to include in future issues of the newsletter, please submit them by the end of the previous month to Larry Christopher with Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors at lchristopher@brasfieldgorrie.com

All newsletters are posted on the Savannah SAME Post’s website

WE WANT YOUR INPUT

and the architectural, engineering and construction industry. When the Savannah Post heard that the ABA was in need of these ASTM Standards, they immediately saw the value of this endeavor and the way that it fit perfectly within their goal of advancing this type of partnership. Sally Riker, SAME Fellow with the Savannah Post responded, “I’m so glad that this will work out. It fits in perfectly with SAME’s mission and objectives. This way our members will know that all their support and their companies’ support goes to something [worthwhile].” Joel Burke, Chairman of the Board of Directors added, “Everyone involved … was excited that our post will be instrumental in helping to stand up this lab” With the proven skills of the staff of the ABA, and now with these standards as the tools needed to perform the work, TAA has the greatest confidence that the delegation of this important laboratory validation program to the ABA will be a success. Once the group has been in operation for a while, they have a business plan and legislative support to increase this type of service and become self sustaining. They plan to expand the lab verification program and several other construction related services into the common construction marketplace, establishing new business practice for Afghanistan, and helping the country to gain self sufficiency.

5. Meet at least one of the following: a. Be a Savannah Post SAME member or a sustaining firm member. b. A dependent of a Savannah Post SAME member or a sustaining firm member. c. Be sponsored by a Savannah Post SAME member or a sustaining firm member. 6. Provide a completed application form to include: letters of recommendation (maximum of 3) from high school or college advisor, academic instructors or immediate supervisor, copy of high school or college transcript, copy of SAT/ACT results, and a 2-page, double-spaced essay that discusses why you should be a recipient of an SAME scholarship. 7. Along with your application please submit a headshot photo and a short BIO including the name of your high school, or college, your parent’s names, your extracurricular activities and interests, and your contact information (email and cell phone).

After a review by the Scholarship Committee, the Post will announce the winners in early July 2015. The winners will be presented the scholarship checks at the July 2015 membership meeting or by mail if the winner cannot attend. Questions can be directed to Frank Randon at (202) 368-6150 or e-mail at frank.randon@usace.army.mil

(SAME Savannah Post Scholarship Program continued from page one)

(Building the Builders in Afghanistan continued from page four)