Kimmel and Associates Announces Construction Scholarship

Kimmel and Associates, an executive search firm for the construction industry based in Asheville, N.C., recently established a scholarship designed to benefit students enrolling in college who intend on pursuing a construction career. The new scholarship will have 20 recipients, from applicants across the country.

The firm will direct its scholarship to construction companies and hopes that children of current builders will be prominent among the applicants for the awards. Currently, Kimmel and Associates sponsors and funds a scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.

AGC Applauds Report on Reverse Auctions

Associated General Contractors of America recently hailed a report to Congress by the United States Army Corps of Engineers stating that reverse auctions should not be used to procure construction services and that they fail to realize any additional financial savings over the sealed bid process.

"The Corps of Engineers report verifies what we have known all along; that reverse auctions are an inappropriate acquisition tool to procure construction," AGC CEO Stephen E. Sandherr said.

In its final determinations, USACE found that the acquisition of construction services cannot and should not be equated with commodities purchases.

Sandherr said, "AGC has long taken the position that construction should not be treated as a commodity. USACE's report reinforces current federal policy and further demonstrates that reverse auctions should not be used to procure complex public construction projects."

The USACE report stated that there was no proof that a consistent, reliable and valid measurement method for projecting savings could be established from reverse auctioning. Additionally, it stated there was no practical way to measure or compare any projected savings by reverse auctions over sealed bidding.

Stellar Group Opens Dubai Office

The Stellar Group of Jacksonville, Fla., recently opened an office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Stellar is currently completing one of the largest Turbine Inlet Air Chilling systems in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and will continue to provide complete development for gas turbine inlet air-chilling systems at power plants in this region. Stellar will also offer turnkey solutions for food processing facilities, low temperature distribution and cold storage warehouses and refrigeration systems to customers throughout the Middle East.

Farmer Baker Barrios Expands Interior Design Department

Farmer Baker Barrios Architects, an Orlando-based commercial architecture firm, is expanding its interior design department after completing several design projects at the Orlando International Airport.

"We're excited to diversify our business and take on more interior design projects," said Tim Baker, principal of FBBA.

AGC of America, McGraw-Hill Construction Form Publishing Partnership

As part of a new partnership announced recently, McGraw-Hill Construction will publish Associated General Contractors of America's Constructor magazine, membership directory and buyer's guide.

McGraw-Hill Construction publishes Engineering News-Record, Architectural Record and 12 Regional Publications - including Southeast Construction. The company also publishes magazines for other national associations, including The American Institute of Architects and the Design-Build Institute of America. Now McGraw-Hill Construction will lend its editorial, design and production expertise to AGC's publications, which currently have a circulation of more than 40,000. Constructor reaches contractors, suppliers and service provider members who perform highway, building, underground, heavy and industrial construction.

Bomag Announces Southeast Distributors for ProPaver

Bomag Americas recently appointed Industrial Tractor Co. of Jacksonville, Fla., and A.E. Finley & Associates of Raleigh, N.C., as distributors of its newly acquired line of ProPaver paving products. The product line encompasses self-propelled tracked asphalt pavers, towable wheeled asphalt pavers and asphalt distributors.

Industrial Tractor will represent the ProPaver line throughout northeast Florida and southern South Carolina. A.E. Finley & Associates' territory will cover North Carolina and northern South Carolina.