KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Scaffold Industry Association (SIA) and International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) signed an agreement that will allow SIA to become an AWPT approved training Center and offer the AWPT Mast Climbing training program through SIA’s current Accredited Training Institutes (ATI).   The Mast Climbing training provides instructions for mast climber demonstrators, mobile operators, installers and advanced installers who will receive the internationally recognized PAL card as proof of successful completion of training. “On behalf of the SIA and our Alliance with IPAF, we are pleased to have produced this momentous partnership. A vehicle consisting of curriculum and … Read more

State-of-Art “Polytrauma Center” Funded WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the award of two contracts totaling $41.5 million to create a “polytrauma center” that cares for the most severely injured Veterans and to improve the existing wards at the Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center. “A top priority for VA is providing greater access to VA’s health care system and higher quality of care for the nation’s Veterans,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. “America’s Veterans have earned the very best that this nation as to offer.” One contract announced by Secretary Shinseki provides $37.2 … Read more

Market pressures maintain downward influence on construction costs NEW YORK,NY — Feb. 24 — Turner Construction Company announced that the First Quarter 2010 Turner Building Cost Index, which measures non-residential building construction costs in the United States, has decreased by 0.5% from the Fourth Quarter 2009 and decreased 7.74% from the First Quarter 2009. Construction costs have decreased by 13.06% since their peak at the end of 2008. The Turner Building Cost Index value for First Quarter 2010 is 799. Karl F. Almstead, the Turner vice president responsible for the Turner Building Cost Index said, “The rate of decline in … Read more

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — The Office of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) awarded an energy savings performance contract (ESPC) to NORESCO, a national leader in energy efficiency and energy infrastructure solutions, for work in the office buildings of the U.S. House of Representatives. The project includes $34 million in facility infrastructure upgrades in the Rayburn, Longworth, Cannon, and Ford House Office Buildings, and the House Page Dormitory. NORESCO is a subsidiary of Carrier Corp., which is a unit of United Technologies Corp. ( UTX). The infrastructure upgrades will pay for themselves through more than $67 million in reduced energy and … Read more