GSA's First Completed IIJA-Funded Project Is Delivered Early
GSA's First Completed IIJA-Funded Project Is Delivered Early
Abstract
June 10, 2022 Tom Ichniowski KEYWORDS Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Order Reprints No Comments It's a relatively modest beginning, but the U.S. General Services Administration has completed its first construction contract funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act-and it was finished ahead of schedule. The agency announced June 6 that an asphalt repair project at the Lukeville, Ariz., Land Port of Entry, or border station, had been completed by contractor OCS Construction Services Inc. The contract value was $420,908. The company started the Lukeville project on May 2 and finished the work May 27, ahead of schedule, according to GSA.The agency also noted the project used low-embodied-carbon asphalt, following GSA's new standards for concrete and asphalt used on its construction, modernization and paving projects nationwide. John Hulett, OCS Construction Services' vice president of construction, said via email that the company has been contracting with GSA through the 8(a) Business Development Program and GSA's Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity since 2015.He added that "This project provided a great opportunity to demonstrate how the SBA/GSA partnership works to develop small businesses like OCS that can then deliver on time and on budget for the federal government."GSA said the Lukeville facility handles about 1 million passengers and 400,000 vehicles per year. Hulett said, "We expect to see more IIJA opportunities as the contracting process catches up with the funding."He added, "The IIJA is a huge win for the construction industry as a whole, and federal contractors should be at the leading edge of that benefit."He said that IIJA projects are estimated to create 1.5 million jobs per year for the next 10 years. A/E Contract for New York StateGSA also announced the award of a $1.98-million, IIJA-funded A/E contract for new facilities at the Rouses Point, N.Y., Land Port of Entry on the Canadian border. The project includes constructing new inspection lanes and a rail inspection platform.