Suggested changes to the procurement system that would cede public bodies’ control over professional services has fueled VSAIA’s efforts in the interim to meet with influential delegates and senators.
The VSAIA has conducted these types of meetings in the past when conditions required them. The impetus this year comes from the nearly complete, two-year study of the VPPA concurrent with its reorganization. Unfortunately, such adjustments always attract interest in additional change that may not be in the best interest of the public.
Al Storm AIA, Al Hansen FAIA, and Duncan Abernathy AIA met in mid-August with Del. Thomas A. “Tag” Greason (R-Lansdowne) in his Reston offices. The architects expressed their concern with several proposals made during the citizens’ group workshops being held this year. Storm and Hansen work at DBI Architects Inc. in Reston.
This year, the second of the study, the Act is being reviewed by two workgroups, each of which will report to the legislative commission established to develop and present amendments to the Act to the 2015 General Assembly. Elements affecting professional services are being reviewed by workgroup one. Architects and professional engineers’ positions are being represented by Chris Stone PE, president of Clark Nexsen, and Patrick Cushing Esq., legislative counsel to the VSAIA from Williams Mullen.
The workgroups’ reports will be crafted by legislative services in October into a draft bill, which will be presented to the legislative commission in November.
The VSAIA is asking any members with personal relationships with legislators on the House or Senate general laws committees (go here and here) to inform Duncan Abernathy (daber@aiava.org) of this relationship. If you are selected, we will train you and ask that you schedule a meeting with the legislator to present the profession’s positions.
The Act details how the Commonwealth and localities procure goods, services, and professional services. Procurement of professional services — including architecture and engineering — differs from the procurement of goods and non-professional services.
The details of the procurement process were set in place in 1982 to protect the public’s major investments in the Commonwealth’s infrastructure at both the state and local levels. It is intended to be transparent and deliberative, much more so than private industry specifically to avoid even the appearance of favoritism or misfeasance.
The VSAIA and its legislative partner — the American Counsel of Engineering Companies — and our legislative counsel agree that this year’s attacks require an intensive lobbying campaign to maintain the Act’s protections. Other meetings in the works are with Del. Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock), Del. Betsy Carr (D-Richmond), Del. Joseph R. Yost (R-Pearisburg), and Sen. Frank Ruff (R-Clarksville), all of whom also serve on the General Laws committee. In addition to Delegate Greason, VSAIA representatives also met with Del. David Albo (R-Springfield).