PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
July, 2019
July 20, 1969: "The Eagle has landed"
The 50
th
anniversary of Apollo 11, the First Lunar Landing, had the world fondly reflecting on the nation’s bold mission to land the first humans on the moon.
After many years of work by a team of scientists and engineers testing the boundaries of engineering and science, the nation was captivated and inspired by the visual of Neil Armstrong planting the American flag on the surface of the moon. This transforming event not only united the nation in a moment of pride and accomplishment but projected to the entire world that America had beaten the Soviet Union in the space race.
While Apollo 11 has its rightful place in history, it is the subsequent ill-fated mission of Apollo 13 that, to me, reflects the best of engineering.
Returning the crew of Apollo 13 safely home
put engineering and ingenuity to its greatest test and saw the most impressive improvisational engineering of the 20
th
Century. After
an explosion destroyed two-thirds of their power supply,
the Apollo 13 crew was forced to abort the mission and stranded them 200,000 miles from Earth.
To return home safely, the astronauts and Command Central engineers figured out in three days how to quickly power back up the command module, a procedure that would normally have taken three months to design and test. Perhaps even more amazing, the crew relied on essentially spare parts to replace cutting-edge equipment that had been destroyed. It has been described as ‘building a functional Lamborghini out of paper clips.” It was as remarkable and unimaginable.
The mission magnified the fact there are high stakes involved when an engineer embarks on a project. Details, even the smallest and seemingly minor elements can put lives at risk.
Recognizing that every day engineers are designing projects with a high degree of achievement, value and ingenuity ACECL is launching the first Engineering Excellence Awards Program.
Like Apollo 13, great moments in engineering often arise from adversity. The need to fit a square peg in a round hole; the opportunity to think outside the box; the necessity of design alternatives; the demand for cost-efficiency. All of these elements are ever present when engineers initiate a design solution and the results can be remarkable and award-worthy. ACECL wants to recognize these achievements and honor the men and women who make progress happen.
The 2019 ACECL Engineering Excellence Awards Call for Entries is now open and I encourage every firm to consider submitting a project for consideration. Your work deserves to be recognized!
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ACECL Board Meeting
The ACECL Board of Governors met on July 11, 2019 at the San Destin Resort. Outgoing Chairman Raymond Reaux passed the gavel to incoming Chair, Andy Craig. Mr. Craig introduced the board welcoming new members Kent Poyser (New Orleans Chapter President); Colby Guidry (Lafayette Chapter President) and Charles Adams (member-at-large). Board member Michael Thomassie has joined the Executive Committee and Nathan Junius and Brett Bayard have become members-at-large. The board adopted its 2019-2020 schedule.
At a casual reception preceding the board meeting, outgoing national director Kurt Evans was recognized for his eight years of service on the ACECL board including his leadership on the Executive Committee and as National Director.
Raymond Reaux was presented an engraved gavel in appreciation for his service as the 2018-2019 ACECL chair. Outgoing member Alison Catarella Michel was recognized for her service on the board.
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DOTD Advertises Two Alternate Delivery Projects
LA 3241: I-12 to Bush Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project (the"Project") in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) is announcing the LADOTD’s intent to enter into a Comprehensive Agreement with a Developer possessing the capability to design, build, and finance the LA 3241: I-12 to Bush Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project (the"Project") in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.
- The ultimate Project is an urban and rural four-lane roadway from I-12 to Bush, Louisiana, with an initial two-lane facility for the full length of the Project required at a minimum. The phasing and timing of the ultimate build-out is dependent upon the timing and availability of funding, including funding that has been or will be applied for under federal discretionary grant programs. The major elements of the Project are identified in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) issued in 2016 and re-evaluated in April 2019.
The anticipated contract execution date for this Project is no later than November 2020. The capital cost of the Contract/Project is estimated to not exceed $250 million.
The selection process will consist of two phases. The evaluation of responses to the RFQ will establish a short-list of proposers. Then the LA DOTD will consider submittals in response to the RFP that will determine the selected Developer. The selection process will evaluate the ability of the proposers to plan, design, construct, and finance the Project to provide a quality product.
An LOI from firms/teams in response to this NOI will be due by August 8, 2019.
Firms/teams that provide the LA DOTD with an LOI will be issued the RFQ and will be placed on a list of interested firms that will be placed on the LA DOTD P3 Web site.
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I-10 & I-12 COLLEGE FLYOVER RAMP
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH
DESIGN-BUILD PROJECT
State Project No. H.013897
Federal Project No. H013897
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) is announcing the LA DOTD’s intent to enter into a Design-Build (DB) contract with a Design-Builder, possessing both professional engineering design capability and qualified construction contracting capability, for the
I-10 & I-12 College Flyover Ramp Design-Build Project (the “Project”) in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
The major elements of the Project Scope as currently proposed may include the following, as may be amended in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and/or the Request for Proposals (RFP):
- I-10 West and College Drive Interchange improvements as recommended in the I-10: LA 415 to Essen Ln on I-10 & I-12 Project draft Interchange Modification Report and draft Environmental Assessment, including, but not limited to the following:
- Flyover ramp exit to College Drive from I-10 West in advance of the I-10 & I-12 West merge;
- Modified exit from I-12 West to College Drive; and
- Parallel, separated, at-grade ramp along I-10 West to existing College Drive Interchange.
- Associated work may include sound walls, retaining walls, interstate lighting and truss signs;
- Utility coordination; and
- Maintenance of traffic in a congested urban environment.
The anticipated contract execution date for this Project is no later than August 2020. The cost of the DB Contract/Project is estimated to not exceed $45 million.
The selection process will consist of two phases. The evaluation of responses to the RFQ will establish a short-list of proposers. Then the LA DOTD will consider submittals in response to the RFP that will determine the selected Design-Builder. The selection process will evaluate the ability of the proposers to plan, design, construct, and control the Project to provide a quality product, on or ahead of schedule, within the stated budget.
Firms/Teams interested in providing the services for the Project should submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) to DBI-10/I-12CollegeFlyover@la.gov. All correspondence with the LA DOTD on matters concerning this NOI and the subsequent RFQ for the Project should be made in writing to the E-mail address provided.
An LOI from firms/teams in response to this NOI will be due by August 8, 2019
.
Firms/teams that provide the LA DOTD with an LOI will be issued the RFQ and will be placed on a list of interested firms that will be posted on the LA DOTD Web site (http://www.dotd.la.gov).
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SUPPORT THE ACEC PAC TODAY
!
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ACECL is asking
50
ACEC members to donate
$200
in the next
150
days to help ACECL meet its 2019 PAC Goal. With your support we can meet or exceed our goal for the second year in a row!! We're already half way to our PAC Goal of $24,053!
The ACEC PAC SUMMER AND FALL Sweepstakes are now underway.
Donate before September 2 and October 15, respectively, for a chance to win cash. And if you think you won't win, one ACEC of Louisiana member won $2,500 in the 2019 Spring Sweepstakes and another won a free San Destin vacation at the Deep South Convention!
Your contributions support efforts on Capitol Hill to implement legislative and policy changes that advance the business of engineering. Your past support was also key in our Minute Man fund request for the La. Coalition to Fix our Roads' initiative to increase infrastructure funding which will be critical as we enter the next legislative session.
Remember that PAC checks must be made by individuals, not firms. Checks should be made directly to
ACEC PAC
and can be mailed to the ACECL offices at 9643 Brookline Avenue, Suite 112, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809. Please also include the PAC permission form with your check.
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Thank you for considering supporting the PAC. ACEC has one of the largest national PACs among trade associations and our influence gets results!
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ACECL AFFILIATE MEMBERS
Thank you to all of our 2019-2020 Affiliate Organizations
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ACEC Business Insurance Trust
ACEC Life/Health Insurance Trust
Alexander & Sanders
Barriere Construction Group, LLC
Benefits.One, LLC
Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson
Brown & Brown of Louisiana
BRAYN Consulting, LLC
CxA Services, Inc.
Eagan Insurance Agency, LLC
Entergy of Louisiana
Environmental Technical Sales, Inc. (Etech)
Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc.
Foley & Judell, L.L.P.
Forterra Pipe & Precast
Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith
Hannis T. Bourgeois
Industrial Fabrics
Lord & Winter
Louisiana Asphalt Pavement
O.R. Colan Associates, LLC
Penetron USA
Quality Sitework Materials, Inc.
Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn
Technical Coatings Services, Inc.
Wray & Associates, L.L.P
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THE ACECL MONTHLY INTERVIEW
This month ACECL interviews former ACECL President (Chair) Ann Trappey, President and CEO of Forte and Tablada based in Baton Rouge. Ann is a 2019 ACEC National Volunteer of the Year recipient, one of only four ACEC members nationally receiving this prestigious honor. Ann will be recognized at an awards ceremony during the ACEC Fall Convention in Chicago. ACECL congratulates Ann Trappey on her award and finds out what Ann does in her spare time....
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Not even the threat of Barry could dampen the fun at the 2019 Deep South Convention held July 10-14 in San Destin, Florida!
Over 100 ACEC members from Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi gathered at the San Destin Resort for another successful Deep South Convention. Joining the members from four states were national ACEC Chairman Mitch Simpler, Managing Partner of Jaros, Baum & Bolles in New York and ACEC Executive Committee Senior Vice Chair Jerry (Jay) Wolverton, CEO of Wolverton & Associates in Georgia.
Mark your calendars for the 2020 Deep South Convention
July 22-26, 2020
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2020 DOTD Transportation Conference
March 1-4, 2020
Raising Cane's River Center
Registration will open August 5, 2019
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Registration Fees:
- LADOTD Employees: No Charge
- LADOTD Retirees: $350
- Government/University Employees: $200
- Private Industry: $425
- Speakers: No Charge
- Students: No Charge
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7/14/2019:
West Baton Rouge Parish
. Bayou Stumpy Watershed Improvements Phase I Surveying, Engineering and Real Estate Services
DUE: 13-Aug-19
.
Kevin Durbin: kevin.durbin@wbrcouncil.org; 225-336-2434
7/22/2019:
Airport Authority District #1 of Calcasieu Parish.
All services required to supplement the Authority in the provision of design, bidding, and construction administration services related to improvements to the Airport's Rental Car Ready/Return facilities to possibly include covered parking structures along with other project components.
Heath Allen, CM, Ex Director,337-477-6051, ext 0.
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Division of Traffic Engineering
The Statewide Traffic Engineers Meeting is now open for registration. The meeting is hosted by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development's Section 77 - Traffic Engineering Management.
To register, click below and log in to LTRC's course system. If you do not have an account, you will need to create one.
Registration Deadline:
Monday, August 12, 2019
Meeting Date:
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Time:
8:30am - 4:30pm
(Time subject to change)
Location:
Transportation Training and Education Center (TTEC)
4099 Gourrier Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
No videoconferencing will be available.
For registration questions, please contact Layne Brown at 225-767-9721 or
layne.brown@la.gov
Registration link:
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LET US KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR FIRM
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If your firm or a member of your firm has recently been recognized for an achievement, let us know so we can promote on our social media page!
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As we enter the FY 2019-2020 fiscal year, we are going paperless! Your first quarter invoice (Q1) will be the last paper invoice mailed to your office. We will email all future invoices beginning with the FY 19-20 second quarter (Q2) invoice with the additional
option
to pay online. This change will reduce administrative time and costs associated with quarterly invoicing. On your dues statement, please also select your preferred annual, quarterly or monthly invoicing option.
Please contact Haleigh Gray at 225-927-7704 or
hgray@acecl.org
if you have any questions!
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EEA CALL for ENTRIES
Lafayette Chapter Luncheon
Lake Charles Luncheon
La Municipal Association Conference, Monroe
NOLA Chapter Meeting
Baton Rouge Chapter Luncheon
Transportation Committee (Via Phone)
Emerging Leaders 2019 Session II, Baton Rouge
Parish Engineers and Surveyors Association Conference, Charenton, La
ACEC Fall Convention, Chicago, IL
Fall Conference (aka Project Outlook) - Renaissance Hotel, Baton Rouge
Inaugural Engineering Excellence Awards – Renaissance Hotel, BR
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Thank You to our Sponsors!
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Doreen Brasseaux
President & CEO
ACEC of Louisiana
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