Industry Confronts Budget, Contracting Woes In Global Military Construction Arena
The potential for new business in military and federal construction lured a record number of industry executives to the Society of American Military Engineers' annual agency briefing in Crystal City, Va., on March 23. However, congressional budgetary wrangling and changing military contracting trends did not leave all attendees gleeful.
Civilian and military construction chiefs noted that budget uncertainties, including a possible halt to traditional congressional project “earmarks,” hampers efforts to deliver more construction work into attendees’ hands. Terry G. Edwards, director of the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE), told the packed house of more than 600 attendees that 77% of its fiscal 2011 construction program has been advertised and 53% is ready for award. “But until we get funding, we’re kind of on hold,” he said.