Foreign firms' growing interest in U.S. design-build projects and public-private partnerships (P3s) may turn big contractors into "the pretty girl at the dance" but, in some cases, also might leave out smaller firms, industry experts recently cautioned in response to questions from officials of those very firms.
P3s are "picking up at a fast pace, with 33 states having P3 legislation," said James Merrill, managing director with Star America Capital Advisors. Merrill was a panelist on the subject at the annual meeting, held last month in San Diego, of the Construction Financial Management Association.