Master Builders of Iowa

The first quarter of each year is a great time to evaluate and re-evaluate many aspects of your life, both personally and professionally. Many of us make appointments with our insurance agents, doctor’s offices and financial planners to discuss and prepare for any potential changes during the upcoming year. Why not contact Master Builders of Iowa and the Construction Update Plan Room as well? We have been helping companies plan their future for 100 years.

During our evaluation of the past 12 months, Master Builders of Iowa and the Construction Update Plan Room found several reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming year. The Construction Update Online Plan Room powered by iSqFt celebrated the 10th anniversary of our strategic partnership. The number of projects received in the Plan Rooms increased over the past two years and our membership numbers have continued to grow. Although we have been very fortunate in many ways, we know that the industry is not back to “normal” and we would like to help you weather the storm.

As most of you know, Iowa Code 26.3 outlines the requirements for competitive bidding on public projects. The current threshold for the competitive bid process is $100,000 and will be increasing to $125,000 on January 1, 2012. Although $100,000 has been the magic number according to Iowa Code, the Construction Update Plan Room Network targets any projects with a pre-construction cost estimate of greater than $20,000 and therefore we have not made any changes to our policy or procedure as it relates to plans in the Plan Rooms. Please read below to find out more details pertaining to the threshold increase.

The Vertical Infrastructure Advisory Committee recently met to consider public bidding thresholds for the start of 2012. During the meeting, the Committee agreed to raise the competitive bid threshold from $100,000 to $125,000 effective January 1, 2012. Iowa law provides for the adjustment of the threshold pursuant to an advisory committee who is assigned to recommend adjustments (upward, downward or unchanged) that will take effect at the beginning of each year. The Committee reviews price adjustments for all types of construction, reconstruction and public improvement projects based on the changes in the construction price index, building cost index, and material cost index from the proceeding adjustment.

The Master Builders Plan Room in Sioux City now has a wide format printer which will allow members to have prints made for projects that are not physically in the Sioux City Plan Room. The Plan Room staff has the ability to view and print any project that is in any of the Plan Rooms within our network. In addition to the wide format printer, the Sioux City Plan Room also has a wide format copier which will allow you to copy your own plans that you bring into the Plan Room.

Will the United States Postal Service changes affect my Construction Update delivery?

With all of the changes that are going on with the postal service, many of us are experiencing delays in receiving our mail. By definition, the Construction Update Newspaper is a weekly periodical. According to the United States Postal Service, weekly periodicals are to be designated as 2nd class mail. With a 2nd class mail assignment, the USPS estimates the delivery time to be 2-9 days within a 450 mile radius. In some cases, there is not a noticeable difference between 1st class and 2nd class mail. There are certain variables that can and do affect the timely delivery of 2nd class mail. One variable that may delay 2nd class mail is heavy volume mailing periods like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc. This is not new to any of us. What is new to all of us is the delay that is caused by the cuts that are being made at rural post offices where full-time carriers are being replaced by part-time carriers and in some cases the post offices are closed all together.

February 20 - 22, 2012
MBI’s 100th Anniversary Celebration & 2012 Iowa Construction Expo

SAVE THE DATE:
The MBI annual convention is the meeting place for construction professionals. In February, the Master Builders of Iowa convenes its annual meeting which is partnered with the Midwest’s premiere trade show – The Construction Industry Exposition. Each year the convention focuses on providing MBI members with essential learning opportunities for high performance. Some of the best speakers in the nation are secured to deliver topics that affect your business operations.