The Alaska Contractor: Fall 2006

Knowles
continued from page 63
to consider Alaskan contractors’ capabilities
when they are scoping and
packaging projects and contracts to
insure maximum utilization of Alaskan
contractors. The state gets the
most professional project development
and we keep the jobs and investment
in state.
It is essential that Alaska contractors
are considered and allowed to
compete for contracts to develop our
natural resources. Previously, many
Alaska contractors expanded their
operations into oil and gas projects
and mining development, and we
need to emphasize through jaw-boning
and contract terms, that Alaska
workers and contractors should be
sought out and given a fair opportunity
to participate in the development
of our resources.
I worked closely with the AGC,
organized labor, and Alaska Native
representatives to increase opportunities
for contractors on rural
projects. A.O. 199 provided for the
re-introduction of competitive bidding
as a viable option on Village
Safe Water and other projects which
had become almost administered under
the “force account” system. The
current administration has not effectively
implemented the provisions of
A.O. 199 so painstakingly developed
by the Rural Construction Working
Group - I will do so.
Fall 2006 The Alaska CONTRACTOR 65