Aug. 5, 2008

Brightwater project puts local trucking companies on the road

Thinking big, a savvy group of local truckers worked together to secure a valuable hauling and disposal contract on the Brightwater wastewater treatment system project.

The Truckers Consortium, comprised of 10 local small trucking firms, was awarded a 60-day trial period contract for spoils hauling on Brightwater’s central tunnel.

The contract took effect last week and the consortium of truck owners began work immediately. The truckers will haul and remove dirt being excavated to build the six-mile central portion of a 13-mile tunnel that will eventually carry highly treated wastewater from the Brightwater plant north of Woodinville to a 600-foot-deep outfall in Puget Sound off Point Wells.

Brightwater tunnel joint venture contractor Vinci/Parsons/Frontier Kemper has the option to extend the contract after the 60 days have elapsed.

“These business owners undertook a unique strategy to increase their performance capacity,” said Tony Benjamin, executive director of the Urban League’s Contractor Development and Competitiveness Center, which helped the business owners prepare their bid.

“If an extension is earned, this contract can provide a local group of small business owners with a significant opportunity to participate in the economic benefits offered through the Brightwater project. That keeps this money recycling through our community to bolster the local economy, which means a better quality of life for us all.”

“Small businesses are big employers in this region,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “Providing opportunities for smaller firms to compete effectively for work on large county projects such as Brightwater is not only good business for the county, it’s good for local jobs and our economy.”

In 2005, Sims championed the inclusion of policies in the Brightwater Project Labor Agreement to allow small, nonunion firms to work on the project. As a condition of the PLA, the firms must adhere to policies that govern large employers and unions, including paying prevailing wages.

The county is currently partnered with the Urban League’s Contractor Development and Competitiveness Center, which works closely with firms attempting to bid successfully on Brightwater work. Brightwater construction contractors are also encouraged to identify opportunities for small businesses and to recruit qualified firms.

All of the Brightwater contracts specify goals for participation by Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCSs), and Small Economically Disadvantaged Businesses (SEBDs).

To date, small businesses and minority owned firms have been awarded $26 million worth of contract value work on the Brightwater project.

People enjoy clean water and a healthy environment because of King County's wastewater treatment program. The county's Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and water quality by serving 17 cities, 17 local sewer districts and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Formerly called Metro, the regional clean-water agency now operated by King County has been preventing water pollution for more than 40 years.

King County Executive, Ron Sims County news Executive initiatives Excellence in Government Executive offices Biography Contact information King County Executive Office Ron Sims, King County Executive 701 Fifth Ave. Suite 3210 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-296-4040 Fax: 206-296-0194 TTY Relay: 711	KING COUNTY HOME \| NEWS \| SERVICES \| DIRECTORY \| CONTACT King County Executive, Ron Sims King County Executive You're in: King County Executive, Ron Sims print Aug. 5, 2008 Brightwater project puts local trucking companies on the road Thinking big, a savvy group of local truckers worked together to secure a valuable hauling and disposal contract on the Brightwater wastewater treatment system project. The Truckers Consortium, comprised of 10 local small trucking firms, was awarded a 60-day trial period contract for spoils hauling on Brightwater’s central tunnel. The contract took effect last week and the consortium of truck owners began work immediately. The truckers will haul and remove dirt being excavated to build the six-mile central portion of a 13-mile tunnel that will eventually carry highly treated wastewater from the Brightwater plant north of Woodinville to a 600-foot-deep outfall in Puget Sound off Point Wells. Brightwater tunnel joint venture contractor Vinci/Parsons/Frontier Kemper has the option to extend the contract after the 60 days have elapsed. “These business owners undertook a unique strategy to increase their performance capacity,” said Tony Benjamin, executive director of the Urban League’s Contractor Development and Competitiveness Center, which helped the business owners prepare their bid. “If an extension is earned, this contract can provide a local group of small business owners with a significant opportunity to participate in the economic benefits offered through the Brightwater project. That keeps this money recycling through our community to bolster the local economy, which means a better quality of life for us all.” “Small businesses are big employers in this region,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “Providing opportunities for smaller firms to compete effectively for work on large county projects such as Brightwater is not only good business for the county, it’s good for local jobs and our economy.” In 2005, Sims championed the inclusion of policies in the Brightwater Project Labor Agreement to allow small, nonunion firms to work on the project. As a condition of the PLA, the firms must adhere to policies that govern large employers and unions, including paying prevailing wages. The county is currently partnered with the Urban League’s Contractor Development and Competitiveness Center, which works closely with firms attempting to bid successfully on Brightwater work. Brightwater construction contractors are also encouraged to identify opportunities for small businesses and to recruit qualified firms. All of the Brightwater contracts specify goals for participation by Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCSs), and Small Economically Disadvantaged Businesses (SEBDs). To date, small businesses and minority owned firms have been awarded $26 million worth of contract value work on the Brightwater project. People enjoy clean water and a healthy environment because of King County's wastewater treatment program. The county's Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and water quality by serving 17 cities, 17 local sewer districts and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Formerly called Metro, the regional clean-water agency now operated by King County has been preventing water pollution for more than 40 years.
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	Updated: Aug. 5, 2008