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The article discusses the lack of federal benefits for and other issues faced by private contract firefighters in the U.S. Topics include Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act 1976 by president Gerald Ford, increase in demand for contracting companies' fighters and 2017 Public Safety Officers' Benefit Improvement Act. Comments by Jessica Gardetto, spokes woman for the National Interagency Fire Center and Vicki Minor, executive director of the Wildland Firefighter Foundation are included.

The article highlights the need to fix bankruptcy code or law in the U.S. in order to improve infrastructure. Topics covered include the predicted increase in municipal bankruptcies, the threat posed by preference actions against municipal contractors, the case of Flint, Michigan which filed a lawsuit against its construction contractors and the need to amend chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code to prevent municipalities from pursing preference actions in municipal projects.

The article focuses on Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) for contractors and manufacturers in California. Topics discussed include reduction of HFC related emissions, efforts of California Air Resources Board (CARB) to clarify the status of chillers, and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) in California.

This section offers small business news briefs as of May/June 2015. House Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot introduced H.R. 1481, the Small Contractors Improve Competition Act on March 20, 2015. The Office of Advocacy has released a report entitled "Small Business Profiles for the States and Territories," an annual analysis of each state's small businesses. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet testified in February regarding SBA's FY2016 budget.

The article examines the factors that influence the success or failure of carrying out a U.S. government contract for overseas construction work. Topics discussed include the legal liabilities faced by government contractors working in foreign countries, the international rules governing architectural and engineering designs for overseas projects and the challenges of managing overseas projects. Also discussed are the steps that contractors can take to ensure the success of their projects.

The article focuses on the guiding principles and policy of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.229-3 in the U.S. It examines the basic clause of FAR and the case law on equitable adjustments for omitted or after-imposed and after-relieved taxes. Furthermore, it cites the numerous arguments contractors have made under the said bill.

The article offers tips for the prevention of fair housing violations by the outside contractors in the U.S. It suggests homeowners should include the provisions of fair housing compliance in the contracts with their contractors. They are advised to maintain supervision of the conduct of their contractors. The article also recommends that they enforce special precautions in preventing sexual harassment claims.

The article offers information on ways to protect the community from fair housing violations by outside contractors in the U.S. It discusses five rules to ensure the community's safety from fair housing troubles initiated by outside vendors under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), citing issues such as discrimination and harassment. Details and applicability of these rules are presented including the need to make fair housing compliance, to supervise contractor's conduct and to document complaints.

The article discusses a proposed amendment to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in 2007 that would require mandatory disclosure of criminal violations. The amendment would reportedly require government contractors or subcontractors to notify the appropriate contracting officers and the Office of Inspectors General whenever violations has been committed in connection with their award of a federal contract. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) requested that the proposed rule be more closely matched to the Organizational Sentencing Guidelines.

The article provides information on the multi-employer work policy implemented by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). The policy aims to identify the types of employers involved in a project site and determines the scope of safety duties and responsibilities for each employer. OSHA has established safety for contractors to exercise throughout the project site. Employers are required to determine the reasonable care factors that they must provide for each project.

Looks at the legal status contingent workers, including temporary, on-call workers, independent contractors, leased employees and part-time workers in the United States. Definition of contingent work; Employer rationale; Benefits; Litigation.

The article addresses questions raised by contractors in preparing to comply with the new U.S. federal rules that encourage federal contractors to hire more veterans and people with disabilities. An overview of the objectives of the two final rules issued by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is presented. The initial reactions of employers in the building industry are also described. INSET: Final Rules Eased Earlier Proposals.

The article discusses risk management in misclassifying independent contractors as employees. It notes that the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) filed an interpretation of independent contractor law that strengthens enforcement actions against employers who misclassify workers. It advises employers not to mandate employment status, to avoid packaged resources, and to treat workers with respect to prevent legal and other problems.

The article offers an overview of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule, which aims at minimizing exposure to lead-based paint hazards. Under the RRP rules, contractors and maintenance professionals needs to be certified and follow protective work practice standards. It also explores the emergency exemption to the RRP rule which allows owners to act immediately to preserve their site after the disasters.

The article reports that the U.S. Supreme Court will decide by June 2011 on the legality of background checks carried out by government agencies in its recruitment of contract workers. The case involves scientists and engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Pasadena, California, who questioned a NASA decision to conduct in-depth background checks of contractors in 2007. The argument of the plaintiff against the NASA decision is included.

The article discusses the implications for criminal prosecution of the complicated legal status of civilian contractors in U.S.-occupied Iraq. There is a disagreement on whether to prosecute contractor-related cases under the 2000 law governing the liability of contractors and Pentagon employees supporting overseas missions or under the courts-martial system. Only 24 civilians out of 520 suspects in sexual assault investigations faced inquiries since 2002. Also cited is the perceived impact of the issue on the U.S. mission in Iraq.

Focuses on the court cases on the rights of contractors under the workers' compensation law in Mississippi. Coverage of workers compensation insurance; Provisions of Workers Compensation Act; Role of prime contractor to maintain insurance coverage for the subcontractors' employees.

The article focuses on laws and legislation for private contractors in Iraq. Attention is given to the private security firm Blackwater USA, which made headlines in September 2007 after they shot and killed 17 Iraqi civilians. The author reports that in 2008, a series of lawsuits currently working through the U.S. could have an impact on the firm. In all the cases, Iraqi victims represented by U.S. lawyers are seeking restitution for abuses reportedly committed by contractors.

The article discusses the decision by U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson in a lawsuit filed by the National Rifle Association (NRA) that challenges a law that requires contractors to disclose all business relations to the organization. The court rejected a request from the city government of Los Angeles, California, to dismiss the suit. The NRA argued that the law violates its First Amendment rights to free speech and association.

The article discusses the decision by U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson in a lawsuit filed by the National Rifle Association (NRA) that challenges a law that requires contractors to disclose all business relations to the organization. The court rejected a request from the city government of Los Angeles, California, to dismiss the suit. The NRA argued that the law violates its First Amendment rights to free speech and association.

The article reports that a federal judge in Los Angeles, California will hear arguments on August 12, 2019 on the case filed by the National Rifle Association (NRA) against the city that seeks to overturn a law requiring contractors to disclose all business ties to the gun-rights group. Topics covered include the provisions of the law, the argument by the NRA that the law violates its First Amendment rights to free speech and association, and other accusations made by the NRA against the law.

The article offers information on the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) directive on residential fall protective compliance and its impact on the roofing industry. The regulation of OSHA requires residential roofing contractors to fully comply with residential fall protection standards and the construction fall protection written program. A brief overview of related OSHA regulations is also presented, as well as factors considered by OSHA as basis for the issuance.

The article offers information on the provisions under the Uniform Contract Termination Article in the U.S. It states that the legal document is applicable to the elimination of fixed price supply contracts at the option of the government. It mentions the scope of agreement between contractors and contracting officers and the delivery of a Notice of Termination. It also notes the circumstances wherein the government will be obliged to make payments under the article.

Reports on the prospects for laws limiting the interstate transportation of solid waste in the United States. Submission of waste-related bills to the US House of Representatives and the US Senate in the 2000 Congress; Launch of a procurement regulation or the contractor responsibility rule.

The article discusses the responsibility of companies as joint employers for independent contractor or leased employees under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. It notes that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service classifies a worker an employee based on behavioral and financial relationship while the Wage and Hour Division of the Labor Department monitors denial of benefits and protections. Compliance with rules of the Employee Benefits Security Administration and other agencies is also discussed.

The article offers a comparison on safety in the building design practices in the U.S., Great Britain and Australia. In the U.S., it mentions that safety in design practices is still in its early phases as American architects and engineers are reluctant to interfere with the contractors, increasing their liability. In Great Britain and Australia, they have enacted laws that require a process of interaction among designers, end users, and contractors to ensure safety practices in construction.

This section offers news briefs on the aerospace industries in the U.S. as of April 2009. A revised defense acquisition reform bill, introduced by Senators Carl Levin and John McCain has dropped a total ban on contractors advising the U.S. Department of Defense on weapon systems that they are also building or developing. The draft language of a new climate-change bill, which is circulating in the U.S. House, requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set greenhouse gas emissions standards for aircraft and aircraft engines by the end of 2012.

The article discusses a court case where offeror United Contracting LLC protested the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)'s requisite for ID/IQ contract experience arguing that experience as an ID/IQ contractor was not a stated evaluation criteria. United argued that VA should have weighed its key personnel who had experience managing ID/IQ projects. The Comptroller General denied the protest and ruled that project solicitation explicitly required a description of ID/IQ contractor experience.