Attention Laborers & Tradesmen

Update 27 October 2011 15:42

Reply from Public Building Commission.  Thank you,  Mimi.

Per our conversation yesterday, please below for the bid incentive and contract requirements implemented by the PBC:

City Residency: 

The General Contractor must provide 50% of the total labor hours using city residents

Community Hiring:  The General Contractor must provide 7.5% of the total labor hours using residents of the Project Community Area as it is defined in the contract documents.  This provision requires that 7.5% of the journeyworkers, apprentices and laborers on this project reside within the neighboring community.

Minority and Women Owned Business Participation:  The contract between the PBC and the General Contractor establishes minimum M/WBE business participation goals at 24% MBE and 4% WBE.  These numbers are considered minimum goals and the PBC works very closely with its General Contractors to meet and exceed these goals regularly.

Minority and Women Worker Participation:  At the time of bid award, the General Contractor is afforded an incentive for the proposed use of minority and female workers which is monitored during the construction process by means of certified payrolls.

Bid Incentive for Apprentice Utilization:  Up to 1% bid incentive on future projects can be earned when a contractor is successful in utilizing apprentices who are graduates from a Technology Training Program offered by the City Colleges of Chicago.

Local  Business Participation standard:  Chicago General Contractors awarded PBC projects must subcontract at least 25% of the contract worth to Chicago subcontractors. General Contractors not located in Chicago must award at least 35% of the work to local subcontractors.

Mimi Simon

Public Information Officer

Public Building Commission of Chicago

Phone:  312-744-9277  Cell:  312-446-5174

Email:  mimi.simon@cityofchicago.org

Readers: 

I spoke to someone in the Public Building Commission Office about a couple of questions I had about the hiring process.  It was explained to me that a prospective hire needs to go to the address listed on the flyer below and complete an application.  The General Contractor does the hiring.  The General Contractor does have to comply with a few requirements listed in their city contract, managed by the Public Building Commission Office.  For example, a certain percentage of workers on the project have to come from the community, be minorities, and women.  I am waiting to receive the exact percentages from the Public Building Commission Office.

From the PBC Website:

Work Site Opportunities

The Public Building Commission is committed to having residents who live in the community work on the projects being built in their community.
When the General Contractor for a project has been selected, the PBC will work with the contractor to establish the number of positions available to the community based on the manpower schedule for the project. The General Contractor will then set up an application process that will provide experienced residents the opportunity to apply for the available jobs.