Alabamians Get the Most Out of Their Alcohol Control System

By

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September 11, 2014

By Mac Gipson

Earlier this year, a Washington Post article hailed Alabama, along with Alaska, as “national leaders” when it comes to taxing alcoholic beverages. “They are the only states that claim a spot among the top five with the highest excise taxes each for beer, wine and spirits, according to the free market-oriented Tax Foundation,” the newspaper reported.
That national ranking is something Alabamians should view with great pride. Not because we should feel glee in having high taxes. But because Alabama’s “sin taxes” are doing exactly what the vast majority of our citizens should want them to do: Raise badly needed revenue to help pay for essential state services, while helping control the consumption of alcohol and its negative consequences.
Recently, using information from the Beer Institute, The Post took a look at the other side of the alcohol issue – consumption. As illustrated by a series of maps The Post used to show alcohol consumption by type and state, Alabamians, per person, drink far less than residents of most other states.
Of course, this is no surprise to those of us charged by state law with “controlling” alcohol in the state. We have long taken pride in the fact that Alabama is among the states with the lowest per capita consumption of alcohol. In fact, when it comes to the hard stuff – liquor, or distilled spirits, as the industry terms it – Alabamians consume less per person than the residents of any other state, according to the federal government’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Alabama is one of only nine states whose residents consume less than two gallons of alcohol per capita per year, say the surveillance reports of the NIAAA, a division of the National Institutes of Health.
For liquor, whose sale is more strictly controlled by the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Alabamians consume 0.58 gallon per capita per year, according to NIAAA data. That is the lowest of any state, including the District of Columbia.
We are No. 1. Not only is this something we should take pride in, it is a direct indication Alabama’s system of “control” is working efficiently. Alabama is getting the absolute most out of its alcohol taxes without having to drive up alcohol consumption, along with its associated social ills, such as alcoholism and drunk driving.
High revenue and low consumption: Isn’t that what Alabamians want from their alcohol control system?
In 2012, the ABC Board, through its operations, provided more than $210 million to state and local governments in Alabama. This included nearly $75 million to the state’s General Fund, $50 million to the state Department of Human Resources, $33 million to the Department of Mental Health, $22 million to education, $14 million to the Department of Revenue and more than $16 million to Alabama cities and counties.
The ABC Board produced those much-needed revenues while fulfilling its obligation to regulate the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages, enforce the state’s alcohol laws, educate sellers and the public about alcohol issues, such as underage drinking, and to promote temperance.
The board operates more than 175 retail liquor stores that sell directly to the public. It also licenses and is the wholesale provider to more than 550 private package stores in the state. In addition, all restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages and all stores that sell wine or beer are licensed and inspected by the ABC Board.
Besides its role with alcohol, the ABC Board is responsible for enforcing state laws against youth access to tobacco products, conducting nearly 5,000 compliance checks a year. Plus, ABC undercover agents take part in street-level drug operations statewide.
All of this is done efficiently. The operations of ABC stores and warehouses, the board’s licensing and enforcement activities, plus its educational functions cost just 19 cents on each dollar made from the sale of liquor. That is a bargain for state taxpayers.
The control system is working for Alabama. In fact, it has worked for more than 75 years. Since the passage of the Alabama Beverage Act in 1937, ending prohibition in Alabama, the ABC Board has sent more than $6 billion to the state and local governments.
The ABC Board helps keep the state’s overall tax burden low by providing Alabamians a valuable return on “sin taxes” without encouraging more consumption.
That is a story well worth telling and celebrating.

H. Mac Gipson is administrator of the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, which controls alcoholic beverages in the state through distribution, licensing, enforcement and education. Email: mac.gipson@abc.alabama.gov.

Is the Hatred for Trade Schools Really Class Warfare? Are Low Income Minority Students the Real Targets?

By

Birmingham Times

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September 11, 2014

0

By Harry C. Alford, contributor

Trade schools have higher graduation and placement rates than other colleges, yet they are being singled out for cuts in college funding because of their student population. Hairstylists, plumbers, mechanics, chefs, medical assistants, ministers, and other working class students who attend trade schools are being discriminated against by the Administration.
NATIONWIDE (BlackNews.com) – Imagine if the federal government decided to regulate hospitals and medical clinics by judging them strictly by their ability to achieve specific outcomes for their patients – as opposed to measuring their quality of service – or else funding would be cut off, causing them to close their doors. Moreover, not all hospitals and clinics would be subject to these regulations – just the ones in neighborhoods with older populations, higher percentages of people living in poverty, and larger numbers of Latino and African-American residents.
The scenario above would lead to the closure of hundreds of hospitals which serve the vital role of providing health services to the underserved Americans who need them most. A proposal like this would be lambasted by Americans as outrageous and harmful. However, this is exactly what the U.S. Department of Education has proposed when it comes to college programs throughout the country with its proposed “gainful employment” regulations.
While the administration’s conquest of Corinthian Colleges this summer left 72,000 students and 12,000 employees without a clear path forward, those numbers appear paltry when compared to the thousands of employees and millions of students who would be affected by the proposed gainful employment regulations. Various studies have shown that approximately 1 million students are enrolled in programs that will likely lose eligibility for Title IV federal student aid under the proposed regulations, and up to 7.5 million students could lose access by 2024.
As previously noted, the administration claimed ignorance of Corinthian’s tenuous finances when it delayed access to the federal funding for students choosing to attend a Corinthian institution of higher education, but those dubious claims have since been exposed as a ploy to cover up the Department of Education’s blind zeal for big government. As BuzzFeed revealed in documents provided to the outlet, the department was aware of many of the details of Corinthian’s financial situation as recently as May 2014. This revelation – coupled with the department’s and the administration’s known hostility toward private-sector schools – confirms that the department’s assertions are little more than a cover up for its hasty, poorly planned actions.
While the department may be patting itself on the back now, the repercussions of its hasty actions are being felt by the thousands of students who attend Corinthian’s schools. These students now face uncertain futures as the department failed to consider a plan to absorb them, as well as the impact to Corinthian’s full-time employees, who will now be forced to seek new alternatives. The department’s lack of consideration for this underserved population of the U.S. will be made even clearer if its proposed gainful employment regulations become law, as they are guaranteed to have exponentially more damaging effects.
The prospect of the impact of the gainful employment regulations is more appalling when the demographics of many private-sector institutions are taken into consideration. The majority of students who attend private-sector colleges come predominantly from challenged socioeconomic segments of our communities. Students at for-profits tend to be older than traditional students, are more likely to be minorities and slightly more likely to be female. Many students are already part of the workforce and are twice as likely to have families of their own.
Analysis from Charles River Associates suggest that between 25 and 40 percent of African-American students, between 21 and 39 percent of Hispanic students, and between 24 and 41 percent of female students are enrolled in impacted programs. These are the very individuals, in every corner of our country, who are working to break into the American middle class. They are also people for whom traditional public or nonprofit colleges simply aren’t an option – either due to costs, schedules, admissions requirements or simply due to choice, a freedom we enjoy in this country the last time I checked.
If the proposed regulations are put in place as currently drafted, there will be a snowball effect. First, students who are reliant on federal financial aid to afford college will be denied access. The resulting reduction in enrollment could shut down entire programs and colleges, thus negatively impacting potentially all students enrolled and studying at the institution of their choosing. Some programs, striving to meet unrealistic metrics to remain viable, will greatly restrict admission of the underserved students who need it most, and only enroll low-risk students. The schools left standing will be no more accessible to underserved students than traditional colleges and universities, public or nonprofit.
It won’t take long before the American public’s outrage against these shortsighted regulations boils forth when millions of students are forced to abandon their dreams of higher education and are stripped of one of their most important options for life improvement.
Harry C. Alford is the co-founder, president and CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce. For more details, visit www.nationalbcc.org.

Inside the Statehouse

By

Birmingham Times

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September 11, 2014

0

by Steve Flowers

The 1986 Governor’s race will be remembered as one of Alabama’s most amazing political stories. In 1978 Fob James sent the Three B’s, Brewer, Beasley and Baxley packing. Brewer and Beasley had been permanently exiled to Buck’s Pocket, the mythical destination for defeated Alabama gubernatorial candidates. However, Bill Baxley resurrected his political career by bouncing back to be elected lt. governor in 1982, while George Wallace was winning his fifth and final term as governor. Another player arrived on the state political scene. Charlie Graddick was elected as a fiery tough lock ‘em up and throw away the key attorney general. Graddick had previously been a tough prosecuting district attorney in Mobile.
When Wallace bowed out from seeking reelection in 1986 it appeared the race was between Bill Baxley, the lt. governor, and Charlie Graddick, the attorney general. It also appeared there was a clear ideological divide. The moderates and liberals in Alabama were for Baxley and the arch conservatives were for Graddick. Baxley had the solid support of Black voters, labor, and progressives. Graddick had the hard core conservatives, including most of the Republican voters in Alabama.
The Republicans had gone to a primary by 1986 but very few Alabamians, even Republicans, participated. It was still assumed that the Democratic Primary was tantamount to election. The Democratic Primary would draw 800,000 Alabama voters while the GOP Primary drew 40,000, so obviously most Republican leaning voters felt that in order for their vote to count they had to vote in the Democratic Primary.
Baxley and Graddick went after each other with a vengeance in the primary. They truly personally disliked each other. The race was close. Graddick came out on top by an eyelash. He encouraged Republicans to come vote for him in the Democratic Primary. They did and that is why he won. This was not something that had not been happening for decades. Brewer would have never led Wallace in 1970 without Republicans. Fob would have never won the Democratic Primary and thus become governor in 1978 without Republican voters. Basically, Alabama had been a no party state. We still have no party registration law. So how do you police people weaving in and out of primaries without a mechanism in place for saying you are a Democrat, Republican, or Independent?
After Graddick defeated Baxley by less than 25,000 votes in the runoff primary, the Democratic Party did the unthinkable. They convened the hierarchy of the party, who clearly favored Baxley, and declared Baxley the Democratic nominee because they guessed Graddick had won the primary with Republican crossover voters. They paraded experts in front of their committee to testify that Baxley should have won if just Democrats had voted. They boldly and brazenly chose Baxley as the nominee in spite of the fact that Graddick had clearly gotten the most votes.
This move went against the grain of the vast majority of Alabama voters. They felt that Graddick, even if they had not voted for him, got the most votes and should be the nominee. The Democratic Party leadership sluffed it off. They assumed that the Democratic nominee would win regardless. After all there had not been a Republican Governor of Alabama in 100 years. In addition, the Republicans had chosen an unknown former Cullman County Probate Judge named Guy Hunt. Hunt had no money and no name identification.
The Democratic leaders guessed wrong. The backlash was enormous. The bold handpicking of a nominee, who had not received the most votes, was a wrong that needed to be righted. Baxley did not help his case any by ignoring Hunt and dismissing him as a simpleton. He mocked Hunt saying he was unqualified because he only had a high school education. Baxley, as politically astute as he was, should have realized that he was insulting the majority of Alabama voters who themselves only possessed high school educations. This created a backlash of its own.
When the votes were counted in the November general election, Guy Hunt was elected Governor of Alabama. This 1986 result gave new meaning and proof to the old George Wallace theory that more Alabama voters vote against someone than for someone. Alabama had its first Republican governor in 100 years. The 1986 Governor’s race will go down in history as a red letter year, along with the 1970 and 1978 Governor’s races. It was truly historic and memorable.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His column appears weekly in 75 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the state legislature. He may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.

Classified

By

Birmingham Times

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September 11, 2014

0

**Employment

Royal Cup Coffee, the leading coffee roaster and nationwide provider of gourmet coffees, teas and allied products offers an excellent opportunity for highly motivated and skilled individuals. We are currently accepting applications for an immediate opening for a full time, Digital Content Manager.

We are looking for a dynamic, self-motivated individual with experience and skills in digital content management, including writing, editing, graphic design, and site management.

Royal Cup offers competitive wages and an opportunity to grow your career. Royal Cup Coffee is an Equal Opportunity Employer *MINORITIES/FEMALES/*DISABILITIES/VETERANS. To apply please visit online at *www.royalcupcoffee.comHZline Note!!Please ALWAYS separate All ADS by line in between each AD! (If WORD OR WORDS have an asterisk please bold the line or words) If This line is the Subject for following ads. (EOH) (Royal Cup Logo) and Montevallo logo (Apartment Rent Logo) Driver (logo for Maverick Transportation)

**Employment

Royal Cup Coffee, the leading coffee roaster and nationwide provider of gourmet coffees, teas and allied products offers an excellent opportunity for highly motivated and skilled individuals. We are currently accepting applications for an immediate opening for a full time, Digital Content Manager.

We are looking for a dynamic, self-motivated individual with experience and skills in digital content management, including writing, editing, graphic design, and site management.

Royal Cup offers competitive wages and an opportunity to grow your career. Royal Cup Coffee is an Equal Opportunity Employer *MINORITIES/FEMALES/*DISABILITIES/VETERANS. To apply please visit online at www.royalcupcoffee.com/.

BT09/11/14
______________________________

*University of Montevallo

We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:

Assistant Professor of Counseling
Assistant Registrar for Student Records Systems Management

For more details visit *https://jobs.montevallo.edu

*UM is an EO Employer
BT09/11/14
____________
*Wanted Senior Citizen that would like to supplement income
Housekeeper
Age 60 and over
For light housework every 2 weeks for 3
hours. Must have references. You may
contact the following number:
*(205) 213-5824
BT09/11/14
_________________________
**DRIVERS

(MAVERICK logo)
*Drive the Best. Drive Maverick Regional Reefer Drivers Needed Immediately! $.41 – $.42/mile, Addt’l Mileage Pay for Performance Bonus Introductory/New Hire Rate ($.02-$.04/mile) • $.01/mile raise at 1 yr and pay increases for up to 5 years • 2,200 – 2,600 miles per wk average • Paid Orientation (Travel, Lodging & Lunch Provided!) • Regional reefer positions – needed to fill immediately • Hiring area: 50 mile radius of Pearl, MS and be willing to commute with personal vehicle to our yard in Pearl. • Pay for performance with up to $.06/mile bonus after intro period bonus • Detention Pay • Home weekends (800 mile guarantee if hung out) • Safest, best maintained trucks on the road • 21 yrs old and Class A CDL required • Student program available for those with a CDL and no experience (PUT COMPANY LOGO HERE) Call Maverick Transportation Today! 1-800-289-1100 www.drivemaverick.com
BT09/11/14

___________________________
**AUTOMOBILE

ALL Ford Fusions
$2500 OFF Rebate
Call Sammy at
205-814-6454

2007 G.M.C. Yukon SLT
HARD LOADED
Call Kanisha at
205-380-0593

2012 Chevy Malibu
FACTORY WARRANTY
Call Sammy at
205-814-6454

2007 Dodge Ram
Crew Cab HEMI
Call Kanisha at
205-380-0593

2007 Honda Accord
CRIMSON color
Call Sammy at
205-814-6454
BT09/11/14
_________________________________
**LEGALS

*PUBLIC NOTICE

*NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF *INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Jefferson County Office of Community & Economic Development
716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, Room A-430
Birmingham, AL 35203
(205) 325-5761
These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the Jefferson County Office of Community& Economic Development.

*REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
On or about Friday, September 26, 2014 the Jefferson County Commission, acting as Community Development agent for Jefferson County and Consortium municipalities, will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development for the release of Federal Community Development Block Grant funds under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (PL93-383) to undertake the following project:

*Rosedale Sidewalk Phase II Project (CDBG12-03L-M05-RS2)

*FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
The Jefferson County Commission through its Office of Community & Economic Development has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at the Jefferson County Office of Community & Economic Development, 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North – Room A-430, Birmingham, AL 35203 where the record is available for review and may be examined or copied weekdays 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

*PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency disagreeing with this determination or wishing to comment on the project may submit written comments to the Jefferson County Office of Community & Economic Development. All comments received by Friday, September 26, 2014, will be considered by the Jefferson County Office of Community & Economic Development prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.

*RELEASE OF FUNDS
The Jefferson County Commission through its Office of Community & Economic Development certifies to HUD that the President of the Jefferson County Commission consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities, and allows the Jefferson County Commission to use Program funds.

*OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the Jefferson County Commission’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (which ever is later) only if they are on one of the following basis: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the Jefferson County Commission; (b) the Jefferson County Commission has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the grant recipient has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58) and shall be addressed to: Environmental Clearance, Mr. Charles Franklin, CPD Director, U.S. Department of HUD, Birmingham Office, Region IV, Medical Forum Building, Suite 900, 950 22nd Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last date of the objection period.
W. D. Carrington, President
Jefferson County Commission
BT09/11/14
_________________
*FORM OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR COMPLETION

*LEGAL NOTICE

In accordance with Chapter 1, Title 39 Code of Alabama, 1975, notice is hereby given
that Bennett Building, Inc. Contract for Alterations to existing Training Center For Bevill State
Community College, for the State of Alabama and the City of Jasper, AL, Owner(s), and
have made request for final settlement of said Contract. All persons having any claim for labor,
materials, or otherwise in connection with this project should immediately notify PH&S Architects
Bennett Building, Inc., 120 Shady Acres Road, Alabaster, AL 35007
BT09/11/14

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*CITY OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
*DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
*PUBLIC NOTICE

In accordance with 24 CFR 91.105(d) and 91.520 the City of Birmingham, Alabama (hereinafter referred to as “the City”) has prepared its Program Year (PY) 2013 Proposed Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the period July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014.

The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report includes a summary of programmatic accomplishments and an assessment of progress toward the priorities identified in the City’s U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) PY 2010-2015 approved five year strategic plan and PY 2013 Action Plan. To do so, the report is essentially composed of an executive summary, a series of general questions relating to overall program performance; narrative statements which provide the status of actions taken during the year to implement the City’s overall strategy; and a self evaluation which evaluates progress made during the past year in addressing identified priority needs and objectives.

The HUD Integrated Disbursement & Information System (HUD-IDIS) provides the following reports which have been downloaded and are also available for review. They are as follows:

* Summary of Accomplishments Report (CO4PR23): Presents data on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership (HOME) program activity counts and disbursements by priority need categories. It also contains data on CDBG accomplishments by various units of measure and housing units by racial/ethnic categories and HOME housing units by various income groups.

* Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (C04PR06): Tracks progress in implementing projects identified in the City’s PY 2012 Action Plan. This report lists all projects for a plan year in sequence by project number. Disbursements are summarized by program for each project’s activities. Accomplishments reported for the program year are summarized for each program area.

* Summary of Activities (CO4PR03): Lists each CDBG activity which was open during the PY 2013 program year. For each activity the report shows the status, accomplishments, and program year narrative and program year expenditures. For each activity the report also shows the activity code, regulation cite and characteristics of the beneficiaries.

* Financial Summary Report: The report has been prepared using HUD Form 4949-3 and by following the procedures described in Appendix 3 of the HUD Grantee Performance Report Handbook (Handbook 6510.2 Rev-2). This report shows the obligations, expenditures which the City has made for PY 2013. The expenditures are summarized to determine the relevant indicators for low-and moderate-income, planning/administration, public service activities and economic development. This report contains program year information on statutory requirements regarding overall percentage for low-and moderate income benefit.

Copies of the report are available for inspection at the address listed below between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays. The City encourages citizens to review and provide written comments on the report. All comments should be submitted in writing *on or before Friday, September 26, 2014 by 4:00 p.m. to the following address:

*John G. Colón, Director
*Community Development Department
*City of Birmingham, Alabama
*710 North 20th Street, Room 1000
*Birmingham, AL 35203

The City will consider all timely written views and comments received in developing its Final PY 2013 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report.
BT09/11/14
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*ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
*PERSONNEL BOARD of JEFFERSON COUNTY 10TH FLOOR RENOVATION PACKAGE *BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

The Jefferson County Purchasing Department will receive sealed Proposals from qualified General Contractors for the Personnel Board of Jefferson County 10th Floor Renovation Package, 2121 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, Alabama, until 5:00pm on September 16, 2014, at the Purchasing Department, 8th Floor, Courthouse Complex, 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North,
Birmingham, AL 35203. The Bids will be opened on September 17th,
2014 at 2:00pm on the 8th Floor, Conference Room 830, Courthouse Complex,
716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203.

No Bids will be accepted after the time stated for receipt of Bids. This requirement will not be waived. The time will be determined by Ms. Carmen Jones, Buyer with the Purchasing Department, or her designated representative. At the time stated above, the Proposals will be opened and publicly read aloud.

All Bids must be on a lump-sum basis. Submit two copies of the Bid on the Proposal Form provided, without changes, in a sealed envelope bearing the Contractor’s name and current Alabama license number. Bids that do not bear the Contractor’s current license number will be returned without being opened.

A bid bond, payable to the Personnel Board of Jefferson County, in the amount of 5% of the amount of the Bid, but not more than $10,000.00, must accompany the Bidder’s Proposal. Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds in the amount of 100% of the Contract Price, will be required at the signing of the Contract.

General Contractors must attend the mandatory Pre-Bid Conference to bid this portion of the Work. The Pre-Bid Conference will be held at 2:00 PM on September 08, 2014 in the Purchasing Department, 8th Floor, Conference Room 830, Courthouse Complex. If the number of bidders who attend the pre-bid conference decreases so there is little or no competition, others may be allowed to bid or the bid may be postponed at the discretion of the Owner.

Drawings and Project Manual will be open to public inspection after Noon on August 28, 2014 at the office of Jefferson County General Services, #1 County Courthouse, office of Giattina Aycock Architecture Studio, Inc., Birmingham Construction Industry Authority, McGraw Hill Construction – Dodge in Birmingham, and Reed Construction Market Data in Birmingham.

Two sets of Bid Documents will be provided to each qualified General Contractor for a deposit of $300.00, made payable to the Architect, which will be refunded in full upon return of the documents in good condition within ten days of bid date. The deposit check is to be delivered to Alabama Graphics, 2801 5th Avenue South. Upon receipt of the deposit, Alabama Graphics will provide the General Contractor with two sets of Bid Documents. Additional sets of Bid Documents may be obtained at Alabama Graphics for the cost of printing and handling. Bids will only be accepted from General Contractors who have filed a bid deposit with the Architect and have attended the mandatory Pre-Bid Conference.

No Bid may be withdrawn after the scheduled closing time for the receipt of Bids for a period of 60 days. Only Bids submitted by qualified General Contractors licensed as required by applicable State and local laws and bearing the license number of the Contractor will be considered.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids; to waive formalities and technicalities; and to proceed in its’ own best interests.
Mr. Lorren Oliver, Director
Personnel Board of Jefferson County
Birmingham, Alabama
BT09/11/14
HZline)
_________________________________________
*DATE:
*August 14, 2014

To: Prospective Bidders
*INVITATION FOR BID NUMBER:
*15-01

*SEPARATE SEALED BIDS FOR:
Uniform Rental and Laundry Services

*BIDS WILL BE RECEIVED AT:
HABD Central Office
Procurement Administrator
1826 Third Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233-1905

*BID OPENING:

*DATE:
*September 15, 2014

*TIME:
*10:00 a.m. CST

*LOCATION:
HABD Central Office
1826 Third Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233-1905

By submission of a bid, the bidder agrees, that if the bid is accepted, to enter into a contract with the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD), to complete all work as specified or indicated in the bid documents, for the contract price and within the contract time indicated in the attached IFB. The bidder further accepts all of the terms and conditions of the IFB.

The bid will remain open for the period specified in the IFB, must be independently arrived at, and be prepared in accordance with the instructions to bidders (form HUD-5369). In addition, the HUD-required certifications must be completed and submitted as part of the bid (see form HUD-5369).

A pre-bid conference will be held in accordance with the terms listed above. All bidders are encouraged to attend the pre-bid conference.

The bid price(s) will be included as provided in the attached IFB. Unless otherwise specified in the IFB, all prices will be on a firm-fixed-price basis and are not subject to adjustments based on costs incurred.

Bidders should be advised that, prior to award of any contract, the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District reserves the right to conduct a pre-award survey for the purpose of determining the bidder’s responsibility and capacity to perform the contract. This survey may include review of subcontracting agreements, financial capacity, and the quality of work performed on other contracts.

All bids must be signed and dated. If a joint venture is submitting the bid, each joint venture must sign the bid. Late bids will be handled in accordance with the form HUD-5369.

A copy of this solicitation is available at *www.habd.org under the Purchasing and Procurement Section. Questions regarding the attached IFB should be directed to the Procurement Administrator, in writing within ten days prior to the date and time set for the bid opening. Questions received after the deadline will not be answered.
Contracting Officer:
Naomi H. Truman, Executive Director
BT09/11/14
_________________________________________
DATE:
August 26, 2014

TO:
Prospective Offerors

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS:
15-03

SEPARATE SEALED PROPOSALS FOR:
Professional Audit Services

PROPOSALS WILL BE RECEIVED AT:
HABD Central Office
Procurement Administrator
1826 Third Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233-1905

CLOSING DATE:
September 19, 2014

TIME:
2:00 p.m. CST

LOCATION:
HABD Central Office
1826 Third Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233-1905

By submission of a proposal the offeror agrees, if the offeror’s proposal is accepted, to enter a contract with the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD), to complete all work as specified or indicated in the contract documents, for the contract price and within the contract time indicated in the RFP. The offeror further accepts the terms and conditions of the RFP.

Proposals must be prepared in accordance with the section entitled “Submittal of Proposal,” and will be evaluated by the HABD. Evaluation will be based on the criteria within this RFP.

Copies of the RFP, which includes the scope of services, conditions and requirements, may be obtained from the HABD Procurement Office located at the address listed above. Persons who require special accommodations should immediately contact the HABD Procurement Office at (205) 521-0611.

HABD reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, or any proposal, and to waive any informalities or irregularities.

HABD in accordance with the Executive Orders 11625 and 12138 promotes participation by businesses owned and operated by disadvantaged and historically underutilized businesses. Section 3 business requirements must also be met.

A copy of this solicitation is available at www.habd.org under the Purchasing and Procurement Section. Questions regarding the attached RFP should be directed to the Procurement Administrator, in writing ten (10) days prior to proposal due date. Questions received after the deadline will not be answered.

Contracting Officer:
Naomi H. Truman, Executive Director
BT09/11/14
HZline)
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*ADVERTISEMENT for BIDDER PRE-QUALIFICATION And NOTICE of *INTENT to RECEIVE BIDS *from PREQUALIFIED BIDDERS
Pre-qualification submittals will be received by the *Owner’s Representative/Project Manager, Jared Sparks on behalf of Office of the Associate Vice President, Facilities & Capital Projects, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Alabama Board of Trustees at* UAB Health System Planning, 2020 *Building, 2020 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35233 until 4:00 PM Central Time, September 22, 2014. *The original and two (2) duplicates of submittals together with a .pdf-formatted electronic version are required for pre-qualification approval; however, facsimile transmission copies may be transmitted to the *Project *Manager at (205) 975- 7000 to expedite the review process with hard-copies of the submittals to be delivered within 24 hours.
*UAB SW2 Lab Automation *For The *University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama *UAB Project No.: H135028A
*A. SCOPE OF WORK:  *The scope of work consists of a multiple phase interior renovation of University Hospital’s Core *Laboratory including mechanical, electrical, fire alarm, plumbing, and architectural finishes that will *enable the installation of automated laboratory processing equipment. Demolition of old and *installation of new materials will be a part of the work. The installation of the automated laboratory *processing will be performed by a separate UAB Contractor concurrently with portions of this *project and must be coordinated with this project. The work will be performed under a single Prime *General Contractor who will coordinate the work of this project and connect with mechanical and *electrical equipment installed under a previous project. The laboratory operates continuously with no *down time and close coordination and project management controls must be maintained by the *Contractors throughout the project to insure that there are no interruptions to the services provided *by the laboratory. The Prime General Contractor and Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing *Subcontractors should have experience with projects performed in an operating hospital *environment and with the implementation and maintenance of infection control measures and interim *life safety measures in an *operating hospital.
*B. PRIME GENERAL CONTRACTOR, MECHANICAL SUBCONTRACTOR, AND *ELECTRICAL SUBCONTRACTOR BIDDER PRE-QUALIFICATIONS:  General Contractor and Subcontractor bidders interested in submitting a proposal must apply for pre-qualification and must be licensed under the Provision of Title 34, Chapter 8, and Code of Alabama, 1975. A copy of current Alabama Contractors license is to be included in pre-qualification submittal.  Only bidders who have completed the pre-qualification process and have been approved will be eligible to submit a bid for the Project. *Prospective Bidder’s Pre- qualification Package must be received by the *Owner’s Project Manager no later than 4:00 PM Central Time, September 22, 2014, after which no *further requests will be considered.
Pre-qualification Requirements Information Package may be obtained from the Architect *upon letterhead *request sent by mail or scanned into an email to kmullins@pooleandcompany.com.
The pre-qualification procedure is intended to identify responsible and competent prime contractor and subcontractor bidders relative to the requirements of the Project. Each prospective prime contractor and subcontractor bidder will be notified of the results of the pre-qualification, no later than *September 25, 2014 by *5:00 PM Central Time.
The Owner reserves the right to waive technical errors in applications, or abandon the pre-qualification process, should the interests of the Owner appear to be promoted thereby.
*Progress Design and Construction Documents:
Prior to the pre-qualification deadline, project progress plans and specifications may be examined at the following location:
*Architect: *POOLE & COMPANY ARCHITECTS, LLC 2 NORTH 20TH STREET, SUITE 1610 *BIRMINGHAM, AL 35203 *(205) 326-2206 *(205) 326-2201
kmullins@pooleandcompany.com
*C. BIDS BY PRE-QUALIFIED PRIME GENERAL CONTRACTOR BIDDERS
*Documents:
After notice to prequalified bidders is given, the prequalified General Contract bidders may obtain bid documents through the UAB Digital Plan Room at http://uab.algraphics.com/, 2801 Fifth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233.
Bid documents will be available at the following locations after notice to pre- qualified bidders is given. Drawings and specifications may be examined at the Office of the Architect; at the AGC Internet Plan Room, 5000 Grantswood Road, Irondale, AL 35210; at the Birmingham Construction Industry Authority, 601 37th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35222; and at the Reed Construction Data Office, 30 Technology Pkwy, South, Suite 500, Norcross, GA 30092- 2912; and electronically through McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge.
*Bonds:
A certified check or bid bond payable to the University of Alabama at Birmingham in an amount not less than five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid, but in no event more than $10,000 must accompany the bidder’s proposal. Performance and Statutory Labor and Material Payment Bonds will be required at the signing of the Contract.
*Bids:
Bids must be submitted on proposal forms or copies thereof furnished by the Architect. No bid may be withdrawn after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids for a period of ninety (90) days. The Owner reserves the right to reject bids if such action is determined to be in the best interest of the Owner. The Owner reserves the right to revoke pre-qualification of any bidder in accordance with Section 39-2-12, Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended in 1997 (by Act 97-225). *The Bid Date is October 16, 2014 at 2:00 PM Central *Time at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB 2020 Building Large Conference Room, 2020 *University Blvd., Birmingham, Alabama 35233.
*Proposals may be hand delivered or received by mail on the date of the bid opening at the Office of Jared *Sparks, Project Manager, 2020 Building, 2020 University Blvd., Birmingham, Alabama 35233, until 12:00 *noon. After 12:00 noon of the date of the bid opening, proposals must be hand delivered and presented at *the bid opening. Sealed proposals shall be submitted in triplicate and shall be properly identified. All *proposals received after 2:00 p.m. on October 16, 2014 will be returned unopened.
*Nonresident Prime Contractor Bidders:
Under Section 39-3-5, Code of Alabama, 1975, nonresident prime contractor bidders must accompany any written bid documents with a written opinion of an attorney licensed to practice law in such nonresident prime contractor bidder’s state of domicile as to the preferences, if any or none, granted by the law of the state to its own business entities whose principal place of business are in that state in the letting of any or all public contracts. Resident prime contractors in Alabama, as defined in Section 39-2- 12, are granted preference over nonresident prime contractors in awarding of contracts in the same manner and to the same extent as provided by the laws of the state of domicile of the nonresident.
*Fire Alarm Work
In accordance with Title 34, Chapter 33A (the ACT), of the Code of Alabama 1975, bidders for fire alarm work of this project, if any, must include with their bid evidence of licensure as required by the ACT by including with the bid submittal a valid State Fire Marshal’s permit.
*D. PRE-BID CONFERENCE *A mandatory Pre-Bid Conference, followed by a mandatory walk-thru, will be held on October 2, 2014 at *2:00 p.m. at the UAB 2020 Building Large Conference Room. It is mandatory that all pre-qualified prime contractor bidders and Subcontractors attend the Pre-Bid Conference.
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*University of Montevallo

We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:

Assistant Professor of Counseling
Assistant Registrar for Student Records Systems Management

For more details visit *https://jobs.montevallo.edu

*UM is an EO Employer
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