Comments on: Aerospace Announcement Coming; Could Benefit Our Area

By: Sara

Sara — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:08:19 +0000

It could actually work in the area’s favor if the wages are lower. The Small Business Association offers opportunities for federal contracts through programs such as HUBZone Utilization. A HUBZone is a Historically Underutilized Business Zone and this designation is based on local wages. Escambia County, AL is located in a HubZone (most AL counties are HUBZones). Escambia County, FL is not. By law, 35% of the employees must live in the HUBZone. A certain percentage of the work must be done at the facility located within the HUBZone depending on the industry (can’t have a business in a HUBZone and subcontract out most of the work outside of the HUBZone).

One advantage is that a HUBZone can be awarded a contract with no competition or the Government could set it aside and only let HUBZones compete. If a HubZone contractor is competing against a non-HUBZone contractor, the HUBZone-qualified contractor may win the contract even if they offer a higher price. The reason is that the Government has to factor a 10-percent price evaluation preference (the Government has to deduct 10% from the HUBZone when comparing price to a non-HUBZone offeror). Read more at SBA website: http://www.fedmarket.com/articles/hubzone-government-contracts.shtml

I’m a Contracting Officer, and I’m encouraged to award to small businesses, HUBZone or any other SBA designated businesses. The Department of Defense, just as most federal agencies, have goals that require that a certain percentage of DoD contracts must be awarded to meet small business goals.

Sorry, the announcement may have nothing to do with the announcement, but I thought I’d share.

By: David

David — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:02:51 +0000

To bama54:

You can always hope, but the reason they are coming here is most likely because of the low prevailing wages in this area. They won’t have to pay “GOOD” wages. They will be able to get good workers by paying just a little bit more than anyone else around here, but not nearly what they would have to pay somewhere else.

By: Billy Boy

Billy Boy — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:36:20 +0000

Nothing like a bunch of good ole boys from South Alabama building planes and rockets. There may be some baling wire and duct tape holding things together, but a proper lube with WD40 and that thing will fly for 50 years.

By: bama54

bama54 — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:46:40 +0000

Some good news for a change. Now just how many jobs? I guess I’ll be moving to Alabama if I get a “GOOD” paying job. I sure miss this “poor” county with all its doing nothing politicians, at least Alabama is trying, what is Florida/Escambia County doing???