nucaofdc

NUCA of Metropolitan Washington D.C.: Underground Utility Construction

OUR MISSION: NUCA of Metro DC is a powerful group of contractors, suppliers, engineers, utility owners and supporters, dedicated to promoting the utility contracting and excavation industry through safety, education, advocacy and industry relationships. Representing utility contractors, excavators, suppliers, manufacturers, and other providers in the water, sewer, gas, electric, telecommunications, treatment plant, and excavation industries.

Join NUCA of DC

UPCOMING EVENTS

Don’t miss out on the various training, education and networking opportunities throughout the year with NUCA of Metro DC. Registration is now open for these events and more. Come and see what NUCA of DC Membership can do for you!

NEWS & RESOURCES

NUCA Testifies at US House Water Infrastructure Hearing

NUCA of DC past President and NUCA past Chairman Dan Buckley testified at the March 11, 2025, U.S. House T&I subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. Photo: House T&I Committee.

“Clean water and sanitation are not luxuries—they’re the lifeblood of civilization,” NUCA past Chairman Dan Buckley declared at the March 11, 2025, U.S. House hearing on water infrastructure financing and the EPA’s state revolving funds our industry uses to build city and community water and wastewater systems.

The hearing, held by the U.S. House of Representative’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, featured NUCA and three other expert witnesses. NUCA’s Buckley hammered home in his powerfully delivered testimony this key takeaway of our industry and the importance of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and the Drinking Water SRF.

“We need more federal investment. The scale of this crisis demands it. As Congress debates the future of federal spending, lawmakers should consider reallocating more dollars towards these essential programs. Every dollar invested in water systems yields exponential returns in public health, economic growth, and environmental protection,” said Buckley. “By fully closing the water infrastructure needs gap, we could add as much as $4.5 trillion to the national GDP over the next twenty years.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

JUNE 2025: TRENCH SAFETY MONTH!

June 16-20, 2025

What is a Safety Stand Down?
A Safety Stand Down presents the opportunity for employers to talk directly to employees and others about safety. These Stand Downs will focus on trench & excavation hazards and reinforce the importance of using trench protective systems and protecting workers from trenching hazards.

How to Conduct a Trench Safety Stand Down
Companies will conduct a Trench Safety Stand Down by taking a break to have a toolbox talk or another safety activity to draw attention to the specific hazards related to working in and around trenches/excavations. We ask that member companies provide to NUCA feedback about their Stand Down, such as when it was held, how many workers participated, how you shared information with employees. NUCA will collect the information, publicize the overall total number of participants, and publish the names of the companies that held a Trench Safety Stand Down.

Recognition of Participation
Materials for the 2025 Trench Safety Stand Down will be available in the spring of 2025. For participants in the 2025 TSSD, NUCA will provide a Certificate of Participation. NUCA will publish the list of names of participating organizations on the NUCA website and in our printed publications after the conclusion of the event.

Trench Safety Stand Down Week Goals
TSSD was first held in 2016 by NUCA, with OSHA joining as a partner a year later. The goal of the event is to reach out to the many workers who work in and around trenches and excavations to provide them with information about current excavation requirements and safety procedures for working in trenches. By reaching as many workers as possible we can reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries that occur each year in our industry, and make others, such as municipal and industry workers who are also exposed, aware of these serious hazards.

MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT ATTACHED TO FAIRFAX COUNTY ACCOTINK PROJECT

Background

The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, which is responsible for wastewater collection and treatment in Fairfax County, is working on several wastewater infrastructure projects to collect and treat the additional wastewater that is anticipated to come from the northern parts of Fairfax County. The Accotink Gravity Sewer Improvements project is one of these projects.

NUCA recently became aware that Fairfax County Virginia has attached a PLA to the project. It is our concern that PLAs may start to proliferate across the Commonwealth.

Information about the project: HERE

Application for Prequalification: HERE

Key Points on PLAs

Why PLAs are bad for the Virginia taxpayers and the utility construction industry:

Increase taxpayer-funded construction costs by 12% to 20%, resulting in less school, infrastructure, transportation, utility and affordable housing construction
Steer contracts to out-of-state contractors and create jobs for out-of-state construction workers at the request of powerful special interests
Harm the commonwealth and municipality’s small, minority and women contractors, as well as Virginia’s overall construction industry
Discourage competition from almost 95% of Virginia’s construction workforce
Increase local taxes and/or result in fewer construction projects and cuts to other programs and public employee salaries

NUCA of DC was well represented at the recent NUCA Washington Summit. Members from all over the country traveled to Washington to meet their Senators and Representatives on a number of issues important to NUCA members. Click here for list of issues. Thank you to the following NUCA of Metro DC members who were instrumental in the success of the day: President Gabrielle Alfonso of DCI; Vice President, Kevin Kram of Muller; Treasurer Gabe Santos of Blueridge; Chair, Government & Industry Relations Committee, Dave Cantwell of ReAgg; Member of the Government & Industry Relations Committee Gina Schaecher of Rees Broome; and, President Emeritus Dan Buckley of Garney Construction. Thank you all for your commitment and dedication!!

NUCA Member Benefit: NUCA Assurance

A construction-focused group captive owned by NUCA members and designed by insurance experts to deliver the claims control and risk-management support smart business owners need. Members purchase workers’ compensation, general liability, and auto liability insurance through NUCA Assurance.

Join like-minded NUCA contractors who have taken control of their claims, managed their risk, and secured better, more focused insurance services for their businesses.
NUCA Assurance members are vetted to ensure they are financially sound, so you know you’re joining forces with the best in your industry.

More Information

2024 ANNUAL PARTNERS

Click here to learn more about our Annual Partner Program

2024 NUCA of Metro DC Awards

Contractor of the Year

Shelly Masone-Davis, Ecotech Hydro Excavation

Associate of the Year

Ryan Masotti, 95 Traffic Safety Supply

2024 NATIONAL AWARDS

NUCA’s Top Jobs competition recognizes challenging, innovative, or unique projects completed with excellent results.

Ditchdigger of the Year

Thomas P. Butler, Kimmins Contracting Corp, Tampa, Florida

Associate of the Year

Jason Holden, Akkerman

Click here to see the William H. Feather Safety winners
Click here to see the Excellence in Underground category winners

Past NUCA of Metro DC winners include:

Anchor Construction
Mabey, Inc.
Frank Joy, LLC

The Applications for the 2025 William H Feather Safety Awards will be accepted in early 2026. The winners will be announced at the NUCA National Convention in 2026.

NUCA of DC Day on Capitol Hill

NUCA of DC Day on the Bay

NUCA of DC Annual Golf Tournament

NUCA of Metropolitan Washington D.C.: Underground Utility Construction

UPCOMING EVENTS

NEWS & RESOURCES

Background

Key Points on PLAs

2024 ANNUAL PARTNERS

2024 NUCA of Metro DC Awards

Contractor of the Year

Associate of the Year

2024 NATIONAL AWARDS

DDOT issues RFQ for H St Bridge Replacement Project

DC Water names Robert Bornhofen to head up innovation program

Marsh & McLennan (Insurance Associates) announces new Vice President

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