1. Continuing work with the nation’s information technology community to speed the development of technologies and requirements needed to advance the creation of a state-of-the-art integrated and interoperable building regulatory system.
   
2. Updating the Alliance’s model procurement guidelines to include interoperability requirements for hardware and software to be used in codes administration and enforcement.

3. Producing a cost benefit analysis for homebuilders and state and local governments, documenting the savings being achieved through jurisdictions streamlining their building regulatory processes using information technology and providing outreach support to affordable housing initiatives.
   
4. Working to develop a prototype of a secure interoperable database for first responders of as-built designs, evacuation plans and key contact information.
   
5. Drafting criteria and obtaining funding for matching grants to state and local governments to begin to streamline their building regulatory processes and producing a cost benefit analysis for regulatory streamlining.
   
6. Helping states and localities to implement Alliance streamlining processes, products and materials to begin to achieve the estimated savings of $15 billion in annual construction costs that the Alliance has identified can be achieved through regulatory streamlining using information technology.

The update report on Alliance activities was released by Alliance Secretariat, the National Conference of States on Building Codes and Standards, and highlights the following work accomplishments during 2003:

• The production of model procurement guidelines for hardware and software being used in codes administration and enforcement.

• Production and distribution of a report on the Business Case for Regulatory Streamlining using information technology that describes the $15 billion in annual savings to the nation’s construction industry and state and local governments that can be achieved through regulatory streamlining.

• Development and distribution of model streamlining enabling legislation and regulations.

• Holding the Summit on Streamlining the Nation’s Building Regulatory Process Through Interoperability in New York City on September 24, 2003.

• Issuance of a final report and work products from the New York City Summit.

• Holding the Alliance’s Third National Forum on Building Smarter in the Digital Age in Portland, Oregon, on October 20, 2003.

The update report also sets the following schedule of work activities for the Alliance for 2004.

• January 1 – March 31, 2004 – Conclusion of update of the model procurement guidelines to include interoperability requirements that state and local governments can use to procure hardware and software and development of next steps with IT community.

• January 15 – April 30, 2004 – Development and application of the cost benefit analysis matrix to assess savings to homebuilders from building homes in communities that have streamlined their building regulatory process using information technology.

• February – July 2004 – Development of matching streamlining grant criteria and obtaining funding for application of first grants to states and localities.

• March - September 2004 – Follow-up with IT community in developing interoperability requirements for hardware and software.

• March - August 2004 – Development of prototype of first responder database.

• August - December 2004 – Obtain expanded funding for matching streamlining grants and for holding the 4^th National Forum on Building Smarter in the Digital Age in late September/early October.

• August - December 2004 – Put in place first responder database prototype and test for results.

• September - December 2004 – Assist states and localities in acquiring and using first interoperable hardware and software in their building regulatory process.

The update report will be reviewed by the Alliance’s Steering Committee during a meeting to be held in Washington, DC, at the Hall of the States on February 12, 2004.