Scout Newsletter - May 2026

May 06, 2026

California High-Speed Rail: Program Momentum and What It Means for Small Businesses

Melanie Hernandez, JD

Across major infrastructure programs, momentum is no longer just about funding—it’s about getting projects delivered.

In California, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is accelerating its shift from long-term planning to active implementation. At the “Tracks to Opportunity Networking Summit” in Pasadena on March 25, 2026, CHSRA leadership, alongside its Draft 2026 Business Plan, signaled a clear direction: phased delivery, faster procurement, and sustained integration of small businesses into project execution.

Read Melanie Hernandez’s perspective on how small businesses, especially California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBEs), can prepare here.

Scout Completes Nationwide Programmatic Environmental Assessment for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Real Property Build-to-Suit Lease Program

New VA Outpatient Clinic in San Jose, CA. Photo credit: VA.gov


In partnership with their VA client and with the support of their subcontractor, Row 10 Historic Preservation Solutions, Scout led the completion of this Programmatic Environmental Assessment and supporting National Historic Preservation Act compliance documentation and Nationwide Programmatic Agreement. The Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Nationwide Programmatic Agreement will decrease the time and cost associated with having to prepare stand-alone compliance documents for recurring, predictable, and low-impact construction, renovation, or repair projects that meet the prescriptive thresholds.

• The types of projects include outpatient clinics, community living centers, and other leased medical facilities across the U.S., Tribal Lands, and U.S. Territories.

• VA’s application of this programmatic approach for future qualifying leasing-related actions will streamline the review process for years to come.

• Scout also developed an innovative Users Guide and NEPA Adequacy Worksheet for project proponents to assess their project and document compliance with the Programmatic Environmental Assessment conditions. VA is already using this efficient approach for compliance on new leasing projects.

• Contact Ryan at [email protected] today to learn how Scout can apply this streamlined and cost-saving approach for your recurring projects!

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2026 San Francisco District
Business Open House Opportunities

Scout Ryan Pingree and Jamil Ibrahim from JV partner firm Stantec enjoying the USACE San Francisco District’s Business Opportunities Open House! The event was informative, well attended, and a great opportunity to meet clients and partners. The San Francisco Bay and Delta Model is as cool as it ever was, too! Thank you to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District for putting on this excellent event!

Jackson Orlando – Expanding Expertise in CEQA and GIS

Jackson Orlando graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2024 with a major in Environmental Science and Management, and a minor in Political Science with a concentration in Climate Change and Air Quality.

Since joining Scout in early 2025, Jackson has contributed to a wide range of environmental projects, including Army Environmental Performance System assessments, Facility Condition Assessments, and baseline noise studies. He has also worked as a primary resource section author on a variety of environmental assessments and environmental impact statements. Additionally, he has authored more than 20 categorical exemptions for USGS seismic stations in California, Oregon, and Washington. At Scout, Jackson has enjoyed developing his skills in mapping and spatial analysis by assisting Scout’s GIS Analyst Becky Diaz. Jackson is also currently enrolled in University of California’s CEQA Practice Certificate program, with an anticipated completion in early June.

Welcome Christian Mora

Another great addition to the Scout team! With international and domestic archaeological experience, Christian Mora brings strong field expertise and analytical skill to Scout as our newest On-Call Cultural Resources Field Technician. From pedestrian surveys and test excavations to site mapping and artifact cataloging, he’s ready to hit the ground running and support Scout’s cultural resource compliance projects. Christian will be an integral part of our cultural field team performing cultural resource surveys for the Navy later this month. Welcome, Christian!

Scout’s Kari McCollum is heading north to Anchorage for the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) 2026 Annual Conference & Training Symposium, May 11–14! She’ll be breaking the ice with some of the sharpest minds in environmental planning. From NEPA practice to emerging tech and coastal resilience, the topics covered this year will be as expansive as the Alaskan landscape. Find more conference details here, and be sure to connect with Kari at the conference!

Scouts Ryan Pingree and Ray Arguello will head to Portland, OR on May 19-21 for the Society of American Military Engineer’s Joint Engineer Training Conference 2026! In addition to connecting with industry partners and leaders, Ryan, alongside Stephen Eagar and Emelia Brooks-Sisco, will highlight how solutions derived from veteran experience advance the mission in his session, “Mission-Focused Engineering Excellence: The SDVOSB Advantage”. And Ray will be moderating the session, “Microreactors for Defense Resilience and Remote U.S. Infrastructure,” with John Smith and John Eschenberg, as they explore innovative approaches to energy security and infrastructure resilience. If you’re attending, be sure to catch their sessions and connect with the team. See you in Portland!

Asian American Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

This Asian American Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, Scout celebrates the cultures, contributions, and leadership of AANHPI individuals. The AANHPI demographic represents one of the fastest-growing populations in the U.S., now over 24 million strong. There is no single AANHPI story; instead, a vast spectrum of experiences. Scout is proud to honor the generations of AANHPI individuals whose perspectives and impact strengthen our nation.

Scout Is Hiring

FACILITIES INSPECTOR

Scout is seeking Facility Condition Assessors/Inspectors. The work will likely require up to 70% of your time traveling to military installations to perform facility condition assessments across the nation for up to two weeks at a time, with breaks between trips. Candidates must have ~5 years’ experience in conducting facility condition assessments or equivalent formal trade school education/experience in plumbing, roofing, mechanical systems, exteriors, roofing, fire protection, and/or electrical systems. Familiarity with BUILDER software is desired, but not required, should candidates be willing and able to learn how to use the BUILDER software. A PE is also not required.

This is an hourly position with the potential to become full-time, depending on the candidate's wishes and Scout’s needs. Candidates can be located anywhere in the nation and can work out of their home. Scout offers competitive benefits and is an equal opportunity employer.