Your Source for Contract Administration Essentials

To keep up with current requirements in construction contract administration, turn to the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Contract Administration Course. The course details FHWA requirements and policies for Federal-aid design and construction contracts. Four broad areas are covered:

• Construction contract provisions, Federal-aid requirements, and the construction policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, including for such categories as prevailing wage rates, safety and accident prevention, and nondiscrimination.
• Construction contract administration issues, such as the competitive bidding process.
• Relevant statutes, regulations, and directives.
• Detection and reporting of suspected fraud.

The 2-day course is typically offered between 15 and 20 times per year, as requested by State highway agencies. “It’s been well received across the country,” says Jerry Yakowenko of FHWA. “Participants seem to enjoy discussing the case studies, which illustrate the practical application of Federal-aid requirements to real-life situations.” For example, the course’s fraud detection session looks at specific fraud indicators in the area of costs and mischarging for materials and labor, product substitution, collusion, questionable documentation, and conflict of interest.

The class is targeted at State and local highway agency personnel who work with Federal-aid construction contracts, as well as FHWA Division Office and Resource Center staff. There is no cost for participants. The hosting agency needs only to provide a meeting place. Recent sessions include ones held in Maine, Rhode Island, and Michigan, with upcoming presentations scheduled for New Hampshire and Wisconsin.

First presented in the late 1980s, the course now includes new information on procurement of intelligent transportation system projects and transportation enhancement projects; contractural requirements for emergency relief projects; wrap-up insurance; project labor agreements; and the detection of fraud, waste, and abuse. Also covered are such contracting provisions as the Buy America and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise programs.

You can learn more about the course at www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/contracts/coretoc.cfm, where the course Participant’s Manual and Reference Guide is posted. For more information on scheduling the course, contact your local FHWA Division Office or Edwin Okonkwo at FHWA, 202-366 1558 (fax: 202-366-3988; email: edwin.okonkwo@fhwa.dot.gov).

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Articles in this issue:

FHWA’s Office of Program Administration: Bringing You the Tools and Technologies You Need

Pavement Preservation Resources Offer "How-To" Guidance

Meet the Virtual Tunnel Team

Your Source for Contract Administration Essentials

FHWA Launches Design Guide Team

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