Certification/Qualification Program

Certification Program

What is it?Who is involved?What should be considered? Where can a Certification Program work best?

Road Map……..

2

Certification Program Initiatives

Adoption of a Certification Program :Expand FHWA’s efforts to help State Transportation Agency (STA) and Local Public Agency (LPA)sOpportunity to promote interagency partnerships Provide outreach and education Improve consistency across jurisdictionAssist STAs in management and administration of local programs and projects.

3

Certification Program

State formalized program, certifies the LPA ability to:

Administer/manage a phase(s)or project development and implementation process

4

Certification Program

The Certification Program is: Option of the STA Conducted through a signed agreement between STA and LPA(i.e. Identifying

roles and responsibilities, approval authorities, etc.) Multiple Projects Project by Projects Phased/ Tiered certification Approval

STA is responsible for LPA’s compliance with all applicable Federal requirements.

5

Certification Program Overview- FHWA

Roles and Responsibilities Program Oversight

Lead by Influence Lead by Training

Collaborate, Coordinate, and Communicate

Increase Agency Communication Improve Quality Promote Consistency Reinforce Regulatory Requirements

6

Certification Program Overview- STA

Roles and Responsibilities Program Oversight

Accountable to FHWA Monitoring the program

Cultural Change Adopting &Adapting Understand the objective Creating Proper Mechanisms

7

Certification ProgramCore Federal-aid Program Areas

•Project Management•Project Development

Design Environment Right-of-Way

•Contract Award•Construction Administration

Inspection Billing

8

Certification Program

STA evaluates LPA qualifications through a review process.

• Evaluation Criteria: – Knowledge of Federal and State requirements– Knowledge of processes and procedures– Past performance– Adequacy of staffing– Knowledge and capability to oversee and manage projects

9

Certification Program Overview-LPA

LPA must have the following in place: Adequate contract authority Adequate staffing

Provide a full-time public employee to be in responsible charge over a project. Adequate project delivery systems Sufficient accounting controls

LPAs should consult State DOT for assistanceNeed Commitment and Political Buy-in

10

Certification ProgramCurrent “State-of-Use”:

June 2011 Survey: National LPA Peer Exchange Team39 FHWA Division Offices Responded

ResultsState Transportation agency with some form of a LPA Certification Program.

14-Yes ~ 36%25-No ~ 64%

States without a certification programApprox. 1/4 expressed interest in developing a Certification Program

11

STA Pros

What’s in it for me? Promote Partnership Oversight Role Available Resources Empowerment

• Better management of limited resources• Experience Staffing• Focus mores on technical knowledge

and expertise• Benefit of STA knowledge of federal

regulations and procedures• Shift more into an oversight role• Money Saving opportunity

Certification Program Benefits

12

Local Public Agency ProsWhat’s in it for me?

Retain more Approval Authority

More Control at the LPA Level Experience and Staffing

• Higher degree of flexibility over program and projects• Cost and Time savings• Control over Project Schedule• Programmatic Approval Authority of

various components of the program. • Use of In-house knowledge

Certification Program Benefits

13

Certification Program Initiative - Benefits:

Are there any other Benefits that you envision in working with your STA and LPAs to implement Certification Program?

14

Certification Program Initiative - STA & LPA Barriers & Challenges:

State law & regulationOrganizational culture & protocolsAdministration, management & oversight concernsConstrained resourcesLocal program sizeSTA Manual Modification

15

Certification Program Initiative - Barriers & Challenges:

Rotating staffInconsistent interpretation of federal regulationsInadequate communication among agencies, stakeholders, and staffNo Political supportLack of training and resources for local agencies

16

Certification Program Initiative - Barriers & Challenges:

Are there any other barriers or challenges that you envision in working with your STA and LPAs to implement Certification Program?

17

Certification Program Initiative -Successful Practices:

Florida DOT:District Task team evaluates the LPA qualificationDistrict LPA Administrator

Interviews the LPA staff to determine qualificationsLPA must designate an approving authority officialRequires Online training

18

Certification Program Initiative -Successful Practices:

Oregon DOT (ODOT):Master Certification Agreements Tier approach Certification ProgramODOT Certification Academy

Roles and responsibilities Stewardship responsibilities to FHWA Overview of governing laws, regulations and directives requiredSolicit input for Certification Program Improvement

19

Certification Program Initiative - Goal:

By 2014, increase number of STAs implementing Certification Program. Fostering Interagency partnership Creating evaluation and streamlining processes Monitoring and oversight Providing outreach and education Identifying performance measures Expand FHWA’s efforts to help DOTs and LPAs

20

Certification Program Initiative -Resources:

FHWAFederal-aid Essentials

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/federal-aidessentials/EDC web page

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/everydaycounts/Training

California: LPA Training Program WebsiteMissouri: LPA Certification and TrainingOregon & Washington : Local Government Training Website

Local Technical Assistance Program

http://www.ltap.org/

21

Certification Program Initiative:

Questions and Comments

22