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 Certification Program Initiatives Adoption of a Certification Program : Expand FHWA’s efforts to help State Transportation Agency (STA) and Local Public Agency (LPA)s Opportunity to promote interagency partnerships Provide outreach and education Improve consistency across jurisdiction Assist 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 Program Core 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 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 assistance Need Commitment and Political Buy-in 10

Certification Program Current “State-of-Use”: June 2011 Survey: National LPA Peer Exchange Team – 39 FHWA Division Offices Responded Results – State Transportation agency with some form of a LPA Certification Program. 14-Yes ~ 36% 25-No ~ 64% – States without a certification program Approx. 1/4 expressed interest in developing a Certification Program 11

STAPros 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 Pros What’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 & regulation Organizational culture & protocols Administration, management & oversight concerns Constrained resources Local program size STA Manual Modification State law & regulation Organizational culture & protocols Administration, management & oversight concerns Constrained resources Local program size STA Manual Modification 15

Certification Program Initiative - Barriers & Challenges:  Rotating staff  Inconsistent interpretation of federal regulations  Inadequate communication among agencies, stakeholders, and staff  No Political support  Lack 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 qualification  District LPA Administrator – Interviews the LPA staff to determine qualifications  LPA must designate an approving authority official  Requires Online training 18

Certification Program Initiative - Successful Practices:  Oregon DOT (ODOT):  Master Certification Agreements  Tier approach Certification Program  ODOT Certification Academy Roles and responsibilities Stewardship responsibilities to FHWA Overview of governing laws, regulations and directives required Solicit 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  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: FHWA – Federal-aid Essentials – EDC web page Training – California: LPA Training Program Website – Missouri: LPA Certification and Training – Oregon & Washington : Local Government Training Website Local Technical Assistance Program 21

Certification Program Initiative: Questions and Comments 22