1. Field Office Construction, Technical Assistance and Quality Assurance NEDC Construction Inspection for Field Office Activities USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

2. Objectives Field Office Technical Assistance  Understand the Engineering Job Approval Authority chart  Become aware of Statement of Work (SOW)  Be able to list types of engineering documents that need to be delivered

3. Engineering Job Approval Authority Policy: National Engineering Manual (NEM Part 501.4 – Engineering Job Approval Authority) State Amendments (i.e. Part MI501 – Authorizations)

4. Job Approval Authority Director, Conservation Engineering Division State Conservation Engineer Area Engineer NRCS Area and Field Office Employees Non-NRCS Employees Concurrence by Line Supervisor Who delegates Approval Authority?

5. Practices are defined as Class I thru VIII Class I-V In-state approval authority Class VI-VIII State Conservation Engineer approval authority Job Approval Authority

6. Job Approval authority is required for: Design approval of all Job Classes States may also require Job Approval Authority for: Inventory and Evaluation (I&E or planning) Construction Job Approval Authority

7. Job Approval Authority Determining Job Class  For each controlling factor  Quantity shown is the max limit for that job class  Use largest Class

8. Job Approval Authority Determining Job Class  Here’s an example  Grade Stabilization Structure, 410  Drainage area = 50 acres  Effective Height = 24 feet  Conduit = 6 inches (diameter)  Storage x Height = 1327 (acft x ft)

9. Determining Job Class 50 ac is >20 but <99 24’ is >20 but <25 6” < 12 1000<1327<2000

10. Job Approval Authority Determining Job Class  Grade Stabilization Structure, 410  Drainage area = 50 acres (Class II)  Effective Height = 24 feet (Class III)  Conduit = 6 inches (Class II)  Storage x Height = 1327 (Class III)  Therefore, this practice is Job Class III

11. Obtaining Job Approval Authority  Work with Area Engineer  Learn basics  From colleges  From engineer  By doing  Attend Training  Demonstrate competency  Designs, Construction plans, Inspection  Thorough documentation

12. Delivery of Engineering Documents  “Deliverables” can be found in the Statement of Work (SOW) for each conservation practice

13. SOW can be found in eFOTG  eFOTG Section IV  Conservation Practices  Statement of Work Statement of Work

14.  Design  Installation  Check Out SOW Sections: Practice Application Deliverables References

15. 410 SOW - Design

16. 410 SOW - Installation

17. 410 SOW - Checkout

18. Objectives Field Office Quality Assurance  Understand what Construction Inspection (QA) is.  Understand the different intervals of NRCS QA  Understand the different types of NRCS construction contracts  Understand the roles and responsibilities of the contractor and NRCS in QC/QA

19. Objectives Field Office Quality Assurance  Understand what Construction Inspection (QA) is.

20. Inspector  Inspector (Webster) – a person employed to inspect something.  Inspector (NEH 645) – is the person assigned to do such activities as observe construction and make tests in order to determine on a day-to-day basis that the construction meets the contract requirements.

21. Inspection  Is observing construction methods and procedures, examining and testing material used, and examining and testing the resulting finished work.

22. Role of the Inspector  To insure that a project is installed at the location and to the dimensions and grades using the construction materials specified in the plan.  To verify work complies with the contract requirements.  Responsible for completion certification.

23. Inspector Responsibilities  Know the drawings and specifications well  Communicate with the Contractor  Establish firm position on issues (not combative)  Be decisive  Follow through on all issues  Point out work which does not comply  Documentation is critical  Inspectors do not give Contractor orders

24. Objectives Field Office Quality Assurance  Understand the different intervals of NRCS QA

25. Types of Inspection  Continuous  Intermittent (Periodic)

26. Continuous Inspection  The continuous presence of an inspector to observe or perform tests and measurements at critical points in operations and be available for consultation or emergency.

27. Continuous Inspection  Required for construction activities where the quality cannot be verified by intermittent observations and work that cannot readily be removed or replaced if it does not meet the contract requirements

28. Continuous Inspection  Examples of items requiring continuous inspection  Earthfill  Concrete placement  Installing drains and filters

29. Intermittent Inspection  May be adequate for certain phases of project activities depending on the complexity and potential impacts to public safety.

30. Intermittent Inspection  Examples of items requiring intermittent inspection  Dewatering  Excavation (such as channel excavation)  Forming and placing steel  Mulching  Painting  Fencing

31. Objectives Field Office Quality Assurance  Understand the different types of NRCS construction contracts

32. Construction Contracts  Federal  Contracting Local Organization (CLO)  Private

33. Federal Contracts  This contract type is governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and is administered by the NRCS.  Examples  PL-566 (Watershed Projects)  WRP  EWP

34. CLO Contracts  This contract type is governed by a project agreement between NRCS and the local sponsor, and the local sponsor administers the contract.  Examples  PL-566 (Watershed Projects)  WRP  EWP

35. Private Contracts  This contract type is between a private individual or group and a contractor.  NRCS may have a financial agreement with the individual or group.  NRCS does not administer the construction contract.  Most common Field Office type of contract.  Examples  EQIP or WRP

36. Objective Staying Fully Engaged Be Back in Ten

37. Objectives Field Office Quality Assurance  Understand the roles and responsibilities of the contractor and NRCS in QC/QA

38. Construction Quality Control and Construction Quality Assurance Contractor NRCS

39. Construction Quality Control / Quality Assurance  Is a construction inspection process.  Duties are defined within a Quality Assurance Plan.  Is a Contractor/NRCS partnership for success.  Is a shared responsibility

40. Washington – Contractor Quality Control

41. Construction Quality Control (Contractor)  Activities performed by the contractor to document that the work installed meets the minimum requirements of the contract (NEM Part 512.31 A).  Implements the technical processes that examine, measure, analyze, and report on the project’s progress and conformance against the performance requirements.

42. Construction Quality Control (Contractor)  Making sure that the results of what you have done are what you expected.  Is the follow-through to ensure the expectations and objectives of the construction activity are met.

43. Construction Quality Control?

44. Construction Quality Assurance (NRCS)  Activities performed by or for the owner, including observing construction methods and procedures, reviewing the contractor’s quality control (CQC) testing activities and test results, conducting periodic material testing to evaluate the CQC system and other measures to ensure compliance with the contract provisions (NEM Part 512.31 B).

45. Construction Quality Assurance (NRCS)  Establishes the managerial processes that determine the organization, design, objectives, and resources for QA.  Makes sure you are doing the right things, the right way.  Provides the performance standards and processes of performance feedback.  Sets the tone for project oversight and getting expected results.

48. Objectives Field Office Construction  Awareness of common types of construction for Field Office (FO) projects  Learn the role and responsibilities of the NRCS construction inspector  Learn the difference between QC and QA  Understand the difference between Construction QA and Technical Assistance QA

49. California – Irrigation pipeline Michigan – Livestock pipeline

50. Michigan – Pipeline

51. Michigan – Watering Facility

52. Washington – Waste Storage Facility

53. Michigan – Waste Storage Facility

54. Washington – Waste Storage Structure

55. Michigan – Waste Transfer

56. Kansas - Concrete Drop Box Structure

58. Kansas - Concrete Drop Box Structure Failure

59. Montana – Pumping Plant

60. Michigan – Irrigation VSD Pump Controller

61. Michigan – Center Pivot Irrigation

63. Washington – Precast Concrete Riser

64. Michigan – Agrichenmical Handling Facility (AHF)

65. Michigan – Roof Runoff (Gutters)

66. Questions?