Construction Program Management and Inspection Guide

The goal is for FHWA field engineers and STA field
personnel to reach agreement on appropriate action to
address findings of concern; in rare situations, more
aggressive action is required. Consult with the FHWA
division office management when these situations occur.
Selection of Project or Phase
of Operations
Select the particular projects and phases of operations for an
IID in consultation with your supervisor and construction
management program. Base the selection on defined
objectives. Schedule the inspection of any individual phase
when that particular phase is actively under way on the
project. Evaluate new construction techniques whenever
possible and prepare a summary report for posting on the
FHWA headquarters Construction Web page (www.fhwa.
dot.gov/construction/reviews.htm).
Frequency of Inspections-in-Depth
The number and frequency of IIDs will vary according to the
need for such reviews and according to the availability of
personnel to make them. Inspections-in-depth are preferred
to more general contact reviews. Contact reviews typically do
not provide adequate knowledge of the substantive
operations underway. Contact reviews do provide an
opportunity to review project time and cost status, as well as
to maintain rapport with the project team. Within each
division, there will be certain areas of the State that will
warrant more emphasis than others; similarly, there will be
certain phases of operations that will require more
concentration of effort.
Time Required for Inspection
The time required for each inspection will depend upon the
extent of inquiry and investigation considered warranted by
the circumstances encountered and the number of
construction operations involved. Ensure that sufficient time
is available to thoroughly investigate the phases of the
operations that are the objective of the inspection. Adequate
review of paving operations on a major project, for example,
may require about three days at the project site.
Contract Documents
Prior to visiting the site of the project selected for inspection,
study the plans and specifications governing the work to
assure familiarity with all phases of the project. Place special
emphasis on the features that are anticipated to be the focal
points of concern during the inspection. In States where the
contractor is required to develop a project-specific quality
control plan, ensure that the plan is an integral part of any
IID that involves material or product acceptance.
State Construction
and Materials Manuals
Appendix D: Inspections-in-Depth
CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION GUIDE (5/01/04)
Prior to visiting the site of the project selected for inspection,
review the STA’s construction and materials manuals for
applicability to the work. These documents set forth the
basic operating instruction to STA field personnel and
generally define inspection and acceptance procedures.
Quality Assurance Requirements
23 CFR 637 sets forth the policies, procedures, and
guidelines to assure the quality of materials and construction
on Federal-aid highway NHS projects. Become familiar with
the requirements within this regulation and ensure that they
are being properly administered on the project. Focus
specific attention on these processes:
▼ Random quality control sampling and testing
performed by qualified personnel employed by the
contractor or vendor.
▼ Random verification sampling and testing by qualified
testing personnel employed by the STA or its
designated agent, excluding the contractor or vendor
(split samples not acceptable).
▼ Optional use of contractor’s quality control for the
acceptance decision when properly verified by the
owner.
▼ Use of qualified laboratories for all testing of materials
as a basis of acceptance.
▼ Independent assurance sampling and testing by
qualified personnel employed by the STA or its
designated agent, excluding the contractor or vendor.
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