Category: Industry News

Notice of Public Comment Request Period Extension

Posted on by Dan Osborn

The FHWA invites public comments about the annual submittal of minority employment and workforce data via FHWA form 1391 for all work performed or completed during the last payroll period in July. This report provides the employment workforce data on these contracts and includes the number of minorities, women, and non-minorities in specific highway construction job categories

You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed collection is necessary for the FHWA’s performance; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burdens; (3) ways for the FHWA to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that the burden could be minimized, including the use of electronic technology, without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB’s clearance of this information collection.

Comments are due by January 13, 2025.

Please follow this link to access the federal notice that includes additional information and detailed instructions about how to submit comments.

2025 Indiana 811 Law Changes

Posted on by Jim Wood

Indiana House Bill 1122, amends Indiana’s Dig Law with changes taking effect on January 1, 2025. Those changes include:

  • The person responsible for the excavation or design must acknowledge receipt of the positive response before starting excavation.
  • All Indiana utilities must provide a positive response to all tickets by 7:00 AM on the second full working day after the notice.
  • The definition of prevailing time (working day) is the time observed in Indianapolis, Indiana as 7 am to 6 pm ET.
  • The start date of excavation cannot be more than be more than 10 days out.
  • The tolerance zone is defined as an area that extends at least the width of the underground facilities plus two feet above, below, and in a full radius around the facilities.

Here are details.

Oversize-Overweight Violations

Posted on by Dan Osborn

The Indiana Department of Revenue has posted a first notice for public comment concerning oversize-overweight violations.

The Department’s purpose of notice as published is as follows.

The Department of State Revenue (department) is soliciting public comment on adding rules at 45 IAC 22 concerning applying civil penalties to oversize-overweight violations. The department seeks comment on the affected citations listed and any other provisions of Title 45 that may be affected by this rulemaking.

The proposal includes added Indiana Administrative Code and details about how to submit comments. The notice can be found by following this link.

Notice is hereby given that on November 18, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., at the Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N248, Indianapolis, Indiana.

The purpose of this hearing is to receive comments from the public prior to consideration of adoption of these rules by DOR. All interested persons are invited and will be given reasonable opportunity to express their views concerning the proposed rules.

 

INDOT Contractor Payroll Management System, Update 3.0

Posted on by Dan Osborn

Source: INDOT State Construction Engineer Joeseph Novak, P.E.

Please be advised that INDOT has been updating its current version of the Contractor Payroll Management System (CPMS) with a targeted go-live date of Monday 9/30/24. To do this CPMS may become unavailable starting Friday 9/27/24 at 6pm. Here are some of the changes to expect.

Simplified Document Upload
You can choose to upload payroll documents directly from the Contract Overview screen, but a new multi-document upload function will accept concurrent submission of multiple documents for different contracts, contractors and pay periods.

Document Types
Certified Payrolls and optional No Work Payroll documents (NWP) will require identification as such during upload.

Notifications
CPMS now takes full advantage of the ITAP Notification Platform with notifications taking you directly to the point-of-action from the CPMS dashboard, your email inbox, or directly from ITAP before you even open CPMS.

Document Status History
Changelogs for each Payroll Period are now available, providing transparency as to how a requirement was determined, how it was fulfilled, and when. Additionally, comments can be left for specific Payroll Periods – no more worrying about losing or missing emails.

Within the CPMS application will be a link to an updated user manual for reference. Questions may be directed to the respective INDOT District EEO Officer.

2024 ICI Safety Program Awards

Posted on by Jim Wood

ICI is accepting applications for the 2024 ICI Safety Program Awards.

To be considered for an award, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Current Indiana Constructors membership.
  • No IOSHA citable work-related fatalities since January 1, 2022.
  • Must have active jobsites available for visit during July through October 2024.
  • Must allow random and unannounced jobsite validation and worker interviews.

Awards will be announced at ICI’s Annual Meeting on Friday, Dec. 6.

Completing the application:

  • Application form which is filled in and submitted once you have completed all the requested information.
  • The application form will also request independent documentation. The documents should be provided in a PDF file format and included as attachments to the email when you send your application.

For award consideration, all materials must be current and complete, submitted no later than Friday, Aug. 2.

Please contact Jim Wood at (317) 634-7547 if your company is unable to participate electronically.

INDOT Piloting AASHTOWare Project

Posted on by Dan Osborn
Source: Joe Novak, INDOT Construction Management

“INDOT is taking another step toward replacing its legacy construction management software, AASHTOWare Project (AWP) “SiteManager”, with its newer web-based version “Construction & Materials.” Six contracts will be selected from the May 2024 letting to use the new software with a currently estimated use for all contracts let on/after May 2025. Standard software vendor support for SiteManager ended in June 2023, all support will end in June 2027 although contracts can exist in the system longer.”

Novak added that INDOT does not expect any significant impacts on contractors during the AWP pilot projects. All Contractor interaction with ITAP applications is planned to remain intact. However, some report generation may not be fully available initially such as IC642’s and Progressive Records. INDOT is currently working to make the reports available.

Contact ICI Director of Government Affairs Dan Osborn with questions about the changes.