INDOT Contractor Payroll Management System, Update 3.0

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.

INDOT Piloting ASSHTOWare Project

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.

INDOT’s First CMGC Project

On April 8, INDOT posted on its website a draft request for proposals for the US 31 and I-465 Interchange Modification Project. This is INDOT’s first use of the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) progressive project delivery method. CMGC, along with Progressive Design-Build (PDB), were included in the 2023 Indiana House Enrolled Act 1049. The Indiana legislature passed House Enrolled Act 1196 in 2014 allowing Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) for state education institutions. House Bill 1196 added that other public agencies could begin using CMc in 2017 except for highway construction contracts. The 2023 law makes INDOT work the last public construction area to embrace this new contracting method.

CMGC and PDB both revolve around two-phase project delivery. In both methods, an owner contracts with a contractor (CMGC) or contractor-designer team (PDB) for the first phase to provide and/or assist with preconstruction services such as project development, permitting, utility coordination, design, schedule and cost estimating. Phase I culminates in the development of one, or multiple, guaranteed maximum price (GMP) packages. Upon owner GMP approval, the CMGC or PDB will proceed with Phase II construction scope. INDOT plans to retain an independent cost estimator (ICE) to provide scope, schedule and cost verification services during Phase I. The main difference between CMGC and PDB is that the owner contracts with the designer of record under the CMGC method while a designer contracts directly with a contractor under the PDB method.

A key purported benefit of the progressive project delivery methods is early collaboration during Phase I or development that includes comprehensive risk identification, analysis of time and costs associated with each risk and assignment of responsibility to mitigate risks if they are realized during the construction phase. The contractual tool used to record and track risks is called a risk register. The risk register becomes part of the contract documents agreed upon prior to moving to Phase II.

INDOT must receive at least two proposals prior to entering into a CMGC or PDB contract under Indiana law. INDOT Major Projects Division staff and their consultants have worked to get industry feedback over the past year through online solicitation, public meetings and meetings with ICI member companies. Indiana law limits INDOT to enter into two progressive contracts per year until 2028.

Contact INDOT Major Projects Delivery Director Jeff Clanton with questions.

INDOT Publishes Intelligent Work Zone Toolkit

INDOT’s Traffic Administration Office Manager Dave Boruff delivered an early Christmas present on Dec. 11 – notice that the long-anticipated Intelligent Work Zone Design and Implementation Toolkit is available on the Traffic Administration webpage.

“We started developing the Toolkit in 2020. In doing so, we reached out to manufacturers and contractors to get their input on content, the devices, and measures that should be included and how they should be described,” explained Boruff. “The idea behind the Toolkit is to help those involved with planning and implementing work zones become more familiar with treatments that may not currently be standardized but can help improve safety and mobility,” he added.

traffic queue truck

The Toolkit provides readers with equipment (tool) information, strategies and step-by-step guides to address work zone risks such as speed, detour alerts and lane shifts. One such tool is the queue truck warning system as shown in the image above.

ICI would like to thank INDOT for the collaborative execution of this toolkit as Boruff and other INDOT staff invited ICI and ACEC representatives to work on this initiative together.

 

Annual FHWA 1391 Report

Source: Katie Daniels, INDOT Lead Workforce & Education Specialist

Annual FHWA 1391 Report

This applies to all Prime contractors, subcontractors, and haulers (NOT including material suppliers) working on a federal-aid highway construction contract in excess of $10,000.00.

The FHWA 1391 Report continues to be an ITAP application and all reporting must be done via that application. Paper forms or excel spreadsheets will not be accepted and will be returned. To create an ITAP account go to: https://itap.indot.in.gov/login.aspx and the application needed is called FHWA 1391 Report.

This year’s reporting period will be for the week of July 23-July 29, 2023. Detailed instructions can be found within the FHWA 1391 Report application itself by clicking on the “HELP” icon. The application will open on July 23, 2023 and close on August 31, 2023. Once it closes you will not be able to submit your workforce and you will be in non-compliance with the FHWA requirements.

Workforce reporting is simplified, it is no longer necessary to report your workforce by each individual contract. Instead, each contractor or hauler will be required to submit one FHWA 1391 Report for their entire workforce on ALL federal-aid contracts. If your company does not have workforce on any federal-aid contracts during the reporting period there is a box to click indicating “No Activity” and then submit the report.

Please feel free to contact kdaniels2@indot.in.gov with any questions.

INDOT/DOR Working to Improve OSW Permitting

Several ICI members recently communicated concerns to me about oversize/overweight (OSW) load permitting. Members stated that, as the newly instituted OSW permitting system works well for the majority of loads and routes, concerns remain including difficulty delivering equipment to project sites and unusual long and broken up routing. While members have worked diligently to communicate issues directly to the Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) and INDOT, ICI’s Director of Government Affairs Dan Osborn followed up with agency contacts to emphasize industry concerns and determine what industry, the DOR and INDOT could do to avoid the issues.

INDOT Multimodal Director Kristen Brier responded to ICI. She explained that the new permitting system includes a more comprehensive evaluation process including “vehicle configuration, origin, and destination to automatically generate a safe route safe route, taking into account road restrictions and closures, vertical clearances for bridges, and bridge load rating.”

“We are working with our vendor to make the location of the failed bridges visible externally, to help applicants determine if a different origin or destination on the state system will avoid those bridges. Information about the road restrictions and closures can be displayed within the permitting system, and it remains available on the Indiana Truckers’ Info page. Bridge vertical clearance information remains available as well, through the online Bridge Clearance Map,” stated Brier.

Brier offered several agency contacts to assist permittees. Contact INDOT Freight Manager Leslie Morgan to disclose unsafe routes or difficulty with a permit involving accessing a project site.

If you need help using the new permitting system, contact DOR Motor Carrier Services Division OSW Supervisor James Vest or Morgan.

Contact Dan Osborn if you have feedback or recommendations about any aspect of OSW permitting.

National Stormwater Quality Certification

Envirocert and CISEC storm water quality certifications are offering on-line training and exam solutions to comply with CDC, state, and local restrictions. Envirocert’s CESSWI and CPESC and the CISEC certifications are options to fulfill INDOT’s national certification requirement found in the Standard Specification section 205.03 (b) (2) Level 2 Stormwater Quality Manager.

See the following information provided by both certifying organizations about modifications to their programs.

ENVIROCERT (CESSWI & CPESC)

At Home/Office Online Exam with Remote Proctoring

In an effort to provide applicants with an immediate option to take exams, ECI is in the process of developing a “computer proctoring approach” which will allow applicants to take exams at their home or office. Exams will be administered online, utilizing a remote proctor that will monitor their computers via webcam. Strict security measures will be implemented to ensure exam security.

ECI has gone to great lengths to implement this technology to allow individuals to continue to work towards their Professional Certifications. Exams have been reduced to three (3) hours (full exam) to assist during these times. In order to facilitate a successful event, the vendor(s) will ensure that the examinee’s personal computer equipment and internet connectivity meets the necessary system requirements. Examinees will be able to choose between two (2) vendors who offer the ECI Certification Exams: learn.net or Prometrics. Both will administer exams online, utilizing remote proctoring and offer a bundle option for the General Principles Review and the certification exam as well as the Part A (when applicable).

Launch A

(End of April 2020)

QSM | Part A | CESSWI

Launch B

(May 2020)

CPESC | CESSWI-SI | CPESC-SI

If you have additional questions or would like any additional information, please contact ECI at info@envirocert.org or call 828-655-1600.

CISEC

CISEC, Inc. is adhering to CDC, State and local restrictions associated with the COVID-19 situation  that is impacting the nation. Since attendance in an in-person CISEC program is not feasible at this time, CISEC is ready to assist you in enrolling into its online training modules and finding a proctor to administer your CISEC certification examination. Of course, should you want to you want to wait until they are once again available, there will not be any problem transferring your registration to a future in-person program.  

Accessing the CISEC On-Line Training Modules

Your enrollment in the CISEC Online Training modules will be covered by your already paid in-person training fees.  Instructions for access are:

  • Download your free CISEC training manual and drawings by clicking on the link MANUAL.
  • Enter into the CISEC online training modules available through IECA at ehub.ieca.org by clicking on the link ONLINE.
  • Contact the IECA team with any difficulties in accessing training modules (Joanna – joanna@ieca.org or Jack – jack@ieca.org).

Unless advised differently, beginning at 11:00 a.m. (MDT) on May 15, CISEC, Inc. will conduct a “Fireside Chat” webinar to provide answers and/or discuss various topics of concern.  

Administering CISEC Certification Examinations

If you have been approved by CISEC, Inc. to sit for one of the CISEC certification examinations, CISEC will coordinate with you to find a proctor. This process requires you to complete and submit a proctor registration form to contactus@cisecinc.org

Additional information about proctoring your test can be found by clicking on PROCTOR.   

Once CISEC gets your proctor form, it will develop a contract with the proctor of your choice specifying a date and time for administration of your examination.

You have 24 months after completing the training modules to sit for the 3.5-hour CISEC Full examination. If you want to wait until CISEC once again hosts “In-Person” training programs, you can sit in the afternoon of Day 2 (see attached brochure), and CISEC will waive the proctor fee.  

Indiana Administrative Code Updates

Opacity Monitoring for Portland Cement Plants Removed
The State of Indiana published the final rule removing the continuous opacity monitoring requirement for Portland cement plants. The rule became effective April 30, 2020. Here’s the link to the Legislative Services Agency document #18-364(F),

Contractor Prequalification
The INDOT Prequalification Division has begun implementation of revised contractor prequalification administrative rules as they pertain to prequalification application requirements. The revised Indiana administrative rule became effective April 29, 2020. INDOT’s prequalification director Chris Serak and engineer Jose Murillo worked with ICI staff and board during the year-long rule making (revision) process. The amendments to Indiana Administrative Code 105 IAC 11-2 effect the prequalification certificate duration, financial statements required at different capacity levels, and financial requirements for contractors seeking prequalification.

Certificates may be valid for up to 24 months instead of 12. Current work capacity thresholds for financial statements internally attested as correct, preparated and reviewed by an independent certified public accountant (CPA), and prepared and audited by an independent CPA have revised to $1 million, $1 – $2.5 million, and above $2.5 respectively.

Contractors should review the revised rule prior to renewing their prequalification applications and financial statements.

Please contact the INDOT Prequalification Division for questions and comments.

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