[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 23, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 23CFR637.207]

[Page 195-196]
 
                           TITLE 23--HIGHWAYS
 
 CHAPTER I--FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 637--CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION AND APPROVAL--Table of Contents
 
        Subpart B--Quality Assurance Procedures for Construction
 
Sec. 637.207  Quality assurance program.

    (a) Each SHA's quality assurance program shall provide for an 
acceptance program and an independent assurance (IA) program consisting 
of the following:
    (1) Acceptance program.
    (i) Each SHA's acceptance program shall consist of the following:
    (A) Frequency guide schedules for verification sampling and testing 
which will give general guidance to

[[Page 196]]

personnel responsible for the program and allow adaptation to specific 
project conditions and needs.
    (B) Identification of the specific location in the construction or 
production operation at which verification sampling and testing is to be 
accomplished.
    (C) Identification of the specific attributes to be inspected which 
reflect the quality of the finished product.
    (ii) Quality control sampling and testing results may be used as 
part of the acceptance decision provided that:
    (A) The sampling and testing has been performed by qualified 
laboratories and qualified sampling and testing personnel.
    (B) The quality of the material has been validated by the 
verification sampling and testing. The verification testing shall be 
performed on samples that are taken independently of the quality control 
samples.
    (C) The quality control sampling and testing is evaluated by an IA 
program.
    (iii) If the results from the quality control sampling and testing 
are used in the acceptance program, the SHA shall establish a dispute 
resolution system. The dispute resolution system shall address the 
resolution of discrepancies occurring between the verification sampling 
and testing and the quality control sampling and testing. The dispute 
resolution system may be administered entirely within the SHA.
    (2) The IA program shall evaluate the qualified sampling and testing 
personnel and the testing equipment. The program shall cover sampling 
procedures, testing procedures, and testing equipment. Each IA program 
shall include a schedule of frequency for IA evaluation. The schedule 
may be established based on either a project basis or a system basis. 
The frequency can be based on either a unit of production or on a unit 
of time.
    (i) The testing equipment shall be evaluated by using one or more of 
the following: Calibration checks, split samples, or proficiency 
samples.
    (ii) Testing personnel shall be evaluated by observations and split 
samples or proficiency samples.
    (iii) A prompt comparison and documentation shall be made of test 
results obtained by the tester being evaluated and the IA tester. The 
SHA shall develop guidelines including tolerance limits for the 
comparison of test results.
    (iv) If the SHA uses the system approach to the IA program, the SHA 
shall provide an annual report to the FHWA summarizing the results of 
the IA program.
    (3) The preparation of a materials certification, conforming in 
substance to Appendix A of this subpart, shall be submitted to the FHWA 
Division Administrator for each construction project which is subject to 
FHWA construction oversight activities.
    (b) [Reserved]