Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Safety, Efficiency, and Accountability in Transportation Projects Through Public Inspection Act of 2019”.
Safety, Efficiency, and Accountability in Transportation Projects Through Public Inspection Act of 2019
A BILL
To require construction inspection functions be conducted by public employees, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Public inspection of projects
Section 112(b) of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following:
“(G) Construction inspection services
“(i) Limitation—ln carrying out a project under this section, public employees shall perform construction inspection functions.
“(ii) Construction inspection functions defined—In this subparagraph, the term “construction inspection functions” includes construction engineering, contract administration, on-site quality control inspection, materials testing, and resident engineer and assistant resident engineer functions responsible for the acceptance or rejection of the work.
“(iii) Exception—If a State transportation department or other public agency project sponsor does not have adequate existing or obtainable staff to perform the construction inspection functions, then the agency may utilize temporary consultant contracts for these services until such staff can be obtained.
“(iv) Time period—Any temporary contracts to provide construction inspection services under this subparagraph shall not exceed the period that ends on the date that is 12 months after the date of contract award.”
in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following:
“(F) Construction inspection services—Public employees shall perform the construction inspection functions on all design-build projects. Such inspection functions shall be subject to the requirements of paragraph (2)(G).”
in paragraph (4)(A), by adding at the end the following:
“(v) Construction inspection services—Public employees shall perform the construction inspection functions on all projects that use a 2-phase contract. Such functions shall be subject to the requirements of paragraph (2)(G).”