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1. What is the purpose of this change?
2. Which part of FHWA Order M 1100.1A is being updated?
3. What changes are included in this Order?
4. Where can I get additional information concerning these changes?

1. What is the purpose of this change? Strengthening accountability for effective management of the financial resources entrusted to the FHWA on behalf of the American people is one of our Agency's most important objectives. This change adds a new Chapter 7 (Financial Management) to Part I (Delegations) of the FHWA Delegations and Organization Manual to highlight financial management authorities that may be exercised by key Headquarters and field officials. In addition, this change realigns to the Chief Financial Officer certain financial management authorities that were previously delegated from the Administrator to the Associate Administrator for Administration. The Chief Financial Officer will further delegate financial management authorities for which he is the sole recipient to the lowest level practicable, upon verification that essential internal controls are in place.

2. Which part of FHWA Order M 1100.1A is being updated? Authorities reflected in the new Chapter 7 were taken from Chapter 4 (Administrative) of the Manual where they were previously documented. Remaining sections, paragraphs, and footnotes in Chapter 4 were renumbered, as needed, to accommodate this change. Further, organization and position titles have been corrected throughout Chapter 4 and the new Chapter 7, to reflect changes that have occurred since the last update of this delegations area.

3. What changes are included in this Order? The most important changes are:

   1. Paragraphs 2a, 4a, 5a, and 5b are revised to designate the Chief Financial Officer (rather than the Associate Administrator for Administration, Resource Center Director, Division Administrators, and Federal Lands Highway (FLH) Division Engineers)) as the recipient of delegated authority in the areas of "review, approval, and payment of claims; collection and waiver of debts; and collection and waiver of claims for erroneous payments."

   2. Paragraph 7 is revised to designate the Chief Financial Officer (rather than the Associate Administrator for Administration and Division Administrators) as the sole recipient of delegated authority in the areas of "review of indirect cost allocation plans and proposals, negotiation of indirect cost rates, and approval of indirect cost negotiation agreements." The Chief Financial Officer will further delegate the authorities described in this paragraph, through the Directors of Field Services, to division office officials.

   3. Paragraph 8 is revised to designate the Chief Financial Officer (rather than the Associate Administrator for Administration, Resource Center Director, and FLH Division Engineers) as the sole recipient of delegated authority in the area of "tort claims." A provision has also been added authorizing FLH Division Engineers to approve claims of $500 or less.

   4. Paragraph 9 is revised to designate the Chief Financial Officer (rather than the Associate Administrator for Administration, Associate Administrator for FLH, and FLH Division Engineers) as the sole recipient of delegated authority in the area of "reimbursable agreements." A statement has been added to specify that this authority applies to "special one-time reimbursable transactions for such items as special assessments for sharing the costs of special projects initiated by the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, Flexible Funding Projects, and multi-Agency grants."

   5. Paragraphs 10a(1), 10a(2), 10c(2), 10c(3), 11a, 12, 13b, 14a, 14b(1), 15a, 15b, 18a, and footnote #5 have been amended to grant specified travel authorization and approval authority to Directors of Field Services.

   6. In addition to the changes noted above, minor editorial revisions have been made as necessary throughout the chapter without affecting content. The information provided in footnote 1 at the end of Chapter 7 is important, as it conveys permission to further delegate these authorities, unless a statement restricting redelegation is included.

4. Where can I get additional information concerning these changes? If you have questions about these changes, you may contact the Office of Information and Management Services, Management Programs and Analysis Division.