U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

MEMORANDUM

The FHWA is challenged to become proficient in multidisciplinary skills such as project, risk and financial management to effectively oversee major projects. Successful major project oversight and stewardship requires the project manager to exercise industry standard project management techniques and skills throughout the project's life cycle. The Major Projects Team, Office of Infrastructure and the Training and Development Group, Office of Administration have identified key components to training and educating major project oversight managers who have responsibility for overseeing and guiding major projects.

Several factors have led to the decision to focus on project management training despite our limited funding.

• The reauthorization will probably require Project Management Plans for all major projects. A strong background in industry standard project management principles and skills will be necessary when working with State Departments of Transportation and their consultants to develop these documents.
• The acquisition of project management principles and skills will provide major project oversight managers with recognized credentials and credibility.
• Project management skills are an important element in all FHWA leadership positions and this training will help prepare major project oversight managers for future leadership positions.

To begin the necessary development of project management skills needed for the effective oversight of major projects, major project oversight managers will be required to complete a certificate program in project management. As a Division Office with a major project, we are asking for your support for your major project oversight manager to participate in a project management certificate program. As you know, oversight of major projects is a serious responsibility that impacts the public's trust and confidence in the FHWA as a whole. Formal training in project management will increase the Division Office's proficiency and effectiveness in its stewardship and oversight roles.

The program outlined below emphasizes project management competencies to obtain basic project management principles and skills though a certificate program recognized by the Project Management Institute. To accomplish this, major project oversight managers will be required to participate in a training program leading to completion of a project management certificate within 2 years. The program is flexible. Major project oversight managers will be able to select any certificate program and provider as long as these four conditions are met:

• The training must be in the field of project management.
• The training provider must be a Project Management Institute (PMI) Registered Education Provider - there are over 150 in the United States.
• The training must consist of at least three separate courses, including one introductory course in project management and two courses from the following areas:
  • Leadership/Management
  • Communications
  • Project Scheduling
  • Project Cost Control
  • Risk Management
• The total training must be at least 40 hours of classroom time.
• A training certificate must be awarded upon successful completion.

The Major Projects Team will assist major project oversight managers in selecting training providers and certificate programs that meet these requirements.

The basic certificate program is the beginning of the development track. We envision supporting qualified FHWA employees seeking advanced academic degrees and professional certifications in project management. Several PMI Registered Education Providers also have aligned themselves with academic institutions so completed coursework may be evaluated for credit in an advanced degree program. Thus, there are opportunities for immediate training in specific coursework leading to a certificate as well as the potential for more in depth study leading to a degree.

Although training funds are limited this year, this is an important effort that cannot be delayed. The Training and Development Group has set aside central funds for tuition and necessary travel. The Training and Development Group and the Major Projects Team will approve training plans and travel and set priorities as the major project oversight managers submit them. Each major project oversight manager is expected to attend at least 2 courses this fiscal year.

To meet this challenge, an aggressive schedule is necessary. Training proposals should include the certificate program outline, the number of courses with tuition costs to be taken this fiscal year, and estimated travel costs need. The proposal should be submitted to the Major Projects Team by June 15. To expedite the approval process, SF 182A's may be included for signature approval by the Training and Development Group. Proposal approvals or comments will be returned before June 30. Once program approvals have been received, SF 182A's that were not submitted in the initial proposal need to be submitted for signature approval prior to July 1. In addition, the amount of travel authorizations and travel vouchers will need to be provided to the Major Projects Team so an accurate accounting of costs can be maintained.

While recognizing this is a significant effort on the part of the major project oversight managers, the benefits of completing a project management certificate program are immediate and will provide the stepping stones for overall career development. We know that FHWA has a talented and committed workforce that is prepared to meet the challenges of an accountable and responsive organization.

If you have any questions, please contact Jim Sinnette, Major Projects Team, at 202-366-0479 or Nancy Stout, Training and Development Group, at 202-366-1164.