Note: This document was superseded on 08/02/1991 by: 23 CFR Part 635 - Contract Procedures
 U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration |
MEMORANDUM |
| Subject: | Audit of Construction Contract Change Orders | Date: | September 8, 1982 |
| From: | Director, Office of Highway Operations | Refer To: | HHO-32 |
| To: | Regional Federal Highway Administrators Regions 1-10 Direct Federal Program Administrator |
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The Office of the Inspector General has recently completed a Department wide review of construction contract change orders. In the draft report of this review, one of the findings and recommendations directly addresses the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) documentation and use of force account procedures. The report indicated instances where force account procedures were apparently being used as a matter of convenience. This impression was derived from the available change order documentation.
This is a reminder and a follow-up to the Inspector General's review, that contract changes should be settled primarily through negotiations. Force account type procedures should be used only when necessary and then be appropriately documented. We are not convinced that this is a growing problem, but take this opportunity to reaffirm the FHWA's commitment to providing for adequate controls in the administration of highway construction contracts.
/s/ original signed by
David S. Gendell