VE Supporting Statement A with comments

Department of Transportation (DOT)

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

The Supporting Statement A

Annual Value Engineering Call for Data

2125-XXXX

Introduction: New request for the Annual Value Engineering Call for Data.

Part A. Justification.

1. Circumstances that make collection of information necessary:

Value Engineering (VE) is defined as a systematic process of review and analysis of a project, during the concept and design phases, by a multidiscipline team of persons not involved in the project, that is conducted to provide recommendations for providing the needed functions safely, reliably, efficiently, and at the lowest overall cost; improving the value and quality of the project; and reducing the time to complete the project. Applicable projects requiring a VE analysis include Projects on the National Highway System (NHS) receiving Federal assistance with an estimated total cost of $50,000,000 or more; Bridge projects on the NHS receiving Federal assistance with an estimated total cost of $40,000,000 or more; any major project, as defined in 23 U.S.C. 106(h), located on or off the NHS, that utilizes Federal-aid highway funding in any contract or phase; and other projects as defined in 23 CFR 627.5. 23 U.S.C. 106(e)(4)(iv) and 23 CFR 627.7(3) require States to monitor, evaluates and annually submit a report that describes the results of the value analyses that are conducted, and the recommendations implemented on applicable projects. The FHWA Annually submits a National Call for VE Data in order to monitor and assess the VE Program and meet the requirements of 23 U.S.C. 106(h).

This VE collection of data supports safety as safety is one of the topics reviewed during VE studies. The goal is to make our transportation system safer for all people. Advance a future without transportation-related serious injuries and fatalities.

2. How, by whom, and for what purpose is the information used:

The FHWA Annually submits a National Call for VE Data in order to monitor and assess the VE Program and meet the requirements of 23 U.S.C. 106(h). The annual call for data is done electronically through a google form. After collection, the data is published on a public facing website https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ve/vereport.cfm. Each year, this data is used to determine the return on investment that VE studies provide.

3. Extent of automated information collection:

The annual call for data is done electronically through a google form, which eliminations the need for paper submission and streamlines the data collection process. After collection, the data is published on a public facing website https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ve/vereport.cfm

4. Efforts to identify duplication:

There is no similar information available.

5. Efforts to minimize the burden on small businesses:

This does not impact small businesses.

6. Impact of less frequent collection of information:

23 U.S.C. 106(h) requires this information to be annually reported. Therefore, the FHWA collects the data on an annual basis.

7. Special circumstances:

There are no special circumstances.

8. Compliance with 5 CFR 1320.8:

The document was published for a 60-day notice in the Federal Register. The document citation is 89 FR 39679. There were seventeen (17) comments during this comment period, many of which were identical. In summary, each comment stated how important the Value Engineering Program is and the data collection is an important part of demonstrating good stewardship of public funds. Each comment encouraged the continuation of the data collection and that the data shows that the Value Engineering program is effective.

FHWA acknowledges these comments.

Several commenters encouraged FHWA to collect more data, and to ask OMB to reinstate all federal agencies reporting associated with OMB Circular A-131. One commenter stated that they would like to have access to data reported by other states.

In an effort to reduce the burden on state DOT’s, FHWA streamlined the data collection process to highlight the cost expended, cost savings and return on investment that comes from Value Engineering. All state’s data is available on FHWA’s Value Engineering website for public review https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ve/vereport.cfm. Commenters are encouraged to reach out to OMB about reinstating OMB Circular A-131.

Two commenters suggested that FHWA develop an electronic database that allows for the entry of the requested information and allow this database to be viewable by the public so that they can compare data.

In 2023, FHWA created an electronic form for state DOT’s to input their annual data. This form populates the summary information that is available to the public on FHWA’s Value Engineering Website. This information is sortable by state, fiscal year, costs, and a number of other factors. Users can also download this information in to a PDF for their use.

The 30 day notice was published in the Federal Register on July 17, 2024, at [89 FR 58241].

9. Payments or gifts to respondents:

There are no payments or gifts to respondents.

10. Assurance of confidentiality:

There is no assurance of confidentiality. The data will be published on a public facing website.

11. Justification for collection of sensitive information:

There will be no collection of sensitive information.

12. Estimate of burden hours for information requested:

There is no total capital or start-up costs associated with this survey. Data will be collected using a google form. There will be 52 respondents, which includes 50 state transportation departments, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It will take a civil engineer approximately 2 hours per respondent to collect data and fill out the survey for a total annual burden of approximately 104 hours per year. The average hourly rate of a civil engineer is $48.64 for a total estimated cost of 104 hours * $48.64/hour¹ = $5,058.56 per year.

13. Estimate of total annual costs to respondents:

There are no total costs to respondents.

14. Estimate of cost to the Federal government:

It will take approximately 15 hours of government time at average rate of $48.64² per hour for a civil engineer for a total cost to the government of $48.64/hour * 15 hours = $729.60.

15. Explanation of program changes or adjustments:

There are no program changes or adjustments because this a new collection.

16. Publication of results of data collection:

The annual call for data is done electronically through a google form. After collection, the data is published on a public facing website https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ve/vereport.cfm. The annual call for data will take place in February of each year and the data will be published by June.

17. Approval for not displaying the expiration date of OMB approval:

There are no exceptions requested.

18. Exceptions to certification statement:

There are no exceptions requested.

1 May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimate https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm

2 May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm