Preface

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) recognizes that private sector engineering services are a useful and effective means of meeting the Department's needs for professional services. The relationship between GDOT and private sector engineering companies has changed, and there is a much closer working relationship involving more GDOT personnel and more engineering companies. The Partnering Agreement between GDOT and ACEC/G, hammered out in 1993 and 1994, is being implemented and a true partnering relationship has developed. The position of private sector engineering companies is evolving into a proactive role. The Georgia Partnership for Transportation Quality (GPTQ) was the vehicle to move this evolution forward.

The role of GDOT Project Managers is changing. Because of the drastically increasing work load, Project Managers may not be able to perform detailed reviews that were performed in earlier years. Each engineering company will share credit for successes and shoulder blame for failures. This necessarily means that the private sector engineering companies will perform many tasks that were previously fulfilled by GDOT staff - from mundane to high level.

Each firm will be responsible for its QC/QA. This necessarily means that all personnel involved in performing the work must have a clear understanding of the scope and intent of the overall project, and the appropriate design criteria and environmental concerns, in order to ensure that the work product meets or exceeds GDOT expectations. GDOT's responsibility is to clearly define and communicate its requirements and expectations to engineering firms before work is initiated. The purpose of this manual is to assist in defining requirements and expectations of GDOT for Geotechnical services.

Everyone should obtain a copy of "Manual of Quality Standards for Consultant Services with the Georgia Department of Transportation". This manual addresses the importance of QC/QA plans, the roles and responsibilities of GDOT and private sector engineering firms, and the importance of meeting schedules.

The GPTQ Geotechnical Subcommittee assisted in compiling this manual, which is based on GADOT guidelines for drilling, sampling and providing engineering reports for roadways, bridges, retaining walls and other structures, as well as input from the consulting community. The manual is now maintained by the Geotechnical Bureau of GDOT. The geotechnical engineering firms were eager and willing to assist with providing input to these guidelines, as well as provide several new forms. The following individuals served on this subcommittee:

Donald E. Hill, P.E., Co-Chairman                        United Consulting
Thomas E. Scruggs, P.E., Co-Chairman            GDOT Geotechnical Bureau
Robert Watkins, P.E.                                               Willmer Engineering
Bob Goehring, P.E.                                                  ECS, Ltd.
Randy A. Knott, P.E.                                                 Law Engineering
Doug Gilmore, P.E.                                                  QORE, Inc.
Randall Bagwell, P.E.                                              Nova Engineering
Michael D. Smith, P.E.                                             Law Engineering