04/26/2023

Message From Beth -- April 26, 2023

Over 3 years ago, a liaison committee was created under the umbrella of the ACEC Ohio Transportation Committee to meet with the Executive Staff at the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission.  The first meeting was held with OTIC on November 12, 2019. The liaison committee worked with ACEC Ohio members to identify a list of priorities to work on with OTIC, and the committee has done just that…with success!  Here is the list of priorities and our outcomes to date:

1. Travel Reimbursement – in their hands for review, click here for ACEC Ohio proposal.
2. Rate and Overhead Caps – worked with OTIC on 2023 rate sheet using ACEC Ohio salary survey and member feedback. Rates were increased.
3. Indemnification clause in contract- SB 56 prohibits broad use indemnification clauses.
4. Reduced the Insurance limit requirements in OTIC contracts.
5. Selection Process – this was a request to have scoring more readily available. OTIC is discussing ways to become more transparent and encourages ACEC Ohio members to request information from the Commission. They also encourage meet and greets and debriefs to understand the expectations from OTIC on proposals and criteria to review those proposals.
6. LOI/Shortlist/Proposal – OTIC has modified this to be a one step process.
7. Information on website quicker – OTIC plans to work on web-based announcements to the industry, this is a longer-term project. In the meantime, OTIC encourages firms interested in work to get pre-qualified with the Commission by submitting their Statement of Qualifications now as opposed to waiting until the bi-annual request.
8. CADD Standards/electronic automation – OTIC currently looking at this in phases with the AutoCAD manual. The Bridge CAD standards are being revised first and then moving to general CAD standards.

In March 2022, ACEC Ohio and OTIC held the first partnering workshop. This was well received by both organizations and will become an event every other year. A result of the 2022 workshop was the creation of an invoicing committee which will be working together in 2023 to simplify the OTIC process. The next workshop is planned for March 2024.

If you should have any items you feel the ACEC Ohio/OTIC Liaison Committee should discuss with the Commission Executive Team, please feel free to reach out to me or the Liaison Committee Chair, Joanne Shaner with HDR.

~Beth