Four states have amended their Department of Transportation (DOT) specification documents to include language specifying NACE International Institute Contractor Accreditation Program (NIICAP) accredited contractors for coatings work on upcoming infrastructure projects.

Texas, Mississippi, Florida, and Washington now specify NIICAP-accredited contractors when accepting bids for DOT jobs involving coatings preparation and application on transportation infrastructure such as roads and bridges, aviation facilities, ports and marine infrastructure, rail lines, and public transportation projects. 

“The fundamental objective for any Department of Transportation is to provide its stakeholders with safe and cost effective infrastructure solutions, and utilizing accreditation programs like NIICAP can only have a positive influence on this goal,” said Aaron Cagle, Program Development Engineer at Mississippi Department of Transportation. “By establishing high standards for those that wish to do work in our state, owners can ensure a final product that addresses the long term durability of our assets while providing the best possible value to meet the needs of the traveling public.”

In Texas, the Department of Transportation added a special provision to Item 446, “Field Cleaning and Painting Steel,” of its Standard Specifications for Construction and Maintenance of Highways, Streets and Bridges. These provisions recognize NIICAP accreditation for work requiring the removal or application of coatings.

In Florida, a revision to FDOT’s Materials Manual Chapter 11 Volume II includes verbiage specifying NIICAP accreditation for Shop Preparation and Application as well as Field Preparation and Application, per subarticles 560-5.1 and 560-5.2.

In Mississippi, under new changes to the Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, coatings contractors must provide quality control plans under the SSPC QP1 and SSPC QP2 certifications or NIICAP AS-1 and AS-2 certifications.

In Washington, WSDOT has revised its Standard Specifications document (6-07.3(1)B Work Force Qualifications for Field Application of Paint) to include language specifying NIICAP accreditation.

Facility owners who recognize the value and importance of high quality coatings work have sought quality assurance options that ensure asset longevity and competitive bids. NIICAP not only meets, but exceeds the standards of excellence that contractors and owners demand. By updating specifications to include NIICAP accreditation, these agencies are building a model for sustainability in current and future transportation projects. It is an example that other states can reference when updating specification documents.

NIICAP is an industry-managed accreditation program that validates a coatings contractor's quality assurance program, support practices, and production processes. Within the NIICAP program, coating contractors and the asset owners who seek to hire them have a transparent, industry-designed and driven mechanism for improving product and service quality, extending asset life and performance, enhancing best practices, and mitigating risks to business and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)

For more information: www.niicap.net