Section 101 — Terms, Format, and Definitions
101.01Meaning of Terms. These specifications are generally written in the imperative mood. In sentences using the imperative mood, the subject, " the Contractor ", is implied. Also implied in this language are " shall ", "shall be ", or similar words and phrases. In material specifications, the subject may also be the supplier, fabricator, or manufacturer supplying material, products, or equipment for use on the project. Wherever " directed ", "required ", "prescribed ", "requested ", or "ordered " are used, the "directio n", "requirement ", "prescription ", or "order " of the Contracting Officer is intended. Wherever something is to be " submitted" or "submitting to ", the Contracting Officer is intended. Similarly, wherever "approved", " acceptable ", "suitable ", "satisfactory ", or similar words are used, the words mean " approved by", "acceptable to", or "satisfactory to " the Contracting Officer. The word " will" generally pertains to decisions or actions of the Contracting Officer.
101.02Specifications Format. These specificati ons are divided into 10 Divisions. Division 100 consists of general contract requirements for which no direct payment is made. The requirements contained in Division 100 apply to all contracts. Division 150 consists of project contract requirements that apply to all contracts. Work under Division 150 is paid for directly or indirectly according to Subsection 109.05. If there is no pay item in the bid schedule, no direct payment is ma de. Divisions 200 through 600 consist of construction contract requirements for specific items of work. Work under these Divisions is paid for directly or indirectly according to Subsection 109.05 . If there is no pay item in the bid schedule, no direct payment is made. Division 700 contains the material requirements for Divisions 150 through 600. No direct payment is made in Division 700. Payment for material is included as part of the work required in Divisions 150 through 600. The first three digits of the pay item number in the bid schedule identify the Section under which the work is performed.
101.03Abbreviations. When these abbreviations are used, they represent the following:
(a)Acronyms . 3D — Three -Dimensional AASHTO — American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials ACI — American Concrete Institute AISC — American Institute of Steel Construction AITC — American Institute of Timber Construction AMG — Automated Machine Guidance 3 ANSI — American National Standards Institute ASR — Alkali -Silica Reactivity ASTM — American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International) ATSSA — American Traffic Safety Services Association AWG — American Wire Gauge AWPA — American Wood Protection Association AWS — American Welding Society AWWA — American Water Works Association BMP — Best Management Practice CFR — Code of Federal Regulations CO — Contracting Officer and authorized representatives CPM — Critical Path Method CRSI — Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute CTSM — Contingent Sum EPA — Environmental Protection Agency FAR — Federal Acquisition Regulations (48 CFR Cha pter 1) FHWA — Federal Highway Administration FLH — Federal Lands Highway FRP — Fiber -Reinforced Polymer GPS — Global Positioning System GRS — Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil GSA — General Services Administration HDPE — High Density Polyethylene HPC — High -Performance Concrete HPS — High -Performance Steel HMA — Hot Mix Asphalt HMWM — High Molecular Weight Methacrylate IMSA — International Municipal Signal Association ISO — International Organization for Standardization ISSA — International Slurry Surfacing Association IWRC — Independent Wire Rope Core JMF — Job- Mix Formula LPSM — Lump Sum LRFD — Load and Resistance Factor Design MASH — Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware MPI — Master Painters Institute MSE — Mechanical ly-Stabilized Earth MTV — Material Transfer Vehicle MUTCD — Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways NACE — National Association of Corrosion Engineers NCHRP — National Cooperative Highway Research Program NEMA — National Electric al Manufacturers Association NIST — National Institute of Standards and Technology NMSA — Nominal Maximum Size Aggregate NPCA — National Precast Concrete Association NTP — Notice to Proceed OSHA — Occupational Safety and Health Administration PCI — Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute PPC — Polyester Polymer Concrete PTFE — Polytetrafluoroethylene PTI — Post -Tensioning Institute PVC — Polyvinyl Chloride 5 QA — Quality Assurance QC — Quality Control QCM — Quality Control Manager QCP — Quality Control Plan RAP — Recycled Asphalt Pavement RECP — Rolled Erosion Control Product RSS — Reinforced Soil Slope SDS — Safety Data Sheet SF — Standard Form SRWU — Segmental Retaining Wall Unit SSPC — The Society for Protective Coatings SWPPP — Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan S4S — Surfaced four sides (lumber) TAR — Transportation Acquisition Regulations (48 CFR Chapter 12) TSR — Tensile Strength Ratio UL — Underwriter’s Laboratory U.S. — United States U.S.C. — United States Code UV — Ultraviolet VFA — Voids Filled with Asphalt VMA — Voids in Mineral Aggregate VOC — Volatile Organic Compounds WMA — Warm Mix Asphalt
(b)Unit a bbreviations and symbols. °F — degree Fahrenheit temperature ft — feet length ft2 — square feet area ft3 — cubic feet volume gal — gallon volume in — inches length in2 — square inches area in3 — cubic inches volume kip — 1000 pounds mass ksi — kilopound per square inch pressure lb — pound mass lbf — pound- force force mi — mile length min — minute time oz — ounces mass ppm — parts per million concentration psi — pounds per square inch pressure sec — second time V — volt electric potential yd — yards length yd2 — square yards area yd3 — cubic yards volume
(c)Slope notation. Slopes are expressed as the ratio of vertical to horizontal (V:H).
101.04Definitions. Unless otherwise specified, the following terms are defined as follows: Automated Machine Guidance — An application that can be applied to highway construction projects to provide construction efficiencies through enhanced location referencing. AMG involves using construction equipment mounted with onboard computers. Using a combination of 3D modeling data along with GPS technology, AMG provides horizontal and vertical guidance in real time to construction equipment operators. Award — The written acceptance of a bid by the CO. 7 Backfill — Material used to replace or the act of replacing material removed durin g construction. Material placed or the act of placing material adjacent to structures. Base — The lift or lifts of material placed on a subbase or subgrade to support a surface course. Bid — A written offer by a bidder to perform work at a quoted price. Bidder — An individual or legal entity submitting a bid. Bid Guarantee — A form of security assuring that the bidder will not withdraw a bid within the period specified for acceptance and will execute a written contract and provide required bonds. Bid Schedu le — The prepared schedule included with the bid forms, containing the estimated quantities of pay items for which unit bid prices are invited. Bridge — A structure including supports erected over a depression or an obstruction ( such as water, highway, or railway ), having a track or passageway for carrying traffic or other moving loads, and having an opening measured along the center of the roadway of more than 20 feet between undercopings of abutments or spring lines of arches, or extreme ends of openings for multiple boxes . It may also include multiple pipes, where the clear distance between openings is less than half of the smaller contiguous opening. Clear Zone — The portion of the roadside, including the shoulder, available for the safe use by an errant vehicle. Commercial Certification — See Subsection 106.03. Completion Date — The date by which all contract work is to be compl ete. Construction Limits — The limits that establish the area disturbed by construction operations and beyond which no disturbance is allow ed. Contract — The written agreement between the Government and the Contractor setting forth the obligations of the parties for the performance of and payment for the prescribed work. Contracting Officer — An official of the Government with the authority to execute , administer, and terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings. The term includes authorized representatives of the CO acting within the limits of their authority as delegated by the CO. Contract Modification — A written change in the terms of the contract. Contract modifications are of the following forms:
(a)Admini strative change. A unilateral contract change, in writing, that does not affect the substantive rights of the parties (such as a change in the paying office or the appropriation data).
(b)Change order . A written order, signed by the CO, directing the Contractor to make a change that FAR Clause 52.243-4 Changes authorizes the CO to order without the Contractor’s consent. (c) Supplemental agreement. A contract modification that is accomplished by the signature of the CO (unilateral contract modification) or by the signature of the CO and the Contractor (bilateral contract modification). Contractor — The individual or legal entity contracting with the Government for performance of prescribed work. Contract Time — The specified time allowed for completion of the contra ct work. Crashworthy — A highway feature that has been successfully crash tested under applicable standards defined in MASH, the NCHRP Report 350, Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features , or approved through analysis by FHWA based on similarity to other crashworthy features. Cross- Section — A vertical section of the ground or structure at right angles to the centerline or baseline of the roadway or other work. Culvert — A structure, not classified as a bridge, that provides an opening under the roadway. Day — A calendar day starting and ending at midnight. Density — Mass per unit volume of material. Specific gravity multiplied by the density of water. Detour — A temporary rerouting of public traffic onto altern ate existing roadways to avoid the work or part of the work. Dewatering — Lowering and controlling water levels to allow excavation and construction to be performed. Drawings — Design sheets or fabrication, erection, shop drawing, or construction details submitted to the CO by the Contractor according to FAR Clause 52.236- 21 Specifications and Drawings for Construction. Also refers to submissions and submittals. Federal Land M anagement Agencies — Federal agencies including, but not limited to, the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation. Final Acceptance — The point at which the Government formally accepts the work and relieves the Contractor of further responsibility for the maintenance of the project. This excludes warranties, which remain in effect until they expire. See FAR Clause 52.246-21 Warranty of Construction. Government — The Government of the United States of America. Highway, Street, or Road — A general term denoting a public way primarily designed for purposes of multimodal travel. Lane Mile — An area of pavement 1 mile long and 1 lane wide; not including turn lanes, turnouts, parking area lanes, or other auxiliary lanes. Lift — When placing and compacting soils, aggregates, or pavement; a lift is a single, continuous layer of material that is uniformly compacted. Material — Substances specified or n ecessary to complete the contract work. 9 Measurement — The process of identifying the dimensions, quantity, or capacity of a pay item. See Section 109 for measurement methods, terms, and definitions. Neat Line — A line defin ing the proposed or specified limits of excavation or structure element for purposes of calculating quantities . Notice to Proceed — Written notice to the Contractor to start the contract work. Offeror — An individual or legal entity submitting a bid. Pavement Structure — The combination of subbase, base, paving geotextiles, and surface courses placed on a subgrade to support and distribute the traffic load to the roadbed. Pay Item — A specific item of work consisting of a unit, quantity, and method of measurement furnished by the Government and a price established by the contract. Payment Bond — The security executed by the Contractor and surety or sureties and provided to the CO to ensure payments as r equired by law to persons supplying labor or material according to the contract. Performance Bond — The security executed by the Contractor and surety or sureties and provided to the CO to guarantee completion of the contract work. Plans — The contract plans furnished by the Government showing the location, type, dimensions, and details of the work. Production Certification — See Subsection 106.03. Professional Engineer — Engineers holding valid state licenses permitting them to offer engineering services directly to the public. Engineers that are experienced in the work for which they are responsible, take legal responsibility for their engineering designs, and are bound by a code of ethics to protect the public health. Prof ile Grade — The trace of a vertical plane intersecting a particular surface of the proposed road construction located according to the plans, usually along the longitudinal centerline of the roadbed. Profile grade means either elevation or gradient of the trace according to the context. Project — The specific section of the highway or other property on which construction is to be performed under the contract. Right -of-Way — Real property necessary for the project, including roadway, buffer areas, access, an d drainage areas. Roadbed — The graded portion of a highway prepared as a foundation for the pavement structure and shoulders. Roadside — The area between the outside shoulder edge and the right -of-way limits. The area between roadways of a divided highway may also be considered roadside. Roadway — In general, the portion of a highway, including shoulders, primarily for vehicular use. A divided highway has two or more roadways. In construction specifications, the portion of a highway within the construction limits. Roadway Prism — The area between the original and the final design cross- section . Roller Pass — One trip of a roller in one direction over one spot. Shop Drawings — See "Drawings" Shoulder — A portion of the roadway contiguous with the traveled way that accommodates pedestrians, bicycles, stopped vehicles, and emergency use; and is used for lateral support of the subbase, base, and surface courses. Sieve — See AASHTO M 92. Solicitation — The complete assembly of documents (whether attached or incorporated by reference) furnished to prospective bidders. Special Contract Requirement — An addition or revision to the Standard Specif ications applicable to an individual project. Specifications — The written requirements for performing work. Standard Form — Numbered form issued by the GSA for use as contract documents. Standard Specifications — Standard Specifications for Construction of Roads and Bridges on Federal Highway Projects approved f or general application and repetitive use. Also referred to as the FP. Station — A precise location along a survey line. Structures — Bridges, culverts, catch basins, drop inlets, retaining walls, c ribbing, manholes, endwalls, buildings, sewers, service pipes, underdrains, foundation drains, and other constructed features that may be encountered in the work. Subbase — The lift or lifts of material placed on a subgrade to support a base. Subcontract — The written agreement between the Contractor and an individual or legal entity setting forth the obligations of the parties for the performance of and payment for a specific portion of the work to be performed by the subcontractor. Subcontractor — An individual or legal entity with which the Contractor sublets part of the work. This includes subcontractors and material suppliers in all tiers. Subgrade — The top surface of a roadbed upon which the pavement structure, shoulders, and curbs are constructed. Substantial Completion — The point at which the project is complete and can be safely and effectively used by the public without further delays, disruption, or other impediments. For conventional bridge and highway work, the point at which bridge deck, parapet, pavement structure, shoulder, drainage, sidewalk, major demolition, roadway obliteration, permanent signing and markings, traffic barrier, safety appurtenance, utility, and lighting work is complete. 11 Substructure — Components of a bridge below the bearings of simple and continuous spans, skewbacks of arches, and tops of footings of rigid frames including backwalls, wingwalls, and wing protection railings. Suitable Material — Rock or earth material that will provide stable foundations, embankments, or roadbeds, and is without organic matter, muck, frozen lumps, roots, sod, or other deleterious material. Suitable material may require drying or adding water, and other methods of manipulation before use. Suitable material includes the classifications of material for which the project was designed. Superintendent — The Contractor’s on- site representative who has authority to act for the Contractor and is responsible for directing and supervising construction operations on behalf of the Contractor. Superstruct ure — The entire bridge, except the substructure. Surety — An individual or corporation legally liable for the debt, default, or failure of a Contractor to satisfy a contract obligation. Surface Course — The top lift or lifts of a pavement structure design ed to accommodate the traffic load and resist skidding, traffic abrasion, and weathering. Target Value — A number established as a center for operating a given process. Once established, adjustments should be made in the process as necessary to maintain a central tendency about the target value. Test results obtained from a well -controlled process should c luster closely around the established target value and the mean of the test results should be equal to, or nearly equal to, the established target value. Temporary Stormwater Diversion — A temporary rerouting of stormwater runoff in a controlled, non-erosi ve manner. Temporary Stream Diversion — A temporary rerouting of water into a temporary channel or through a system of structures within the construction limits to maintain water flow through or around the project. Temporary Traffic Diversion — A temporary rerouting of public traffic onto a temporary alignment within the construction limits to bypass the work or part of the work. Traveled Way — The portion of the roadway designated for the movement of vehicles, not including the shoulders. Unsuitable Materi al — Material that cannot create stable foundations, embankments, or roadbeds. Unsuitable material includes muck, sod, and soils with high organic contents. Well-graded — Graded from coarse to fine with a wide range of particle sizes and substantial amounts of the intermediate particle sizes. Work — The providing of labor, material, equipment, and other incidentals necessary to complete the project according to the contract.