1603Materials: Specifications, Samples, Tests, and Acceptance

1603.1SPECIFICATIONS

The Department will sample, test, and inspect all Materials in accordance with the Contract at any time before being permanently incorporated in the Work. The Department will approve or reject Materials based on the results of this sampling, testing, and inspection . The Material requirements that describe Material sampling, testing and inspection are normally referenced in Division II, “Construction Details,” the plans, or the special provisions. In the absence of a specific Material reference, the governing Material specifications, in order of precedence, will be Division III, “Materials,” AASHTO, ASTM, and the applicable Industry Standard.

Unless otherwise required, if the Contract cites specifications, standards, methods, tests, or practices from outside associations, societies, or governmental agencies, the Department is referring to the versions of these references that are current at the date of the Advertisement for Bids . If the Contract refers to other procedures, practices, or allowances established or approved by the Department, the Department will refer to the versions of these references that are current at the date of the Advertisement for Bids . The Department and Contractor may mutually agree to update the referenced provisions to the version current at the time of application.

1603.2SAMPLING AND TESTING

Refer to the Schedule of Materials Control for sampling and testing of Materials on State and Federal-aid Projects. The Schedule of Materials Control sets the size of Material samples and the rate of testing. The Schedule of Materials Control does not set Contract requirements for the Material. The Schedule of Materials Control is included with the Proposal Package. The Contractor shall provide all required samples at no additional cost to the Department and shall provide such facilities and assistance as the Engineer directs for collecting and forwarding samples . If required by the Engineer, the Contractor shall submit representative preliminary samples to the Engineer in accordance with the specified methods, for examination and testing . The Contractor shall label submitted preliminary samples with the following information:

For soil and Aggregate samples, the Contractor shall provide the following additional information: legal description of the property where the samples were taken and pit numbers for single source bituminous and concrete Aggregate products. The Department will provide special instructions for sampling upon request from the Contractor.

1603.3CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE

The Engineer may accept Industry Standardized products by a Certificate of Compliance in lieu of the required sampling and testing, subject to the following:

Specification requirements, identify the Specification number, and include the Project number.

document, and identify the supplier, manufacturer, product, and quantities covered.

Material.

results on file with the supplier and available to the Engineer for inspection upon request.

company supplying the Material covered by the certification. The Department may require samples and test the Material for compliance regardless of prior certification by the supplier.

When the Contractor uses a Certificate of Compliance in lieu of required sampling and testing, the Engineer will withhold 100 percent of the Contract Unit Price of Work until the Contractor submits the Certificate of Compliance to the Engineer.

1603.4ACCEPTANCE

Department approval of preliminary samples will not constitute acceptance of the Material represented. The Department will only consider the Materials actually delivered to the Project for acceptance . The Department will base Material acceptance or rejection on the results of the tests and inspections made by the Engineer. The Engineer will make final inspection and acceptance of Material at the Project. The Department will not allow use of Material that must meet definite Contract requirements until completion of all required acceptance inspections and tests show the Material complies with the Contract requirements. Pending determination of test results, the Contractor may use Material having a satisfactory record of compliance with the test requirements at the Contractor's risk, with the understanding that the Department will apply the provisions of 1503, “Conformity with Contract Documents,” and 1512, “Unacceptable and Unauthorized Work,” if the Material fails to meet the Contract requirements subsequent to placement.