SECTION 903: QUALITY ASSURANCE
903.1 Description
The Department will sample and test Materials for Acceptance u nless otherwise specified in the Contract. The Department will provide these test result s to the Contractor within two
2.Working Days after sampling, but only after Contractor QC t ests have been received for the same sublot, if applicable, and will provide other test res ults to the Contractor upon request. Department testing is not for Quality Control.
903.1.1 Department Sampling and Testing
The Department will sample and test in accordance with Section 906, “Minimum Testing Requirements” or at a lesser sublot size for Assurance purposes as determined by the Project Manager before production of Material begins. If Material appe ars defective, or if the Project Manager determines that a change in the process or product has occurred, additional sampling and testing may occur. When additional informational sampling and testing is performed, the results will be used only to determine if correc tive actions need to be taken by the Contractor and will not be in corporated into the Quality Le vel Analysis. The Department will conduct Assurance testing independently fr om the Contractor’s Quality Control testing.
903.1.2 Independent Assurance Testing
TTCP certified independent personnel will perform Independent Assurance testing on split samples from Quality Control and Assurance programs to en sure that the Contractor and Department field personnel are using correct and accurate proce dures and the proper Equipment. Independent Assurance Testing will be done in accor dance with the most current NMDOT “Independent Assurance Program” and Section 906, “Minimum Testing Requirements.” These personnel will not have direct responsibi lity for Quality Control or Assurance testing. Independent A ssurance Test results will not be used for Acceptance.
903.1.3 Evaluation of Materials for QLA Acceptance
The Department will analyze lot test results collectively and statistically using Section 904, “Quality Level Analysis.” The Department may Accept a lot containing Material below a pa y factor of one (1.00) at a reduced price, in accordance with the following criteria: 1. The composite pay factor is at least 0.75; 2. There are no rejectable indi vidual criteria (Agency, Contrac tor or Combined); and 3. The Project Manager does not identify isolated defects (i.e. , segregation, or other construction related Material defects). The Department will consider a written request to Accept a Mat erial lot below a 0.75 that does not meet the above criteria, but at a composite pay factor not to exceed 0.50. The Contractor shall include an engineering analysis showing expect ed Material performance. The Assistant District Engineer for Construction will decide if the Material may remain in place and determine the final pay factor for the Material in question. I f less than three (3) samples are obtained at the time a lot is terminated, they shall be incorpo rated in the prior lot. If no prior lot exists, the disposition of the Material shall be decided by the Assistant District Engineer for Construction after evaluating with Minor Paving Non-QLA criteri a in accordance with Section
416.3.1 2.1, “Acceptance.”
The Project Manager may reject Material that appears to be def ective based on visual inspection. Section 904: Quality Level Analysis (QLA) Page 934
Source: New Mexico Standard Specifications for Highway and Bridge Construction, 2019 Edition. Pages 0–0 of 974.