Certification & Recertification

The contractor is required to have a current certification from the DQM Center for all dredge plants to be used under a contract. Certification is contingent upon the system's ability to continuously meet the performance requirements outlined in the specification.

Compliance will be verified by onsite quality assurance (QA) checks and by periodic review of the transmitted data. If performance requirements are not met, the system certification may be revoked.

DQM Certification is based on the following criteria:

• The requirements outlined in the System Requirements section of the specification

• Verification of data acquisition and transfer as described in Performance Requirements

• Review of the Dredge Plant Instrumentation Plan (DPIP)

• Onsite QA checks as outlined on the DQM website

• Data quality maintained throughout the duration of the contract

• Timely communication and corrective action in response to QA notifications

• Accurate and timely entry of state data

The owner, operator, or system provider of the dredge plant(s) must contact the DQM Center at dqm-support@usace.army.mil at least three weeks prior to certification expiration to schedule QA checks for certification renewal.

At least one week prior to the target date, the DQM Center must be contacted to verbally coordinate a specific date and location. The contractor must then follow up with a written email confirmation. The owner/operator must coordinate the QA checks with all local authorities, including the local USACE Representative.

Recertification is required for:

• Changes in sensor type or location

• Any yard work that produces modification to reported dredging operations, volumes, or locations

• For hoppers and scows: modifications that alter displacement and/or bin volume (change in bin dimensions, addition or subtraction of structure, repositioning of draft marks)

Any changes must be reported in the sensor log section of the DPIP.

A dredge plant system does not have to be transmitting data between jobs; however, in order to retain its DQM certification, the system sensors or hardware should not be disconnected or removed from the dredge.

If the system is powered down, calibration coefficients must be retained.