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Technical Service Center
Value Engineering Program

Reclamation Guidance, Forms, & Training

In addition to the laws, regulations, and policy issued by higher authority, Reclamation uses guidance, forms, and training to allow us to carry out our program activities more consistently and efficiently.

Guidance - The Reclamation Value Program Handbook defines roles and responsibilities within Reclamation for conduct of mandated Value Program activities, in compliance with OMB Circular A-131 and DOI’s DM 369-1. Two guidance documents we also use are:

• The Department of Interior Value Engineering Guidance Handbook, No. VE-1
• The Federal Construction Council Technical Report No. 92, Elements of an Effective Value Engineering Program

Because the Technical Service Center is no longer the only design organization being used by Reclamation offices, responsibility for having the mandated Value Engineering (VE) program activities accomplished (i.e. identifying projects, programs, systems, and products for study and arranging for studies) now rests with the action office (Region, Area, and Project offices).

Forms - Reclamation has developed several forms (templates) to help interested and responsible personnel plan, conduct, and report on Value Program activities. The Value Program Templates are:

• Study Requirements Screening Table
• Value Engineering Change Proposal Form
• Study Contact Questions and Checklist
• Sample Template for "Accountability Report"
• Generic Value Program Plan of Action (VPPA) Report
• Generic Value Program Summary of Actions (VPSA) Report

Training - Formal 40 hour Value Analysis/Engineering training is readily available through several Certified Value Specialists (CVS). These practitioners are certified by SAVE, International.

Reclamation also teaches several short (4, 8, 16, and 24 hour) classes on value techniques. Here is a short description of these classes:

Management Orientation - 4 to 8 hours of training/discussion on policies, management responsibilities and roles, and administering the Value Program to minimize costs and optimize benefits.

Value Fundamentals - 16 hours of general training for staff who will be team members, and managers who want a better understanding of VE, that do not aspire to team leading.

Value Fundamentals Plus - 24 hours of general training for people who want to be team leaders. An additional two day course in facilitation and team leading techniques and apprenticing as an Assistant Team Leader would be needed before becoming a team leader.

Please contact any Reclamation Value Program staff to learn more about these classes.