Title 33Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§2252 Project delivery process reforms

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 36— - WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - INLAND WATERWAY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM › § 2252

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

For each qualifying project, the Secretary must make sure the project manager has formal project management training and a certification, and that the manager is chosen from staff certified by the Chief of Engineers. The Secretary must also use a risk-based cost estimate with at least an 80% confidence level. Those cost estimates must be prepared at the right project milestones: when asking to raise the authorized amount (during a post-authorization change report or similar document); before the first construction contract is awarded; before finishing a feasibility report if one is not yet done; or during design if a feasibility report is done but the project is not yet authorized. No later than 18 months after June 10, 2014, the Secretary must set up a system to capture and apply best practices from past projects, study using contractors earlier to improve schedule and budget performance, and carry out other measures needed to meet the subtitle’s goals. These measures may include using military construction practices where appropriate, creating a set of standard inland lock designs with a design review center, using full-funding or revised continuing-contract terms, and using a capital projects business model to recommend new construction starts. The Secretary may run pilot projects to test study, design, and construction processes and must at least test early contractor involvement, proper use of continuing contracts for construction, and relevant military construction procedures.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §2252

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)With respect to each qualifying project, the Secretary shall require—
(1)for each project manager, that—
(A)the project manager have formal project management training and certification; and
(B)the project manager be assigned from among personnel certified by the Chief of Engineers; and
(2)for an applicable cost estimation, that—
(A)the Secretary utilize a risk-based cost estimate with a confidence level of at least 80 percent; and
(B)the cost estimate be developed—
(i)for a qualifying project that requires an increase in the authorized amount in accordance with section 2280 of this title, during the preparation of a post-authorization change report or other similar decision document;
(ii)for a qualifying project for which the first construction contract has not been awarded, prior to the award of the first construction contract;
(iii)for a qualifying project without a completed feasibility report in accordance with section 2282 of this title, prior to the completion of such a report; and
(iv)for a qualifying project with a completed feasibility report in accordance with section 2282 of this title that has not yet been authorized, during design for the qualifying project.
(b)Not later than 18 months after June 10, 2014, the Secretary shall—
(1)establish a system to identify and apply on a continuing basis best management practices from prior or ongoing qualifying projects to improve the likelihood of on-time and on-budget completion of qualifying projects;
(2)evaluate early contractor involvement acquisition procedures to improve on-time and on-budget project delivery performance; and
(3)implement any additional measures that the Secretary determines will achieve the purposes of this subtitle, including—
(A)the implementation of applicable practices and procedures developed pursuant to management by the Secretary of an applicable military construction program;
(B)the development and use of a portfolio of standard designs for inland navigation locks, incorporating the use of a center of expertise for the design and review of qualifying projects;
(C)the use of full-funding contracts or formulation of a revised continuing contracts clause; and
(D)the establishment of procedures for recommending new project construction starts using a capital projects business model.
(c)(1)Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may carry out pilot projects to evaluate processes and procedures for the study, design, and construction of qualifying projects.
(2)At a minimum, the Secretary shall carry out pilot projects under this subsection to evaluate—
(A)early contractor involvement in the development of features and components;
(B)an appropriate use of continuing contracts for the construction of features and components; and
(C)applicable principles, procedures, and processes used for military construction projects.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This subtitle, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is subtitle A (§§ 2001–2013) of title II of Pub. L. 113–121, which enacted this section and section 2253, 2254, and 2255 of this title, amended section 2212, 2251, and 2327 of this title, and enacted provisions set out as a note under this section. For complete classification of subtitle A to the Code, see Tables. Codification Section was enacted as part of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, and not as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 which comprises this chapter. Section is comprised of section 2002 of Pub. L. 113–121. Subsec. (d) of section 2002 of Pub. L. 113–121 amended section 2251 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definitions Secretary means the Secretary of the Army, see section 2 of Pub. L. 113–121, set out as a note under section 2201 of this title. Pub. L. 113–121, title II, § 2001, June 10, 2014, 128 Stat. 1260, provided that: “In this title [enacting this section and section 2211a, 2238b, 2238c, 2243, 2253, 2254, and 2255 of this title and amending section 2211, 2212, 2238, 2242, 2251, 2282a, and 2327 of this title and section 9505 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code]: “(1) Inland waterways trust fund.—The term ‘Inland Waterways Trust Fund’ means the Inland Waterways Trust Fund established by section 9506(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S.C. 9506(a)]. “(2) Qualifying project.—The term ‘qualifying project’ means any

Construction

or major rehabilitation project for navigation infrastructure of the inland and intracoastal waterways that is—“(A) authorized before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act [June 10, 2014]; “(B) not completed on the date of enactment of this Act; and “(C) funded at least in part from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 2252

Title 33Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73