Equal opportunity and workforce programs
On-the-job Training program
The primary objective of the MnDOT's On-the-job Training (OJT) program is to assist with the development of a skilled and diverse highway construction workforce.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), MnDOT, and construction contractors all share responsibility for the administration of the OJT program . Some of these responsibilities include:
- Establishing an annual OJT trainee goal
- Assigning trainees and hours goal to projects
- Recruiting and training traditionally underrepresented individuals
Program authority
Per 23 CFR 230.111, MnDOT has an established OJT program and an FHWA-approved OJT Special Provision. This regulation is located in the Contract Special Provisions, Division S (2041) ON-THE-JOB-TRAINING PROGRAM (MnDOT projects) or Division S-1 (2041) ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAM (State Aid projects).
OJT program application
Project evaluation for an OJT goal occurs before advertisement. An OJT goal reflects the minimum number of individual trainees and a total number of hours that a contractor should utilize on a project. OJT goals are set after considering some of the following factors:
- Length of the contract
- Amount of the contract
- Type of work in the contract
- Need for additional journey-level workers in the area
- Availability of minorities, women, and other disadvantaged persons for training
- Other applicable guidelines
OJT program proposal
The apparent low bidder must submit an OJT program proposal form outlining the anticipated trades and potential recruitment sources for OJT trainees post-project award.
OJT trainee application
The contractor must submit an OJT trainee application within 30 business days of the OJT trainee’s start date.
OJT mentorship agreement
As outlined below, the contractor may qualify for additional reimbursement by assigning a mentor to an OJT trainee who graduated from a MnDOT workforce training program. The contractor must submit a mentorship agreement within 30 business days of the OJT trainee’s start date.
OJT reimbursement
The contractor is eligible for hourly reimbursement up to the goal set for the contract. However, MnDOT may reimburse the contractor at a higher hourly rate if the OJT trainee is a graduate of a MnDOT-funded workforce training program, and at an even higher hourly rate if the OJT trainee is a graduate of a MnDOT-funded workforce training program and assigned a mentor. Contractors must provide their OJT trainees with a copy of their training plan and a certificate of training hours completed.
OJT departure
The contractor must submit the departure form within 15 business days of any OJT trainee voluntarily or involuntarily leaving their employment. The contractor does not need to submit a departure form for seasonal layoffs.
Final clearance
The contractor must notify the engineer and/or MnDOT OCR when work is complete. If the project has an OJT goal, MnDOT OCR will analyze the contractor’s performance toward the OJT goal and, if this performance falls short, conduct a good faith efforts analysis. This analysis precedes the issuance of a final clearance letter.