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The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) has instituted the On-the-Job Training (OJT) program as a condition of continued funding for federal-aid highway construction projects. Historically, it has been recognized that a need exists to train women and minority employees in the construction trades. As a result, the objectives of the DOT&PF OJT program are to:
Training and upgrading of minorities and women toward journey status is the primary objective of this program.
To meet Section 645 training requirements of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) contracts, a contractor has two programs to choose from.
The US Department of Labor (USDOL) has a registered apprenticeship program. This program is administered through the Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services (OATELS), also known as the Bureau of Training and Apprenticeship (BAT). A registered apprenticeship program is a formalized, structured training program combining on-the-job training and related technical instruction in which paid employees receive practical and technical training in a highly skilled occupation. For more information on formally registering an apprenticeship program with USDOT/OATELS/BAT please contact the local office at:
US Department of Labor
Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer
and Labor Services
605 West 4th Avenue
Room G30
Anchorage, AK 99501
www.apprenticeship.gov
Contractors desiring to use the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) program must develop a training schedule (Form 25A-310) for each job classification they intend to use on a project. The training program(s) must be approved prior to award of the contract. Training programs less than 500 hours will not be approved. Once the employee completes the training with the contractor, they must receive journeyman wages with that contractor.
The training program must be written and at a minimum include (see form 25A-310):
A copy of the approved training program will be given to the trainee(s) as well as a copy of the evaluations. Once the trainee completes the contractor's program, they are considered a journeyman with that Contractor. Completion of the contractor's training program does not supercede the overall training program requirements established by the US Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer, and Labor Services (also known as Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training) for each job classification or related craft.
Prior to contract award, the contractor shall submit Form 25A-311, Training Utilization Report, indicating the training program to be used, number of apprentices/trainees in each selected classification, number of training hours, and the anticipated starting date for training in each classification. If the DOT&PF Trainee Program is used, Form 25A-310 must also be submitted. Once a contract has been awarded, it is expected the trainee/apprentice will begin working within two weeks of the anticipated start date.
Should a Contractor determine any of the apprentices/trainees are to be trained by a subcontractor, the subcontracts shall include Section 645, Form 25A-311 (and Form 25A-310, where appropriate). However, the responsibility for meeting these training requirements remains with the Contractor; compliance or noncompliance rests with the Contractor and sanctions and/or damages, if any, shall be applied to the Contractor.
Form 25A-312:On or before the date that each apprentice or trainee is hired/rehired each construction season this form must be submitted. There will be no payment for training hours prior to approval of this completed report by the DOT&PF project engineer. It is not required that an apprentice or trainee be continuously employed for the duration of the contract. However, at the beginning of each season a new form 25A-312 needs to be completed and approved. No employee shall be employed for credit as an apprentice/trainee in a classification in which that employee has previously worked at journey status or has previously completed a training course leading to journey status.
Form 25A-313: The Contractor must submit this form by the 15th of each month to the project engineer with a copy to the Civil Rights Office.
Trainee Evaluation Reports: For each DOT&PF trainee, a written evaluation must be submitted as each area of work is completed as outlined in form 25A-310. This requirement is only for DOT&PF approved training programs.
This program is administered by the US Department of Labor, for specific information please contact that office. The information here is provided as an overview of program requirements for the apprentice. When a contractor has a need for an apprentice, they work in conjunction with the US Department of Labor (USDOL), Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services (OATELS), formerly know as Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training (BAT).
US Department of Labor
Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer
and Labor Services
605 West 4th Avenue
Room G30
Anchorage, AK 99501
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/apprenticeship
Each apprentice signs a written agreement with the USDOL/OATELS/BAT Office which contains the terms and conditions of the apprenticeship as well as registering the apprentice into the program. The apprentice maintains a copy of this agreement. Apprentices are also required to keep a daily record of their on-the-job activities to ensue they receive broad training in as many parts of their chosen trade as possible. These records are reviewed and certified by their employer(s). The term of on-the-job training for an apprentice can last from 2 to 5 years depending on the number of hours worked each year and the specific requirements of the chosen trade. Technical classroom training is also part of the apprenticeship program. Again for more detailed information, please contact the office referenced above.
OJT Coordinator Aaron Nickols
Central Regional Compliance Officer Dave Lee
Northern Regional Compliance Officer Lucas Bowers
Southcoast Regional Compliance Officer Paige Drayton