- Cost Engineering
- Cost Estimating
- Independent Technical Review
- CPM Scheduling
- Continuing Education
External Independent Technical Review
While provisions calling for the independent technical
review ("ITR") of certain government projects and programs
have been in place for years at numerous federal
agencies, there has been a distinct increase in emphasis on
the ITR in recent times. The acronym, "ITR", can mean
different things to different agencies. Some agencies view
an ITR primarily as an independent check on the stated
cost and schedule of a project or a program ("program").
Other agencies focus on the word "technical" and look to
the ITR to primarily address the likelihood that the project
will meet its technical goals. Still others combine both
of these as primary objectives of the agency's ITR program.
To further confuse and diminish clarity, a new acronym
has entered the government lexicon. The "EITR" announces the external independent technical review. In
some agencies, an ITR is considered "independent" when
undertaken by agency personnel as long as those personnel
had no part in the development of the program. An
ITR of a controversial program undertaken by employees
of the proposing agency often lacks the necessary credibility
to sustain that program when it comes under public
scrutiny. Hence, the addition of the word "external" to the
description of the review. An EITR usually describes a re -
view performed by a team whose members are not in the
employ of the agency proposing the program. Often EITR
teams consist of non-government experts assembled and
contracted to conduct the required review.
Legis Consultancy has undertaken multiple ITRs for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. One such ITR was required to support the Corp's request to Congress for funding in the amount of $15 Billion for the Hurricane Protection System in New Orleans.