Business Challenges

The client did not have adequate or uniform processes in place to execute mission critical tasks, which negatively impacted program and project management, limited oversight consistency throughout the agency, and created substantial audit risk.

Project Scope

Our client is responsible for the administration of grants and loans to assist state and local public bodies (i.e., grantees) in financing the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, and capital improvements of facilities under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53. The client has substantial oversight responsibilities to ensure capital projects are delivered under the terms of the grant or loan agreement and meet all federal requirements. As a result, the agency must have robust standard operating procedures (SOPs) to determine the level of oversight required for a project and to adjust the levels of oversight based on grantee and project performance.

Solution & Results

The McBride team developed three mission critical SOPs that were approved by client leadership and implemented within the organization. Our approach included development of a charter, key stakeholder interviews, working groups, process mapping, and development of the SOP. We addressed the following:

• Project Management Plan (PMP) Approval – to standardize the process by which the client reviews and approves PMPs for major capital projects.

• Project Completion Plan Development – to standardize the process for developing a project recovery plan or project completion plan when projects are experiencing significant cost overruns and schedule delays.

• Monthly/Quarterly Oversight – to standardize how the agency reviews and approves monthly and quarterly oversight deliverables.

These SOPs helped the client manage and track their project oversight activities throughout the program and provided a way for the client to ensure that project management activities achieve the goals set forth in grant and contractual agreements