The Qualified Products List (QPL) is a tool provided by the the Department of Transportation to expedite product identification and acceptance. MDT confirms that products appearing on the QPL meet Montana specifications based on information and samples analyzed to date.
QPL Contractual Use
Contract documents specify the method of acceptance for each required product. Products are generally accepted by one of the following means:
- Material certification by manufacturer;
- Project-specific sampling and testing;
- Material listed on the QPL or by project-specific sampling and testing; or
- Material required to be listed on the QPL.
The Department also uses the QPL to identify department-certified plants. Department-certified plants provide detailed information about the quality control measures they employ. They undergo inspections, audits, sampling, and testing by the Department. The acceptance criteria for these types of products are generally by one of the following means:
- Pre-inspection of materials produced at non-certified plants; or
- Certification of product from a Department Certified Plant as listed on the QPL.
Quality Control Testing
Producers must have an acceptable quality control (QC) plan and perform adequate QC testing to ensure consistent product quality. Products produced with inadequate quality control will not be accepted for inclusion on MDT’s QPL
Product Submission and Approval Process
Submittal of products for inclusion on the Department's QPL is the responsibility of the producer. For details and forms associated with the product submission process, please go to Producer Requirements.
Once a product is received by the Department, the product is analyzed to determine whether it meets specifications and is in the Department's best interest to include on the QPL. The Department considers many factors when examining products such as producer's quality control measures, past performance, maintenance practices, and environmental issues.
Buy America Requirements
Steel or iron products must meet Buy America requirements as listed in the Standard Specifications.
The necessary Buy America documentation is described in Form 406 Certification of Compliance - Misc Steel and Iron. This documentation is required for each project when the product is used.
NTPEP Listings
Products tested by National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP) listings may be added to the Qualified Products List without additional testing when NTPEP testing demonstrates the product meets MDT specifications. Submit a Request Form with a quality control plan and NTPEP test results to add a NTPEP product to the QPL. Products removed from NTPEP’s list will also be removed from MDT’s QPL. Reapplication will be required for reinstatement.
Random Testing and Auditing
The MDT reserves the right to sample materials on the QPL for testing and to perform audits of test reports. MDT representatives may sample material from the manufacturing plant, the project site, and other locations. MDT reserves the right to test samples to verify compliance with Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction and corresponding Supplemental Specifications. Producers must maintain a complete record of all test reports for the previous two years and current calendar year.
Disqualification
Products that do not perform or are found to be non-compliant with MDT specifications may be removed from the QPL at any time. These items will remain unlisted until adherence to the specifications can be verified and the product has undergone satisfactory performance evaluation.