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Quality Partnership Initiative (QPI)

The Quality Partnership Initiative (QPI) is a joint AAPA/Corps of Engineers effort stemming from a 2004 Memorandum of Agreement. The QPI’s purpose is to promote strategic and operational efficiencies and improvements in the nation’s maritime waterways transportation system. Recent efforts culminated in a Quality Partnership Initiative Report that was issued in November 2012, which is now in the implementation phase.

Partnering Foundation

Webinars

Webinar 27: Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill – Ian Gansler and Jim Walker, AAPA – August 9, 2021
Webinar 26: Understanding Federal Grant and Loan Funding Opportunities for U.S. Ports – Kirk Claussen, MARAD – June 10, 2021
Webinar 25: Regional Sediment Management Implementation Update – Lauren Reichold, USACE – May 12, 2021
Webinar 24: NOAA Fisheries Threatened and Endangered Species Coordination Changes – Dena Horton, PNWA – April 7, 2021
Webinar 23: Hydrographic Services Review Panel – Rich Edwing, NOAA – February 10, 2021
Webinar 22: WRDA 2020, Port Highlights – Jim Walker, AAPA – January 13, 2021
- Webinar Video Recording
Webinar 21: NED Benefits for Deep Draft Navigation Analyses – Todd Nettles, USACE – December 9, 2020
Webinar 20: Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Overview – Jim Walker – September 9, 2020
Webinar 19: Corps Freight and Financial Data (no formal presentation) – Amy Tujague and Jim Walker – August 6, 2020
Webinar 18: Planning Community Toolbox Overview (no formal presentation) – Amy Frantz, USACE – July 8, 2020
Webinar 17: PIANC Overview – Dr. Todd Bridges and Jim Walker – June 3, 2020
Webinar 16: South Atlantic Regional Biological Opinion – Dylan Davis, USACE – May 6, 2020
Webinar 15: Corps Port Boundaries – December 5, 2019
Webinar 14: Use of Corps NEPA Documents in Support of Permits for Non-federal Sponsors – March 23, 2018
- Corps RGL 05-06
- Corps RGL 88-09
Webinar 13: Coastal Navigation Project Performance – Jim Walker, AAPA – March 30, 2017
Webinar 12: New QPI Issues – Bob Musser, Canaveral Port Authority – November 29, 2016
Webinar 11: WRRDA Donor and Energy Port Implementation Guidance – Jeff McKee, USACE – August 1, 2016
Webinar 10: WRRDA Planning Study Requests: Lessons Learned – Lisa Kiefel, USACE – June 30, 2016
Webinar 9: Cruise Vessel Operating Costs and Planning Studies – Todd Nettles, USACE – December 17, 2015
Webinar 8: Corps of Engineers Contributed Funds Process – Eddie Belk, USACE – June 25, 2015
Webinar 7: Navigation Funding and Channel Availability – Jim Walker, AAPA and Dylan Davis, USACE – May 28, 2015
Webinar 6: Lessons Learned From Recently Completed Navigation Studies - Todd Nettles, Technical Director, National Deep Draft Navigation Planning Center of Expertise – November 19, 2014
Webinar 5: Moving from Study Phase to Preliminary Engineering and Design (PED) and Economic Updates – Jeff Strahan, Jeremy LaDart and Todd Nettles, USACE – June 10, 2014
Webinar 4: USACE Navigation FY 2014 Workplan and FY 2015 Budget – Jeff McKee, Chief Navigation Branch, USACE – April 22, 2014
Webinar 3: Planning Modernization and SMART Planning – Tab Brown, HQUSACE – January 7, 2014
Webinar 2: Project Cost Limits (WRDA 1986 Section 902) – Jeremy LaDart, Economist, HQUSACE, and Kim Callan, Walla Walla Cost-MDX – October 28, 2013
Webinar 1: Contributed Funds – Jan Rasgus, USACE – August 23, 2013
- Implementation Guidance for Section 111 of the FY 2012 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, Contributed Funds
- Corps Contributed Funds Table

Best Practices

Essential Fish Habitat – MOU between Corps and NOAA Fisheries (2000)
Regulatory Contribution Funds - Paul Meyer/Port of Seattle, and Olivia Romano/USACE
Monthly Construction Partnering Meetings - Tom Shea/Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Dredging Contractor Partnering - Bill Hanson/DCA Dredging Contractors of America, Jeff McKee/USACE, and Jim Walker/AAPA
Sponsor Planning Study Meetings, Section 204 - Mark Vincent/Port of Houston Authority and Edmond Russo/DDEPM - Galveston
Fed/Non-fed Vertical Team Coordination - David Casebeer/Port of Houston Authority
Post-Construction Project Coordination Team Meetings - David Casebeer/Port of Houston Authority and Byron Williams, PM/USACE - Galveston
Port/Corps Monthly Meetings - Joe Miller/Jacksonville Port Authority and Jerry Scarborough/PE/USACE - Jacksonville
Establishment of the Clean Air Act - Regional Air Team - Jenine Gallo/Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Essential Fish Habitat Regional Working Group - Jenine Gallo/Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Endangered Species Act - Regional Working Group - Jenine Gallo/Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Establishment of a Senior Partners Group - Port, USACE, USCG - Tom Shea/Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Ten-year Programmatic Permits - Maintenance Dredging and Pile System Repair - Paul Meyer/Port of Seattle, and Olivia Romano/USACE

USACE Virtual Navigation Library

[Links to a variety of navigation-related policies and websites.]

USACE Navigation Study Training

[Explains the process for port personnel to participate in USACE training courses.]

HISTORICAL

QPI Work Group - Feb. 26, 2009

Presentations:

QPI Dredging Focus Group - Oakland, CA - Dec. 8-9, 2009 - Presentations:

Performance-based Budgeting With the Channel Prioritization Tool - Kenneth Ned Mitchell, PhD
Channel Prioritization Tool Overview - Kenneth Ned Mitchell, PhD
Harbor Maintenance Tax by Harbor for 2007 - USACE
Floating Plant Environmental Improvements - USACE
Deep Draft and Shallow Draft Navigation Projects With Greater Than 10 Million Tons of Commerce - USACE