Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups (STIPDG)

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) FHWA manages an annual Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups (https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/education/stipdg.cfm). For over two decades, the STIPDG has served as a succession-planning tool in providing a pool of qualified candidates to fill mission critical occupations in the DOT/FHWA. The intent of the STIPDG is to provide underrepresented groups such as women; persons with disabilities[1]; and racially and ethnically diverse individuals with summer employment opportunities in the field of transportation.

The 10-week STIPDG provides undergraduate, graduate and law students with opportunities to sharpen their research, written, and oral presentation skills while receiving hands-on work experience. Interns participate in field trips to National transportation projects and facilities, conferences, workshops, decision-making meetings, special events specific to their work assignments, and a DOT Career Fair specifically for STIPDG participants.

The STIPDG is managed by the FHWA's Office of Innovative Program Delivery (OIPD). Although the duration of the STIPDG is 10 weeks, beginning the first week of June and ending the second week of August, a full year of administrative and planning efforts by the FHWA and the selected Contractor precedes each summer program. The Contractor provides non-personal, professional support services to OIPD by administering and facilitating the program. The STIPDG interns are not Federal employees and do not serve in Federal positions. The Contractor obtains the services of the interns who will complete on-the-job training assignments under the daily direction of Federal or State Government employees who serve as mentors. The interns are paired with these mentors and their respective assignments based on their majors and areas-of-interest.

Each year, the STIPDG and its formal application are publicly advertised by OIPD from October - January, with the application deadline ending in January. After the announcement period, the applications are evaluated by OIPD. Ongoing selections and notifications to interns are made throughout the Spring months.

[1] "disabilities" shall be defined as set forth in the ADA Amendments Act of 2008

. Awarded Vendors: The Washington Center for Internships & Academic Seminars. Contract Award Dollar Amount: $7,097,587.71. Contract Award Date: 2019-09-19.