United States Department of Transportation - Federal Highway AdministrationClose
UPACS Help

2.0 FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Login Page

2.1 Sample Page

FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Login Page

The FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Login page is the starting point for all access to the applications interfaced with UPACS. There are 12 functions that can be performed from this page. A User can: (1) Login; (2) Review "Terms and Conditions of Use", "Rules of Behavior", and "Privacy Policy" (3) Change or Reset Passwords; (4) Change or Reset PINs; (5) Register for a new UPACS Account; (6) Find the Local UPACS Administrator; (7) Review "Terms and Conditions of Use" and "Rules of Behavior" (8) Find the hours of operation; (9) Find the PC requirements needed in order to run some FHWA applications; (10) Find phone numbers for UPACS Users; (11) Go to SFTP password change website and (12) Find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ).

2.2 To Establish a UPACS Account

All FHWA employees must be registered in UPACS. In addition, many of our Federal and State partners have valid reasons for being registered in UPACS. All perspective UPACS Users should contact the local UA to discuss their need for an account.

To register for a new UPACS Account, access the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Login page and click the <Register Now> button.

This will display the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Rules of Behavior page where the User must agree to the "Terms and Conditions of Use" and the "Rules of Behavior" before the registration process continues.

During the registration process, the User will be required to enter their "work" e-mail address and Profile information that identifies the User. When the request is submitted, it will go to the local UPACS Administrator and the User must wait for confirmation before attempting to login. The confirmation approval/disapproval notice will be sent back to the new User's "work" e-mail address.

2.3 Login for First Time Users

Once the UA has approved the registration and the new User has received the e-mail confirmation specifying their UPACS User-Id and Password. They must login within 10 days to activate the UPACS Account or it will be deleted.

To login, enter the User-Id and the temporary Password provided in the e-mail confirmation and then click the <Login> button or press the <Enter> key.

If the User-Id and temporary Password is entered incorrectly, the page will be redisplayed with the following error message: "Login failed, please verify your User-Id and Password and try again." .

If the User-Id and temporary Password is entered correctly, the following steps will be required in order to complete the registration:

  • The FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Change/Reset My UPACS Password page will be displayed where a new Password is set-up.
  • If the User Account was set up with signature authority, the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Change/Reset My PIN page will be displayed where a new PIN is set-up.
  • Finally the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Production Menu page is displayed with the applications the UPACS Account is allowed to access.

2.4 Login for Existing Users

Existing Users can login by entering their UPACS User-Id and Password and clicking the <Enter> key or clicking the <Login> button.

Most of the time, UPACS will validate the User-Id and Password, determine the applications the UPACS Account is allowed to access, and present the tailored version of the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Production Menu page.

The following error messages could be displayed:

2.4.1 The UPACS User-Id was Not Found

If the UPACS User-Id was not found, the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Login page will be re-displayed with the following error message: "Login failed, the UPACS User-Id entered is not valid, please verify your UPACS User-Id and UPACS Password and try again."

2.4.2 The UPACS Password is Entered Incorrectly

If the UPACS Password is entered incorrectly, the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Login page will be re-displayed with the following error message: "Login failed, please verify your UPACS User-Id and Password and try again."

2.4.3 The UPACS Password Is Entered Incorrectly Three Times in a Row

If the UPACS Password is entered incorrectly three times in a row, the UPACS User Account is soft-locked. On the third attempt to login the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Change/Reset My UPACS Password page will be displayed with the following error message: "Your UPACS Account has been soft-locked for Password violations. You can unlock your UPACS Account by entering the following information and resetting your Password. Remember: the entry in the Password field is case sensitive!"

The UPACS Password will have to be reset before the User can login.

2.4.4 The UPACS Password Is Entered Incorrectly Three Times and the Password Has Been Reset in the Last Three Days

If the UPACS Password is entered incorrectly three times in a row, and the UPACS Password has been reset within the last three days, the UPACS User Account is hard-locked. On the third attempt to login the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Login page will be re-displayed with the error message: "Your UPACS Account has been hard-locked because of Password violations and you have already changed your Password within the last 3 days. You must notify your local UPACS Administrator to have your UPACS Account un-locked."

The UPACS Password will have to be reset before the User can login.

2.4.5 The UPACS Password Must Be Changed Every 60 Days

If it has been over 60 days since the last time the UPACS Password was changed, the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Change/Reset My UPACS Password page will be displayed with the following message at the top: "Your UPACS Password has not been changed in the last 60 days, You must change your UPACS Password!"

The UPACS Password will have to be reset before the User can login.

2.4.6 The UPACS Account is hard-locked for Invalid Entries

When a User attempts to reset their Password using the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Change/Reset My UPACS Password page and enters incorrect information three times in a row, their UPACS Account is hard-locked. The next time they attempt to login the following message is displayed: "Your UPACS Account is "hard"locked because there have been 3 consecutive failed attempts to reset your UPACS Password. You must notify your local UPACS Administrator to have your UPACS Account un-locked and then you will need to set up a new UPACS Password."

The User will have to contact their local UA in order to have the UPACS Account unlocked before they can login and reset their Password.

2.4.7 The UPACS Account is soft-locked for 60 Days Inactivity

If it has been over 60 days since the last time the UPACS Account was used, the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Change/Reset My UPACS Password page will be displayed with the following message at the top: "Your UPACS Account has been soft-locked because you have not accessed the system in over 60 days. You can unlock your UPACS Account by entering the following information and resetting your Password" .

The UPACS Password will have to be reset before the User can login.

2.4.8 The UPACS Account is hard-locked for 180 Days Inactivity

If it has been over 180 days since the last time the UPACS Account was used, the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Login page will be displayed with this message at the top: "Your UPACS Account has been hard-locked because you have not accessed the system in over 180 days. You must notify your local UPACS Administrator to have your UPACS Account un-locked and then you will need to set up a new UPACS Password."

2.4.9 The UPACS Account is Deactivated for 360 Days Inactivity

If it has been over 360 days since the last time the UPACS Account was used, the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Login page will be redisplayed with the following error message: "Your UPACS Account has been deactivated because you have not accessed the system in over 360 days. You must see your UPACS Administrator to activate your account and then you will need to set up a new UPACS Password before attempting to login."

The User will have to contact their local UA in order to have the UPACS Account unlocked before they can login and reset their Password.

2.4.10 A New PIN User Changing the Temporary PIN

The first time a User logs in after being given "Signature Rights", the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Change/Reset My UPACS PIN page will be displayed with the following message: "Your UPACS Account has been given signature authority, you must set up a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that you will use when you sign documents."

A new PIN will need to be set up by the User before they can login.

2.4.11 The UPACS PIN Must be Reset every 60 Days

If it has been over 60 days since the last time the UPACS PIN was changed, the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Change/Reset My UPACS PIN page will be displayed with this message at the top: "Your UPACS PIN has not been changed in the last 60 days, You must change your UPACS PIN!"

2.4.12 The Rules of Behavior Must be Accepted Once a Year

If it has been over 360 days since the last time the "Terms and Conditions of Use" and the " Rules of Behavior" were accepted, the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Rules of Behavior page will be displayed with this message at the top: " You are being asked to re-affirm the Rules of Behavior because it has been at least one year since you last agreed to them."

2.4.13 The Rules of Behavior Must be Accepted if Security Level is Raised

If the User's security level is raised the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Rules of Behavior page will be displayed with this message at the top: "You are being asked to re-affirm the Rules of Behavior because you have been given a higher security level."

2.4.14 General Profile Information Must be Correct

If information in the general profile is missing or invalid the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Update Profile Information page will be displayed with the missing/invalid information in red with the following essage at the top: "Errors were encountered."

2.5 To Change or Reset Your Password

A User can reset their UPACS Password if it is "soft-locked" (meaning an incorrect UPACS Password was entered three times in succession), the Password cannot be remembered, or they think it is time for a change.

Click the <Reset Password> button to reset the UPACS Password.

This will display the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Change/Reset My UPACS Password page where the User will enter their UPACS User-Id, a Secret Word and the new UPACS Password.

If this information is entered correctly, the UPACS Password will be reset and the User's tailored version of the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Production Menu page will be displayed.

If the information is entered incorrectly three times in succession, the UPACS Account will be "hard-locked" and the User will have to contact their UPACS Administrator for help. The UPACS Password will have to be reset before the User can login.

*** Remember *** Passwords can only be changed once within a three day period. In the event that the password needs to be changed more than once, contact the local UPACS Administrator.

2.6 To Change or Reset PINs

A User can reset their UPACS PIN if it is "soft-locked" (meaning an incorrect UPACS PIN was entered three times in succession), the PIN cannot be remembered, or they think it is time for a change.

Click the <Reset PIN> button to reset the UPACS PIN.

This will display the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Reset My UPACS PIN page where the User will enter their UPACS User-Id, the UPACS Password, a Secret Word and the new UPACS PIN.

If this information is entered correctly the UPACS PIN will be reset and the tailored version of the FHWA Information Systems - UPACS Production Menu page will be displayed.

If the information is entered incorrectly three times in succession, the UPACS PIN will be "hard-locked" and the User will have to contact their UPACS Administrator for help.

*** Remember *** PINs can only be changed once within a three day period. In the event that the PIN needs to be changed more than once, contact the local UPACS Administrator.

2.7 Terms and Conditions of Use and Rules of Behavior

In order to have a UPACS Account, each User must read and agree to the "Terms and Conditions of Use" and "Rules of Behavior". By clicking the "Terms and Conditions of Use and Rules of Behavior" link, the rules associated with accessing a government system will be displayed.

2.8 Privacy Policy

Users should read and understand the privacy policy. These notifications inform users how UPACS stores and uses such information. This can be accessed by clicking the "Privacy Policy" link.

2.9 UPACS Administrator

When help with UPACS is needed, the local UA is the first person to ask for help. To find the local UA, click on the "UPACS Administrator" link found on the blue menu bar at the top of the page. This will display a list of UAs with their phone number.

2.10 Phone List

The phone list allows the user to select names to find an individual UPACS User's phone number. This is found on the blue menu bar at the top of the screen.

2.11 System Availability

The "System Availability" link displays the hours of operations for FHWA Applications. This is found on the blue menu bar at the top of the screen.

2.12 File Transfer Registration

The "File Transfer Registration " link points to the SFTP password change website. This is found on the blue menu bar at the top of the screen.

2.13 System Requirements

Some FHWA applications require certain browser features and/or COTS software packages. Clicking the "system requirements" link displays those requirements. This is found on the blue menu bar at the top of the screen.

2.14 Frequently Asked Questions

This item displays Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's). These questions are the same as those listed in the Quick Reference for users.

Close
FHWAUnited States Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration