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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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      <title>Incorporating Cost-Based Estimating Techniques into Bid-Based Estimating</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2709242</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Accurate and defensible cost estimates are critical for state departments of transportation (DOTs) to program funds, award contracts, and deliver projects on time. Most agencies rely on historical bid-based estimating, which is efficient but often fails to meet federal accuracy benchmarks. Contractors, by contrast, use cost-based estimating (CBE), building unit prices from labor, equipment, materials, and productivity. CBE is generally more accurate and defensible, especially during volatile markets or for unique items. Yet only a few state DOTs rely primarily on CBE, as compared with bid-based and hybrid approaches.

State DOTs require practical, low-burden methods to integrate CBE into bid-based workflows. Research is needed to (1) identify transferable CBE techniques that improve estimate reliability; (2) develop guidelines, decision trees, and templates for hybrid estimating; (3) define a minimum viable data specification for labor, equipment, and productivity inputs; and (4) validate guidelines developed and deliver an implementation playbook with training modules. 

The objective of this research is to provide guidance, resources, and tools based on CBE techniques that can be readily incorporated into a state DOT’s existing bid-based estimating process to produce more reliable and defensible engineer’s estimates. The desired outcome is a practical hybrid estimating framework that strengthens accuracy without requiring the full resource commitment of traditional CBE. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:18:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2709242</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Root Causes and Mitigation Measures for Bid Protest in Alternative Contracting Methods</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558394</link>
      <description><![CDATA[State departments of transportation (DOTs) and other transportation agencies use alternative contracting methods (ACMs) instead of the traditional design-bid-build method to improve project delivery for a range of transportation construction projects. ACMs include, but are not limited to, design-build (DB), progressive design-build (PDB), construction manager at risk/construction manager general contractor (CMAR/CMGC), and indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ). 

Well-planned procurement processes are critical for state DOTs and other transportation agencies. There are many bases for protests from unsuccessful proposers. These protests may necessitate canceling the procurement and reprocuring the project, resulting in additional costs and delays. Research is needed to identify potential situations that may give rise to procurement protests for projects using ACMs so that agencies can take appropriate measures to reduce risk and ensure that the procurement process proceeds as planned. 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project is to develop a guide for identifying the root causes of procurement protests in ACMs, reducing the risk of protests, and addressing these protests. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2025 10:18:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558394</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Mitigating Risk-Driven Project Costs in Contractor Bids</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2417071</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Contractors submit higher bids on projects they perceive as carrying levels of risk above what they are accustomed to. Typically, contractors submit higher bid prices on projects that present unfamiliar or unknown circumstances or which include non-standard bid items. Higher-than-expected bids increase project delivery costs. This in turn can reduce the number of projects the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is able to complete. To mitigate bid-related risks, the Cabinet needs information on project types and bid items that result in higher contractor bids. This information can help KYTC understand what factors influence risk perceptions among contractors. More complete knowledge of issues that generate negative risks is critical for mitigating risks shouldered by contractors, accelerating project completion, and delivering projects.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 12 Aug 2024 13:26:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2417071</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Machine Learning and Statistical Analysis Framework for Enhanced Engineer's Estimate Accuracy in Highway Infrastructure Projects, Phase I</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2398009</link>
      <description><![CDATA[State Transportation Agencies (STAs) rely on accurate engineer's estimates for budget allocation and contractor bid evaluation in highway projects. However, recent assessments reveal significant inaccuracies, with up to 25% deviations between engineers' estimates and awarded bids in the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) in 2019. These deviations also resonate with similar findings published by other STAs. Challenges persist due to poor data quality and variations in estimating methods. This study aims to evaluate WYDOT's engineer's estimates' accuracy against historical bid data and assess consequences on project performance. Methodologically, a literature review and questionnaire survey will inform quantitative analysis of survey data and statistical analysis of bid tabulation data. By enhancing engineer's estimate accuracy, this research seeks to minimize budget deviations, improve project performance, and promote efficiency and transparency in transportation project planning and execution.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:25:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2398009</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Legal Problems Arising out of Highway Programs. Topic 25-06. Legal Issues and Strategies for Best-Value Procurement for Highway Construction</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1644225</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Increasingly enabling legislation, rulemaking, and policy and implementation guidelines that allow for the greater use of best-value procurement in conjunction with alternative contracting methods including Design-Build (DB), Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC), and Public-Private Partnerships (P3) for highway construction projects have been introduced. Best-value incorporates factors in the selection process, in addition to price, to better ensure that an offeror will provide the greatest overall value to the agency at optimal performance.

The objective of this research is to produce a legal research digest that includes the following: (1) An analysis of fairness issues in the best-value procurement process that may have resulted in formal bid protests or questions regarding reduced competition. (2)  A review and analysis of the existing federal, state, and local legislation focused on best-value procurement to determine whether the enabling legislation (i.e., degree of statutory prescription or other requirements) has resulted in bid protests, affected the level of competition, increased the cost of procurement, or resulted in other perceived procurement or project execution issues. (3) A summary of how best-value should be effectively implemented through law, contract provisions, and policy to minimize protests and preserve the integrity of the procurement process. 
 

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 06 Aug 2019 12:45:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1644225</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Bidding of Accelerated Bridge Construction Projects: Case Studies and Consensus Building</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1543686</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Accelerated bridge construction (ABC) is the solution of choice to upgrade substandard bridges, while maintaining traffic flow and optimizing safety through work zones. However, the perception of higher construction costs for ABC versus conventional construction continues in spite of numerous ABC projects having lower construction costs relative to conventional construction. This inaccurate perception and the fear of cost overruns are causing some bridge owners to be hesitant about using ABC technologies, especially those technologies related to bridge system moves which can provide the greatest benefit for safety and traffic flow impacts.

Whether to use ABC for a specific project needs to be decided at the project development stage. Research is needed to assist state DOTs in identifying how best to set up bid items and the bid process within their agencies to be able to effectively document ABC costs for prefabricated bridge element construction and also bridge system moves including lateral slides, longitudinal launches, and self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) moves. This project will focus upon consensus building of bid items used for ABC projects to allow for cost-based decisions regarding ABC implementation to be made.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 17 Jul 2019 11:35:56 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1543686</guid>
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