Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Practices. Topic 56-21. Practices Related to Design and Construction Contingency

Contingency is defined as a predetermined amount of money set aside in a project budget to cover unexpected costs, changes, or risks that may arise during the design and/or construction process. Contingency funds serve as a financial buffer to ensure the project can address unforeseen challenges without requiring additional funding approvals. Contingency plays a crucial role in project planning and budgeting. The integration and management of contingency funds by state departments of transportation (DOTs) are typically influenced by project delivery methods, risk tolerances, and specific project conditions, whether managed by the owner, shared, or designated to contractors. The interplay between risk assessment/mitigation and contingency allocation also plays a role in the choice of project delivery method. The objective of this synthesis is to document state DOT practices related to project contingency analysis, development, structure, and use across various project delivery methods, including Design-Bid-Build (DBB), Design-Build (DB), Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC), and Progressive Design-Build (PDB). Information to be gathered includes (but is not limited to): Written guidelines for contingency development and draw-down procedures; Methods, tools, and processes used for contingency analysis and risk-based cost estimation for various project delivery methods (e.g., DBB, DB, CM/GC, and PDB); Distinction between contingency and allowance in usage; Contingency structure and allocation approaches (e.g., owner versus shared pool versus contractor); Contingency tracking and management practices; and Past performance of project contingency use. Information will be gathered through a literature review, a survey of bridge owners, and follow-up interviews with selected bridge owners for the development of case examples. Knowledge gaps and suggestions for future research to address those gaps will be identified.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5732
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Funding: $55000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 20-05, Topic 56-21

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC    20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Gause, Jo

• Start Date: 20240723
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge construction; Budgeting; Construction projects; Contingency planning; Literature reviews; State departments of transportation
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Finance; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01920395
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 20-05, Topic 56-21
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 31 2024 8:46PM