A Guidebook for Post-Award Contract Administration for Highway Projects Delivered Using Alternative Contracting Methods

There has been much research and reporting completed in the past decade on project delivery using alternative contracting methods (ACM) such as Design-Build (DB), Construction Manager-at-Risk (CMR), Construction Manager as General Contractor (CM/GC), and other non-traditional delivery methods. However, the bulk of this work has been accomplished with a keen focus on the pre-award procurement and project delivery method decision process. Information is lacking on effective methods for administering ACM contracts after they have been awarded. The FHWA’s Every Day Counts Program (EDC) has increased the need for guidance on administering ACM contracts by increasing the visibility of DB, CMGC, and Alternative Technical Concepts (ATC). There has been a large increase in the use of DB and CM/GC delivery methods by state agencies that have not used them before. Previous NCHRP research found that contract administration issues comprised the majority of the case law in ACMs. Research is needed to evaluate current methods for post-award contract administration of DB and CM/GC projects and prepare a guidebook describing the most effective methods available.   The objective of this research is to produce a practitioner’s guidebook in AASHTO format for post-award contract administration of DB and CM/GC projects based on the identification and analysis of the methods utilized on the range of ACM projects. At a minimum, the guidebook shall identify and define: (1) Roles and responsibilities of various parties within different type, size, and scope of DB and CM/GC projects. (2) Advantages and disadvantages of different approaches for post-award contract administration of DB and CM/GC projects. (3) The most effective methods for post-award contract administration for DB and CM/GC projects. (4) Effective methods to implement project design and construction quality assurance (as defined in TRB E-Circular 173 and FHWA Tech Brief FHWA-HRT-12-039). (5) Elements of pre-award services contracts and procurement documents that address and mitigate the risks in the post-award contract administration. (6) Skill sets and training needs for all parties involved in post-award contract administration of DB and CM/GC projects.  

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=4032

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $500000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 08-104

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 225
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Project Managers:

  Harrigan, Edward

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Colorado, Boulder

  130 Academy Building, 970 Aurora Avenue
  Boulder, CO  United States  80309
• Principal Investigators:

  Molenaar, Keith

• Start Date: 20160916
• Expected Completion Date: 20181231
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• Source Data: RiP Project 40196

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Best practices; Contract administration; Design build; Project delivery; Road construction; State departments of transportation
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Construction; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01572354
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 08-104
• Files: TRB, RiP
• Created Date: Aug 6 2015 1:00AM