BACKGROUND

State departments of transportation (DOTs) strive to minimize the impact of construction activities on the traveling public and commerce. Contractual provisions and methods such as incentives/disincentives (I/D), payment for acceleration, bonuses, liquidated damages (LD), and cost-plus time (A+B) procurement have been used for conventional construction projects to promote meeting project schedule targets. In addition, accelerated bridge construction (ABC) methods can greatly compress the closure time required during bridge construction. Generally, ABC minimizes the overall construction window or minimizes the out-of-service time of the facility. Shorter onsite construction schedules reduce mobility impacts and improve safety; however, there is potential for risks related to accelerated schedule. Generally, ABC techniques alleviate significant user costs; however, these technologies may have significant project costs that are difficult to accommodate within limited owner construction budgets. For example, the use of self-propelled modular transports (SPMT) could significantly increase the construction cost of a project.

Research is needed to help DOTs identify practical goals for project schedules, effectively use contractual strategies, and better understand schedule risks associated with ABC projects.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this project is to provide contractual guidance for ABC project development considering the design-bid-build project delivery method. At a minimum, the research shall identify:

• Types of construction contractual provisions such as I/D, bonuses, LD, A+B, etc.;
• Appropriate values for the identified contractual provisions such as the amount of money assigned for each day/hour saved or added;
• Associated closure timeframes (partial or full; continuous or intermittent); and
• The risks of accelerated timelines, and how those risks are addressed.

Accomplishment of the project objective will require at least the following tasks.

TASKS

PHASE I—Planning

Task 1. Conduct a literature review of state-of-practice research and documents on construction scheduling, risks, and contract clauses. The review shall include published and unpublished documentation and research conducted through the NCHRP; Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); and other national, international, state, and pooled-fund sponsored research.

Task 2. Synthesize the results of the literature review to identify the knowledge gaps related to the research objective. These gaps should be addressed in the final product or the recommended future research as budget permits.

Task 3. Propose a plan, to be executed in Phase II, to achieve the research objective. At a minimum, the plan shall include:

• A study of existing inventory of state DOT ABC projects in all FHWA mobility impact time tiers (Tiers 1-6), to document the specified project requirements versus actual outcomes. The Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center (ABC-UTC) ABC Project Database, ABC-UTC Monthly Webinars, and other available sources should be utilized in developing and assessing the current inventory of ABC projects.
• Interviews of project staff and contractors related to specific ABC projects to collect information. 
• Development of a process that project staff can use to estimate time related to implementation of various ABC techniques, addressing project- and site-specific constraints.
• Development of a process that project staff can use to estimate appropriate levels of I/D, payment for acceleration, bonuses, LD, etc., for projects that employ ABC techniques.
• Development of a process that project staff can use to identify the risks of accelerated timelines of various ABC techniques, and how those risks can be addressed. Include construction oversight staffing needs as well as recommendations related to contractor staffing needs.
• Recommendations on which combinations of ABC techniques and contract strategies are most effective.
• Recommendation for the format of the developed processes (e.g., narratives, flowcharts, tables, tools, etc.).
  
  

Task 4. Prepare a preliminary outline and table of contents, based on Task 3, for the draft language of a guide for effective timelines and contractual strategies for ABC projects for consideration by American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (hereafter called AASHTO Deliverable) to be developed in Phase III. Include an annotated description of each section and subsection along with the proposed level of details of each subsection (i.e., brief, moderate, or extensive). 

Task 5. Prepare Interim Report No. 1 that documents Tasks 1 through 4 and provides an updated work plan for the remainder of the research. The updated plan must describe the process and rationale for the work proposed for Phases II through IV.

PHASE II—Execution

Task 6. Execute the plan according to the approved Interim Report No. 1 and update the preliminary outline and table of contents of the AASHTO Deliverable after consideration of the panel’s review comments.

Task 7. Develop a complete sample section of the AASHTO Deliverable to be selected by the NCHRP. This section should be publication-ready with the appropriate level of details.

Task 8. Prepare Interim Report No. 2 that documents Tasks 6 and 7 and provides an updated work plan for the remainder of the research. The updated work plan must describe the process and rationale for the work proposed for Phase III.

PHASE III—Draft Language Development

Task 9. Develop the remaining sections of the AASHTO Deliverable according to the approved Interim Report No. 2.

Task 10. Prepare Interim Report No. 3 that documents Task 9 and provides an updated work plan for the remainder of the research no later than 4 months before the contract end date. The updated work plan must describe the process and rationale for the work proposed for Phase IV.

PHASE IV—Final Products

Task 11. Revise the AASHTO Deliverable after consideration of the panel’s review comments.

Task 12. Submit the final deliverables including (1) the AASHTO Deliverable, (2) a final report that documents the entire research effort, and (3) a stand-alone technical memorandum titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products.” 

STATUS: A research agency has heen selected. The contracting process is underway.