BACKGROUND
While traditional Design-Bid-Build contracting continues to be the most common means of project development and delivery for public transportation construction projects, many states are using alternative contracting methods, or are considering them. Alternative contracting methods such as Design-Build, Cost-Plus Time, Lane Rental, and the Construction Management/General Contractor (CM/GC) are being used more often for varied reasons such as: expediting project execution, fostering innovation, minimizing impacts to traffic flow, and better delivery coordination.
Utility coordination is an element of both project development and delivery and can be fundamentally influenced by the contracting method used. Despite this influence, little research exists that defines the impacts of alternative contracting methods on utility coordination, nor the recommended best practices for incorporating utility coordination into the various alternative contracting methods.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this research is to develop proposed AASHTO best practices guidance for the execution of utility coordination in various types of alternative contracting methods in public transportation construction projects, including specific task assignments of responsibility based on the type of contracting method and means of project execution.
TASKS
Task 1. Conduct a literature review of relevant domestic research, guidelines, and current practices to identify and describe current alternative contracting methods, and identify elements of utility coordination that may be impacted such methods. Focus best practices data gathering on these elements. Submit a survey plan for Task 2, including questions and participants, to NCHRP for review and approval prior to distribution.
Task 2. Conduct the approved survey of all states to identify and document the following: (1) what alternative contracting methods have been used; (2) how the assignment of utility coordination tasks were impacted; (3) how the utility coordination process was impacted; (4) how the alternative contracting methods impacted the proposal and selection process; and (5) what were the successes and challenges in their use.
Task 3. Identify states that have progressive bid procedures and describe their features, including similarities and differences among state approaches, and identify issues that need further research.
Task 4. Prepare an interim report that summarizes the results of Tasks 1 through 3. Prepare an outline of the proposed guidance, including discussion of the contents and intent.
Task 5. Prepare draft AASHTO best practices guidance for the execution of utility coordination in various types of alternative contracting methods in public transportation construction projects, including specific task assignments of responsibility based on the type of contracting method and means of project execution.
Task 6. Revise the draft AASHTO best practices guidance submitted in Task 5 based on NCHRP project panel comments.
Task 7. Present the recommended AASHTO best practices guidance to the AASHTO Subcommittee on Right of Way, Utilities, and Outdoor Advertising Control
Task 8. Prepare the final deliverables that include: (1) a final report documenting the entire research effort and (2) the AASHTO best practices guidance for the execution of utility coordination in various types of alternative contracting methods in public transportation construction projects, including specific task assignments of responsibility based on the type of contracting method and means of project execution.
