Wisconsin DOTs MDSS RFP Experience March, 2005 Tom Martinelli Winter Operations Engineer

Contract Background Weather forecast services contract expired after last winter Needed to explore new ways of doing business Wanted more frequent forecasts and more emphasis on computer modeling

WisDOTs Weather Forecast Services RFP Used NCAR MDSS template as a guide Required 3-hourly updates vs hourly in guide Required vendor to run all forecast and decision support software Text and graphical outputs Eliminated items deemed not necessary or too difficult to implement –Weather parameters like drifting snow –Decision support was optional item

Mandatory RFP Items (similar to old contract) Required the following for one point in each of our 72 counties –All forecast parameters out to 24 hours –Surface air temperature, dew point, RH, wind –Precipitation amount and intensity –24-72 hour statewide outlook Winter storm warning service (pager/cell phone) Toll-free access to forecaster

Mandatory RFP Items (new items) Forecast confidence Conditional probability of precipitation type Road and bridge condition products Pavement, bridge frost potential

Decision Support Limitations Treatment recommendations was an optional proposal item WisDOT concerned about cost (limited budget) Little GPS/AVL used in Wisconsin means treatment feedback is limited Could use initial treatment recommendation, but then would be business as usual without treatment feedback loop Three proposals, but only one gave cost, and it was very high

Questions? Contact Mike Adams Phone: