Ron Hancock, PE NCDOT State Construction Engineer NCDOT Design-Build Ron Hancock, PE NCDOT State Construction Engineer
North Carolina Legislative History 1998 - Legislature Granted the Department the Authority to Proceed With Three Design-Build Transportation Contracts 2001 - Authority to Let a Maximum of Twenty-five (25) Design-build Contracts Per Fiscal Year Through State Fiscal Year 2009 2009 Legislative Session removed the sunset 2011 Legislative Session removed the quantity limit In the mid-1800’s, many States adopted “low bid” requirements to protect taxpayers from extravagance, corruption and other improper practices by public officials. Social and economic pressures forced many States to adopt standard requiring construction contracts to be awarded to the lowest bidder. The theory was that taxpayers would be provided with a safe efficient transportation facility at the lowest price that a responsible, competitive bidder could offer. On the Federal side, FHWA’s laws for competitive bidding developed over an extended period of time, however, they reflected the political and social concerns of Congress. The 1938 Federal Highway Act required competitive bidding in all FHWA contracts. The 1968 Federal Highway Act revised Title 23 USC to award construction contracts “ . . . only on the basis of the lowest responsive bid” . FHWA’s statutes for “Letting of Contracts” have had very few changes over the past 40 years.
Design-Build Program
NCDOT Design-Build Major Statistics 50 Projects with Bids Opened to Date 16 Interstate Widening / Rehab 11 Bridge 13 New Location 3 Urban Widening 4 Rural Widening 3 Other $3.2 Billion Total of Bids Opened Roughly 12% of Projects Were Not Awarded to Monetary Low Bidder 50% of winning bidders also had highest technical score UPDATE PROJECT NUMBERS In the mid-1800’s, many States adopted “low bid” requirements to protect taxpayers from extravagance, corruption and other improper practices by public officials. Social and economic pressures forced many States to adopt standard requiring construction contracts to be awarded to the lowest bidder. The theory was that taxpayers would be provided with a safe efficient transportation facility at the lowest price that a responsible, competitive bidder could offer. On the Federal side, FHWA’s laws for competitive bidding developed over an extended period of time, however, they reflected the political and social concerns of Congress. The 1938 Federal Highway Act required competitive bidding in all FHWA contracts. The 1968 Federal Highway Act revised Title 23 USC to award construction contracts “ . . . only on the basis of the lowest responsive bid” . FHWA’s statutes for “Letting of Contracts” have had very few changes over the past 40 years.
Major Statistics Cost Overruns 2 – 3% Inflationary cost savings estimated at $350M - $400M since inception 1,000 design submittals in 2010 - 95% reviewed within 10 business days NEED TO UPDATE In the mid-1800’s, many States adopted “low bid” requirements to protect taxpayers from extravagance, corruption and other improper practices by public officials. Social and economic pressures forced many States to adopt standard requiring construction contracts to be awarded to the lowest bidder. The theory was that taxpayers would be provided with a safe efficient transportation facility at the lowest price that a responsible, competitive bidder could offer. On the Federal side, FHWA’s laws for competitive bidding developed over an extended period of time, however, they reflected the political and social concerns of Congress. The 1938 Federal Highway Act required competitive bidding in all FHWA contracts. The 1968 Federal Highway Act revised Title 23 USC to award construction contracts “ . . . only on the basis of the lowest responsive bid” . FHWA’s statutes for “Letting of Contracts” have had very few changes over the past 40 years.
3 Year Numbers
3 Year Numbers
3 Year Numbers
Types of Projects Fully designed and permitted Fully designed (except traffic control) Preliminary design with no permit Large bridges Package of small bridges
Scopes of Work Roadway / Structures / Pavement Traffic Management Geotechnical / GeoEnvironmental Erosion and Sedimentation Control Environmental Permits Right of Way Railroad Coordination Utilities Coordination Public Information
Quality Credit Management 15 Responsiveness 30 Schedule 20 Innovation 10 MOT & Safety 10 Long Term Maintenance 10 Oral Interview 5 Warranty (extra credit) 5 For $100 M Project 1 point = $800,000 advantage
What Works Best? Long Bridges – with access issues New Location – with heavy grading and multiple interchanges Complex Traffic Control Small Bridge Package – gets several projects on the street fast
Lessons Learned- Control vs Trust Share risk Carefully scope project ATC – for innovation Develop design manuals to reference Resist the urge to standardize Administration Staff stay engaged CEI – Separate from DB Contract
I-85 - Yadkin River Project Example of Project Complexity
Project Description Highway Improvements Reconstruct & Widen I-85 for 3.5 miles 3000’ Bridge over Yadkin River Straighten sharp curve Remove dangerous left hand exit Construct a new interchange Replace aging PCCP 100,000 ADT 25% trucks
Project Details I-85 Bridge Existing Bridge: 4 lane, with 2 foot shoulders, 1500 feet long, built in 1955 New Bridge: 8 lane, 10 foot shoulders, 3000 feet long
Project Details Other Bridges Bridges over Railroad tracks
Project Details Wilcox Bridge Historic Concrete Arch Bridge Carrying US29/70 Southbound Built in 1922 Bridge strengthened and converted to a pedestrian facility overlooking historic district
Design-Build Proposal Lowest Quality Bid = $136 M Self-imposed late penalties for early removal of traffic from existing bridges Provided a five year warranty on project Finishing 8 months earlier than NCDOT projected
Washington Bypass – Example of Innovation R-2510B
Washington Bypass Design-Build Total project 6 miles, Bridge (2.8 miles) Geoenvironmental (EPA Superfund site) Permit Application ROW Acquisition Utility Relocation Railroad Coordination
Washington Bypass Design-Build Innovations Top Down – Gantry System Bulb T girders with zero overhang formwork Roadway grade set to reduce off site borrow material by 2 million CY
I-485/ I-85 Interchange Recent Estimate Based on NCDOT Preliminary Design … $145 Million Actual Bid …$92 Million Based on Turbine Interchange
I-485 and I-85 Interchange (Design-Build Team Design)