1. Ron Hancock, PE NCDOT State Construction Engineer
NCDOT Design-Build
Ron Hancock, PE NCDOT State Construction Engineer

2. North Carolina Legislative History
Legislature Granted the Department the Authority to Proceed With Three Design-Build Transportation Contracts
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.

3. Design-Build Program

4. 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.

5. Major Statistics Cost Overruns 2 – 3%
Inflationary cost savings estimated at $350M - $400M since inception
1,000 design submittals in % 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.

6. 3 Year Numbers

7. 3 Year Numbers

8. 3 Year Numbers

9. Types of Projects Fully designed and permitted
Fully designed (except traffic control)
Preliminary design with no permit
Large bridges
Package of small bridges

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. I-85 - Yadkin River Project Example of Project Complexity

15. 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

16. Project Details I-85 Bridge
Existing Bridge: 4 lane, with 2 foot shoulders, feet long, built in 1955
New Bridge: 8 lane, 10 foot shoulders, feet long

17. Project Details
Other Bridges
Bridges over Railroad tracks

18. 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

19. 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

20. Washington Bypass – Example of Innovation
R-2510B

21. Washington Bypass Design-Build
Total project 6 miles, Bridge (2.8 miles)
Geoenvironmental (EPA Superfund site)
Permit Application
ROW Acquisition
Utility Relocation
Railroad Coordination

22. 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

26. I-485/ I-85 Interchange
Recent Estimate Based on NCDOT Preliminary Design … $145 Million
Actual Bid …$92 Million Based on Turbine Interchange

28. I-485 and I-85 Interchange (Design-Build Team Design)