Abstract
State-level legislation authorizing the use of alternative delivery is as diverse as the nation itself, and this paper reports on a benchmarking study aimed at identifying the content of the state statutes under which departments of transportation have implemented progressive design-build (PDB). PDB differs from classic DB procurement in that the contract is awarded principally on a basis of qualifications and past performance with the cost of design and construction being negotiated in much the same manner as construction manager-at-risk (CMAR) or construction manager/general contractor (CMGC). The major challenge for a public agency is to demonstrate value for money without a bid price. The study looked at enabling legislation from states that were authorized to use alternative delivery methods. The paper’s key contribution finds that PDB can be successfully implemented using a wide variety of approaches with different degrees of legislative constraints, including using existing DB authority without explicit PDB changes. Three summary case studies are provided to illustrate the spectrum of current approaches.
Practical Applications
The findings in this study indicate that agencies that are interested in implementing PDB should not automatically assume that explicit enabling legislation will be required. Before making that decision, the constraints extant in current DB legislation should be thoroughly explored and a determination by legal counsel be made as to whether PDB is inherently authorized, like the Utah DOT Case or if the current legislation can be modified by an administrative process as occurred in the Virginia DOT case. The investment in time in resources to identify possible alternatives short of introducing new legislation may potentially payoff in terms of being able to implement PDB earlier than thought.
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Data Availability Statement
No data, models, or code were generated or used during the study.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the Minnesota DOT for funding this research (Contract # 20220401) as part of its journey to seek legislative approval to add PDB to its procurement toolbox. Special thanks are due to Shailendra Patel, P.E., DBIA; Michael Loulakis, Esq. DBIA; Jeffery Folden, P.E., DBIA, for allowing the author to interview them; and to Peter Davich, P.E., DBIA for asking really hard questions during the MnDOT PDB Workshop that drove us to dig deeper and gain a clearer understanding of the mechanics of PDB delivery.
References
List of Statutes
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Alaska Statute AS § 36.30.200(c). Conditions for Use, 2015.
Arizona Revised Statute § 34-603(C)(3)(c) subsection C. Procurement of professional services 2021.
Arkansas Code §§ 19-11-801, Definitions 2017.
Arkansas Code 19-11-807. Design-build, 2005.
California Public Contract Code §§ 6820-6829. Definitions, 2019.
Colorado Revised Statute §§ 43-1-1401 to -1412. Transportation, 2019.
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Florida Statute. Ch. 255.0518 Public bids. 2012.
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© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 18, 2023
Accepted: May 26, 2023
Published online: Jul 25, 2023
Published in print: Nov 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Dec 25, 2023
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