Procurement Benchmarks for Major Transportation Projects

Abstract

The U.S. transportation industry has long called for a schedule and cost benchmark tool to assist project sponsors with developing project delivery plans benchmarked in reference to similar past projects across the nation. Such a benchmark tool has recently been developed in response to the industry demand and a mandate of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. The tool capitalized on the Information Source for Major Projects database, which adopted standard processes and uniform terminology for documenting critical milestones throughout the project lifecycle. Based on 137 major transportation projects, the benchmark model produces schedule benchmarks on environmental study, procurement, and implementation processes. Also, the benchmark tool recommends a cost benchmark based on the Federal Highway Administration’s standard. Users have the flexibility to define a benchmark level and a suite of project features including type, size, class of action required under the National Environmental Policy Act, and delivery method such as design-bid-build, design-build or public–private partnerships. Benchmark level is the percentage of projects that outperform the other projects with the same selected features. The tool promises immense potential for milestone planning and can provide insightful expectation of project milestones in support of delivery method selection. Included in the tool are benchmark charts, a handy reference from which schedule benchmarks can be read. This paper demonstrates the use of the tool in a case example.