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Guidelines for the Use of Highway Pavement Warranties

TRAUNER managed the research for NCHRP Project 10-68, “Guidelines for the Use of Highway Pavement Warranties.” The end-result of this project is a detailed guideline for the use and implementation of pavement warranties on highway construction projects and guide specifications. The specifications addressed different levels of warranties and changing roles and responsibilities for quality management depending on contract type. Included as a sub-task of NCHRP Project 10-68 is NCHRP Project 20-07 (210) synthesis study, “Use of Warranties in Highway Construction”. Warranted items under this research include bituminous crack treatment, chip seal, micro-surfacing, ITS components, pavement markings, bridge components, bridge painting, and pavements. This team compiled the information collected and produced a synthesis on the state of practice of highway warranties. Additionally, the team assisted in producing an implementation strategy for advancing the use of warranties in the highway industry.

Best Value Procurement Methods for Highway Construction Projects

Best Value Procurement Methods for Highway Construction Projects

Legislative requirements in most states require that highway construction contracts be awarded using a low-bid system. Under a low-bid system, contractors submit bids based on plans and specifications prepared by the highway agency or a private engineering firm hired by the agency, and, except under extraordinary circumstances, the contractor submitting the lowest bid is awarded the construction contract. In all but a few cases, experience levels of the contractor, quality issues, and other criteria are not taken into consideration in awarding these contracts. It is believed that this contract delivery method may affect efficiency and quality of construction projects.

In 2002, The National Cooperative Highway Research Program contracted Trauner to conduct a research study to develop guidelines for alternative contracting methods and “best-value” procurement.

Under a “best-value” selection process, the low-bid concept can be modified by adding quality issues to the bid evaluation process. During this selection process, the low-bid is weighted with other elements to determine a best value that reflects quality, as well as cost issues. Several governmental organizations, including the Army Corps of Engineers, have used the best-value concept to award construction contracts.

With this study, Trauner clarified what “best-value” procurement means for the industry, evaluated the effectiveness of the various approaches used or proposed for use, and developed practical and flexible procedures for the implementation of “best-value” procurement in the context of the traditional low-bid system.

During this research study, Trauner identified best-value procurement methods that have been considered, developed, or used for awarding construction contracts; critically evaluated the effectiveness

Montclair State University Project Audit and Change Order Review

Montclair State University Project Audit and Change Order Review

Montclair State University is New Jersey’s second largest university and educates over 12,365 undergraduate students and 3,711 graduate students. In recent years, the university has committed itself to a $250 million capital construction program. TRAUNER was hired to help analyze and resolve  construction issues during this program.

In 2007, Trauner was asked to perform an audit of various completed construction projects to determine whether construction was delivered to the university for a fair and reasonable price. During this audit, TRAUNER met with project participants, analyzed project documentation, reviewed change orders that were submitted during construction, and performed independent estimates for the completed projects.

Morgan State University Project Management Audit

Morgan State University Project Management Audit

In 1995, the State of Maryland authorized Morgan State University (MSU) to procure design and construction services as well as manage this work with their internal resources. In 2007, the state performed an audit of MSU’s construction projects and determined that several areas of  their construction program were not managed to the State’s satisfaction, including the allocation of funds and management of change orders. The state asked MSU to enlist the help of an independent firm to help improve their program.

Through a competitive bidding process, MSU selected Trauner to evaluate their construction program and provide a report detailing how MSU can more effectively manage construction on their campus. Trauner analyzed the work that had been completed, assessed the adequacy of MSU’s polices and procedures, and assessed the internal workforce’s ability to manage construction projects. During the development of our report, we met with MSU’s staff, conducted interviews, reviewed project documentation, assessed current procurement procedures and processes (including MSU’s change order process).

Union City High School Demonstration Project

Union City High School Demonstration Project

Trauner was the Board of Education’s Owner’s Representative during the $178M Union City High School Demonstration Project. This project was the result of a public/private partnership between the Union City Redevelopment Authority, the State of New Jersey, and a private developer. The new Union City High School was the key element of the project.

During construction of this 366,000 sq. ft. project, Trauner represented the Board at project meetings, periodically inspected the project work, reviewed change orders, reviewed the punch list, evaluated construction issues, reviewed meeting minutes and worked directly with Frank Acinapura, Educational Director Of Planning/Development.

The demonstration project was successfully completed in September 2009. New York Construction named it one of the “Top New York Projects” in June 2008.

Shades of Green Hotel

Shades of Green Hotel

Shades of Green Hotel is an Armed Forces Recreation Center located on the Walt Disney World property. It was originally owned by World Disney World and called the “Golf Resort” and later the “Disney Inn.” It was leased by the Department of Defense in 1994 and renamed to Shades of Green Hotel.

Shades of Green Hotel is totally self supporting and operates from non-appropriated funds (no cost to the taxpayer). Profits generated are used for improvements to the hotel, property, and services for the guests. Shades of Green Hotel is reserved for the use of active and retired members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Reserves, and National Guard, as well as currently employed Department of Defense civilians and U.S. Public Health Officers. It is nestled in a wooded setting between two championship golf courses, the Palm and Magnolia. The resort has two lighted tennis courts, two heated swimming pools, a children’s pool and play area, exercise room, three gift shops, travel services, video arcade, laundry facilities, restaurant, lounge, and a sports bar.

During construction, Trauner was retained by the contractor to perform schedule reviews, document and analyze delays occurring on the project, document the progress of the work on the critical path, as well as work on the near critical path, and to assist the contractor in managing the work during an acceleration. In the latter stages of the project, Trauner took on the role as project scheduler. This was in order to open the hotel for use

Orlando International Airport Northeast Terminal Expansion

Orlando International Airport Northeast Terminal Expansion

Trauner assisted the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) on numerous projects involving its ambitious airport expansion. This North East Terminal Expansion Project involved a four-story structure and Hyatt Hotel ballroom; an international baggage claim facility; the North Crossfield Taxiway; construction of three new taxiways; site preparation for the NE Terminal expansion; and the West ramp rehabilitation. For the $48M North Crossfield Taxiway project, GOAA embarked on a new method of routing the aircraft and automobiles into the new terminal – an elevated taxi and roadway system. Trauner was selected by GOAA to provide a variety of services including project monitoring, CPM schedule review, on-site project oversight, and project inspection, claims analysis, delay/schedule analysis, determination of entitlement or liability, damage preparation/evaluation, preparation of as-built schedules, inefficiency analysis, participation in negotiations, determination of liability, contract interpretation, and analysis of defective work.

One project involved a foundation and sitework contract. We evaluated a delay and liability claim made by the contractor. We performed a delay analysis in order to determine the source and magnitude of delays and the calculation of cost damages related to time.

For another project, we provided on-site assistance, CPM schedule review and analysis, delay and impact analysis, the determination of liability for delay, review of all project correspondence, evaluated daily progress, documented project status, and prepared a detailed correspondence report.

Chester Soccer Stadium

Chester Soccer Stadium

Trauner developed the baseline construction schedule and the monthly construction schedule updates for the contractor on the construction of a new, $115M, 18,500-seat, soccer stadium in Chester, PA. It the planned home of Philadelphia Union, a Major League Soccer club, and the Philadelphia Independence of Women’s Professional Soccer.

The stadium was substantially completed in June 12, 2010, in time for the soft opening which was a watch party for season ticket holders for the USA v. England World Cup Match.

Caltrans Alternative Procurement

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) retained Trauner to help identify and implement innovative procurement methods successfully applied by other agencies. This assignment included assessing the applicability of those innovative procurement practices to Caltrans based on their goals and desire to implement more efficient and cost-effective procurement practices.

Trauner performed the following tasks as part of a two-year scope of work:

  • Developed a design-build white paper introducing and outlining the design-build project delivery approach, why it is used, the design-build experience in California and nationally, key issues to consider, and conclusions.
  • Provided a collaborative website that allowed Caltrans staff and committee to review documents and references during project. Delivered website to Caltrans at end of project for future use.
  • Developed a fact-finding report assessing the pros and cons of 27 contracting and procurement practices including 19 alternative practices not currently used by Caltrans. This evaluation report was presented to the steering committee and resulted in the decision by Caltrans to develop a comprehensive alternative procurement guide for design-build, CM at risk, and five other alternative procurement and contracting methods.
  • Provided recommended improvements to design-build legislation, a draft model law for CM at Risk, and recommendations for improving the Caltrans Design-Build Sequencing Guide.
  • Provided recommendations on a variety of policy and business issues related to existing and proposed procurement and contracting methods.
  • Developed recommended procedures and criteria for prequalifying contractors.
  • Identified

AASHTO Design-Build Procurement Guide

Trauner served as a Consultant Advisor for the development of a recommended AASHTO Design-Build Procurement Guide to assist state highway agencies in the design-build procurement process including the preparation of requests for qualifications and requests for proposals and the selection of the successful proposer.

The development team reviewed many guides and collected request for qualifications/request for proposal (RFQ/RFP) documents for design-build projects within and outside of the US, and within and outside the transportation industry. The team also reviewed recent research and interviewed practitioners to understand current trends, best practices, and lessons-learned for design-build procurement. The team then analyzed this information and synthesized it into a guide with sample provisions that can be adapted to a number of procurement approaches currently used for design-build in the highway industry.

The Guide addresses the entire design-build procurement process, and includes project selection criteria, risk analysis examples, and sample RFQ/RFP documents. The contents of this Guide are based upon best practices from experienced state highway agencies and other public sector agencies. The Guide uses a four step approach to writing a successful design-build RFP: 1) defining project goals, 2) allocating risk, 3) evaluation planning, and 4) writing the contract documents. While these steps may seem overly simple, these four elements, and the order in which they are performed, are critical to project success.

The Guide is intended to be flexible for varying project types, sizes, and procurement requirements. Finally, the Guide promotes a common design-build “vocabulary” for better dissemination of lessons learned and incorporation of continuous

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