Proposed Practice for Alternative Bidding of Highway Drainage Systems

Abstract

This research investigated the use of a performance-based process for selection of drainage pipe systems. Such a selection process is based on satisfying performance criteria for the drainage system while considering the full range of suitable pipe materials. This approach has the potential to foster competition among various pipe types judged to be of satisfactory quality and equally acceptable on the basis of engineering and cost analyses. Giving contractors the ability to choose from among alternative drainage pipe systems during the bidding process on the basis of performance and cost can help agencies promote competition that will lower agency costs while achieving satisfactory performance. The objective of NCHRP Project 10-86 was to develop a proposed practice suitable for adoption by AASHTO to guide owner-agencies and industry in implementing a performance-based process for contractor selection and delivery of drainage pipe systems on highway construction projects. The key product of the research is the proposed practice presented in Appendix A of the report. The practice applies rational, performance-based criteria to the selection, installation and post-construction acceptance of highway drainage pipe systems. It specifically addresses the selection of pipe solutions by evaluating the hydraulic capacity, structural capacity, and durability of pipe systems in distinct stages. Since durability is predicted in terms of estimated service life, the practice emphasizes proper characterization of the site conditions and comprehensive post-installation inspection to confirm construction quality. The practice was tested and refined through comparisons in nine states to standard agency procedures for pipe specification and was shown to satisfactorily consider the wide variety of factors required to successfully bid alternative pipe systems. This report fully documents the research and includes the following two appendixes: Appendix A: AASHTO Recommended Practice for Alternative Bidding of Highway Drainage System and Appendix C: Summary of Durability Evaluation Methods and Software Applications.

Original document

The different versions of the original document can be found in:

• http://dx.doi.org/10.17226/22157

• http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/b815/8c5682848e6c04d6fa59641edb9ac2780aa2.pdf

• https://www.nap.edu/catalog/22157,

https://trid.trb.org/view.aspx?id=1352284,

https://academic.microsoft.com/#/detail/266610791