Herbsman, Z J (1995) A+B bidding method: hidden success story for highway construction. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 121(4), pp. 430-437. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
In the last decade, many departments of transportation around the United States have experimented with using the A +B bidding method. In this method contractors bid on the cost (part A) and on the time (part B), and the lowest combined bidder (A +B) is awarded the project. This paper analyzes 101 projects that have been awarded using this method and compares the results to the cost and the time of similar projects that were bid using conventional methods (cost only). The conclusions from the research show that substantial savings in construction time have been achieved when using the A +B method with almost no addition in cost. This was achieved by better planning and management of motivated contractors that were using the time element as part of their bidding strategy. The paper includes details on several case studies that demonstrate these results.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | case study, highway construction, United States, bidding, construction time, bidder, strategy, savings |
| Subjects: | economic analysis, civil engineering, Geography, management, project controls, bidding, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Time Control, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Geographical Context, Procurement |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here