Performance-based maintenance contracting in Florida: Evaluation by surveys, statistics, and content analysis

In recent years, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) adopted a form of performance-based maintenance contracting (PBMC) that it calls the asset maintenance contracting (AMC) program. This case study presents an analysis of the AMC program in Florida using a survey, an interview, and content analysis. Although similar studies have been conducted in the past, the survey presented here is unique in that the opinions of contractors and lower-level state employees were solicited. The results indicated that contractors were more confident in the success of the AMC program than were the state employees in Florida and that the cost and performance data needed to be maintained for quantitative analysis. The results highlighted the need for partnering between state agencies and contractors, emphasized the need for a shared-risk model, and stressed the importance of a well-defined scope and of quantifiable performance measures. The unique work associated with this paper included the use of contractors and lower-level employees in the survey and the use of content analysis to examine the interview responses. This was the first study of its kind conducted in Florida.