Framework for Comparing Project Delivery Costs

摘要

This article presents a framework for the comparison of alternative project delivery costs. The results provide a methodology for owners to apply when evaluating project delivery alternatives. As an introduction, this article presents an overview of significant project delivery performance modeling studies. Based upon this previous research, this study presents a hybrid methodological approach of cost engineering, process modeling, and performance metrics resulting in the development of equivalent delivery models for the quantification and analysis of total project delivery costs. The framework was applied to a detailed analysis of the Washington State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) first design-build pilot project. The case study analyzes the project cost performance metrics of overall project cost, preliminary engineering costs, construction costs, construction administration costs, and warranty costs. The results of the study provide WSDOT with a comprehensive understanding of how this new design-build delivery method affects project cost performance as compared to their traditional design-bid-build delivery method. WSDOT is applying this methodology on future design-build projects to benchmark their continuous improvement efforts. Other owners can apply this framework to assess their own project delivery performance when employing alternative delivery methods.