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North American Study on Contracting Snow and Ice Response

Project #: 4W5856
Start Date: 11/25/2015
End Date: 12/31/2016
Status: Completed
RESULTS & FINDINGS:

The final report included the following conclusions based on the literature review, survey, and synthesis of information:

  • Much of the available information on contracted services is provided in the context of general maintenance, and only rarely specifically addresses contracted services for winter
    maintenance operations.
  • The main reasons for agencies to seek contractors for snow and ice response include: 1) lack of resources, 2) a state-level movement toward outsourcing or privatization, and 3)
    cost comparisons.
  • In general, winter maintenance agencies use four types of contracting methods for snow and ice response: 1) rental agreements or short-term contracts, 2) defined amount of work
    or recurring work contracts, 3) blended forces and 4) asset management and public-private partnership contracts.
  • Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC) are increasingly popular in the United States and Canada. In PBMC, winter maintenance agencies usually set a minimum Level
    of Service (LOS) and response time to measure the performance.
  • In most cases, winter maintenance agencies tend to rely on contractors to provide their own snow and ice equipment. Conversely, snow and ice control material (salt, sand, etc.) are
    commonly provided by the winter maintenance agencies.
  • Studies have shown the need for minimum standards for the equipment used by contractors such as replacement time of aging equipment and upgrading to new technologies.
  • It is generally perceived that urbanized areas, which have a higher density of contracting firms, are a more favorable environment to use contractors for snow and ice control
    functions. However, contractors are willing to work in remote areas if the size and duration of contracts are large enough.
ABSTRACT:

Contracting winter maintenance services has been a key operational strategy for many state and local road agencies, but little work has been done to clearly define the extent of use of contract services in winter operations and to summarize the-state-of-the-practices. In this context, there is an urgent need to capture information on the state-of-the-practice and state-of-the-art when using contracted services, as well as identify lessons learned by agencies so this information is not lost.

The goal of the proposed research project was to identify the state of the practice in contracting for snow and ice control operations by state departments of transportation; through the documentation of practices by states, costs, benefits, and lessons learned. The final product should serve to aid and inform winter maintenance managers.

This project is conducted through the Clear Roads Research Program.

 

OBJECTIVE:

The goal of this project was to identify the state of the practice in contracting for snow and ice control operations by state departments of transportation; through the documentation of practices by states, costs, benefits, and lessons learned.

PERSONNEL:

  • Laura Fay
    (PI)
    Laura Fay
    (PI)
  • Anburaj Muthumani
    (Co-PI)
    Anburaj Muthumani
    (Co-PI)

REPORTS & DOCUMENTS:

RELATED WORK: