Assessment of Consultant Plan Development and Performance Rating Processes

Details

• Creators:
  Hamilton, Ron ; Leary, Caroline ; Dye, Bill
• Corporate Creators:
  Dye Management Group, Inc.
• Corporate Contributors:
  Louisiana. Department of Transportation and Development ; Louisiana Transportation Research Center ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Consultant Rating System Consultants Plan Development Quality Control Quality Control Ratings State Of The Practice
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/LA.17/629
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report September 2018 to January 2020
• Corporate Publisher:
  Louisiana State University. Louisiana Transportation Research Center
• Abstract:
  High-quality engineering plans are essential: errors and omissions in design plans can impact public safety, cause construction delays, and cost overruns. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) undertook an assessment of its consultant plan development and consultant rating processes to identify opportunities for improving consultant plan quality. Dye Management Group, Inc. (DMG) assisted DOTD on the project. DMG performed a comprehensive literature search, conducted individual interviews and focus groups with internal and external stakeholders, completed a peer survey and interviews with other state departments of transportation (DOTs), and evaluated DOTD’s existing practices for plan development quality control and consultant rating processes. The assessment found that DOTD’s plan development quality control policies and procedures are in line with prevailing practices in other state DOTs. The opportunity for DOTD to improve upon plan quality lies in more consistent application and stricter adherence to its established policies and procedures. While consultant rating practices vary considerably among DOTs, DOTD’s policies are in line with established norms and comply with statutory guidelines and regulations. Achieving consistency among raters is an issue most state DOTs struggle with. Opportunities to improve DOTD’s consultant rating system include simplifying the rating process and forms, reducing the number of ratings required, training raters in how to conduct ratings, and requiring better compliance with established DOTD policies and guidelines.
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:5f7ed090af26629efde3ec3ca460324d1ea104e50cd3a101d01dc65f0cee995a
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/62956/dot_62956_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.23 MB ]