In 1994-1995, the Ministère des Transports du Quebec awarded a first major road rehabilitation contract that included performance warranties. Two similar major road rehabilitation contacts were awarded in 1997 and 1999. In order to fully maintain the contractor's responsibility, the design of the pavement treatments and their construction were left entirely to the discretion of the contractor, who also had to assume road maintenance and repairs in the event of defects. This type of contract, which includes the design, the execution of the work and the maintenance of performance guaranteed pavements, is based on performance specifications. This presentation reviews Quebec's experience with respect to this type of contract compared with more conventional methods of awarding contracts. The advantages and drawbacks of each type of contract will be examined in light of experience to date. This review covers administrative and technical issues, including the selection of projects, the preparation of contracts, the establishment of specifications, the adjudication of tenders, the execution of work and follow-up in respect of warranties. This type of contract increases the engagement of contractors and the experience gained prepares them to better assume further responsibilities in managing stretches of the road network. It is still too early to assert that this type of contract is an unquestionable guarantee of success. To date, it has nonetheless produced positive results that are encouraging the Ministère des Transports du Quebec to continue making limited use of it in order to obtain as much information as possible before resorting more extensively to this type of contract. (Author/publisher)
Abstract