Performance Analysis of Alternative Contracting Methods for Highway Construction Projects: Case Study for Iran

Abstract

The suitability of the project delivery system (PDS) selected for a project greatly influences the efficiency of project implementation. In Iran, traditional design-bid-build (DBB) is commonly used for highway construction projects; however, DBB leads to problems such as cost overruns, delays, and poor quality. This study aims to compare the performance of DBB with that of alternative contracting methods (ACM), including design-build (DB) and construction manager (CM) methods, for highway projects in Iran. A survey was conducted to determine the most important decision-making criteria for selecting the appropriate PDS to use in highway projects. The survey, conducted by postal questionnaire, aimed to empirically validate the reliability of the model. In the survey, all the conditions for imposing the effective criteria were considered, and ultimately a model using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was developed to rank the PDSs for highway construction projects in Iran. The results showed that DB is most often the optimal method. The research can be used to prepare a model that can help project owners make sound decisions about the best PDS.