Assessment of road maintenance by contract

This report presents the findings of the first phase of the study which included a survey of the ongoing experience with contract maintenance in Algeria, Belgium, Brazil, British Colombia (Canada), Chile, England, France, Kenya, Malaysia and Pakistan. The second phase of the study will synthesize the country surveys and other relevant experience into operational guidelines for effective introduction and implementation of road maintenance by contract. Most of the countries included in this study have made the transition from force account (direct labor) to contract work for selected road maintenence operations within the last decade. Many of these countries continue to retain a substantial force account capability. Their collective experience, thus, serves as a useful guide for countries contemplating execution of road maintenance by contract. The report describes the reasons for using contract maintenance, the classification of maintenance operations, the selection of work items to be contracted, and the types of contracts used for maintenance works. The procedures for tendering contracts and supervision of works are reviewed. The report compares contract maintenance with force account work and discusses the transition from force account operation to contract maintenance.