Projects

Managing Consultants Engaged in Engineering Design Projects

09/01/2008
05/01/2009
Completed
Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Georgia

A team of researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Public Policy, the University of Georgia's Department of Public Administration, and the Georgia Tech Research Institute have been conducting GTI sponsored research to assess the recent changes in Georgia Department of Transportation's (GDOT) outsourcing of preconstruction engineering and technical services. Over the past decade the GDOT has initiated a series of organizational changes in an effort to absorb a rapid increase in the number consultants providing engineering and construction design services. The goal of this research is to help GDOT understand and manage the greater use of consultant contracts. Preliminary findings suggest that the recent organizational changes at GDOT have improved the recording of information to assess better past and ongoing contracts. The researchers are also recommending strategies for identifying bottlenecks in the execution of contracts among prime and sub consultants.

The recent organizational and process changes at GDOT include the creation of the Office of Consultant Design, adaptation of the cost proposal process, improvements to the operational flow of contracts through GDOT systems, changes in the preferred contract structures, and the addition of designated procurement officers and contract negotiators. All of these changes were done to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of GDOT contract management and this research is a formal process of assessing these impacts on information quality.
 
An overall increase in outsourcing and the use of consultants by public agencies makes this research important to many audiences outside of the GDOT community. Effective management and understanding of contracting is essential to the goals and efforts of public agencies at all levels of government.
 
In all, researchers are optimistic about their findings, and are further encouraged by the positive feedback they have received from GDOT. By taking a three pronged approach to their research assessment, the team is able to identify the ways in which GDOT has already improved information quality and suggest innovative techniques for continuing this assessment in the future.