Best-Value in the Procurement of Highway Projects: Lessons Learned from US Design-Build Projects

Abstract

Best value has been used for more than two decades in the procurement of design-build highway projects in the United States. The question of whether this type of procurement selects best-value proposers has been raised by several authors. Considering procurement data from 128 projects procured between 2000 and 2022, this chapter aims to provide insights on the impact that different types of best-value award algorithms have in the selection of design-builders as well as answers to the question of whether or not best-value procurement is actually selecting the best-value proposers. Ultimately, the chapter will reflect on lessons learned that might help highway administrators plan to use or use the best value in procuring highway projects.