Paper ID#: 82

Paper Title: Implementation of PMS Techniques in Performance Based Long Term Maintenance Contracts in Australia

Primary Author: P. Kadar

Abstract Text : An ever-increasing part of the Australian road network is now managed under long-term performance based maintenance contracts. The authors are currently the contractors for three term maintenance contracts covering a total of more than 5000 km road length. As such, they are responsible for all aspect of the pavement asset management, planning, programming and delivery. The major findings and conclusions cover the Authors’ experience with long term performance based maintenance contracts, covering issues ranging from data collection, analysis, modelling and day to day contract/asset management.Maintenance contracts separate the policy-making activities from the actual maintenance programming, budgeting and work functions. This separation increases the policy formulating responsibility of road agencies, as after letting the contract policy changes may be difficult to implement and most likely they could be costly. The formulation and translation of policies into concrete performance targets is a difficult task that was resolved with differing means and methods in Australia. Appropriate preparation of the tenders ie the specifics of the policies carry the key to the success of these type of contracts.Maintenance contracts have specific requirements for analytical tools. The modelling process has to be exceptionally flexible to meet the widely varying requirements at various times of the contracts and of that of various locations and agencies. The authors found that Deighton’s Total Infrastructure Management System met all requirements of the contracting environment. This system has been used for five out of the six long-term maintenance contracts awarded so far in Australia.