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Road and Bridge Contractor use of FieldManager in Michigan 2004 AASHTO TUG Mobile, Alabama Cliff Farr - Michigan DOT October 15, 2004 Presentation Overview The Need for Information Pilot Project Pilot Project Results Policy Implementation Contractor Read-Only in Michigan Today Wrap-up The Need for Information Contractor associations • Better construction communication needed FieldManager potential • • • • Distribution capability Stability, ease of use, accuracy of data Quick training and implementation Contractors could take advantage of many of the same documented benefits FieldManager Provides Report access • IDR (DWR) • Pay Estimate • Contract Modification (Change Order) Lists • IDR, Pay Estimate, Contract Modification, item, material, contractor, etc. Dozens of contract and project level, work item and test material reports and inquiries • Various levels of payment information • Insufficient materials at the contract and/or Estimate level. Optimistic Future AASHTOWare products New releases annually Commitment to continuous software improvements and enhancements Software performance is solid Future of products are solid Excellent user acceptance Scope $1.5 billion annual construction program An estimated 160 active road/bridge construction contractors in Michigan Potential impact on out-of-state FieldManager DOTs and agencies The Pilot Project Potential Benefits Reduction in: • • • • Telephone calls Mailings Faxes Item/material status discussions More efficient and accurate: • • • • Estimate processing Contract Modification processing Contract finalization Meetings MDOT Apprehensions Inspector Daily Report comments • Inspectors will shy away from making comments? • Inspector comments cause misunderstandings? Claims flare-up? What if the number of telephone calls actually increase instead of decrease? Contractor Apprehensions What if the investment doesn’t pay off? Learning curve • Installation issues? • Ease of use / logical work flows Stability and integrity of the software Interest of the field offices to provide files Future of the product Pilot Project Logistics Voluntary participation – both sides Contractors must license FieldManager • License includes support from Info Tech Contractors on board • December, 2001 • June, 2002 Read-only copies distributed after Estimate generation Pilot Participants 12 Contractors 11 DOT offices 1 local agency 8 consultants Pilot Project Contract Statistics Total number of contracts = 25 • • • • MDOT contracts = 14 Consultant contracts = 8 Local government contract = 1 Local government contracts managed by consultant = 2 Number of dollars under construction for the pilot was $587 million Pilot Project Results Business Summary By the fall of 2002, pilot participants had gained significant experience with the Contractor Read-Only distribution process Questionnaires distributed, completed and summarized Pilot Project Findings Participants (contractor and field office) responded unanimously to make this a permanent business practice User acceptance excellent for both contractor and field offices: • Improved communications: Contract/Project/Item/Material statuses Bi-weekly meetings Contract finalization Pilot Project Findings (cont.) Reduced volume of phone calls, mailings and faxes Reduced contractor time required to gather information Creates an environment of more timely and accurate information Earlier identification of errors and concerns More current material tracking Pilot Project Findings (cont.) Eliminated some contractor spread-sheets or hand generated data Some offices reported improved field office / contractor relationships Concerns • Cost • Time to import the electronic file Recommendation formulated • To implement as permanent policy Pilot Project Findings (cont.) Information to be removed from Contractor Read-Only electronic files: • File size issue: IDR attachments • General information: Item Documentation Notes Miscellaneous Reports Policy Implementation Policy Implementation Recommendation approved by executive management Met with industry • Cost (FieldManager Read-Only annual license fee is $850) • Time to import contracts was drastically reduced in FieldManager release 3.3. Policy was implemented to include all contracts let by MDOT after September, 2003 (MDOT and local agency) Contractor Read-Only in Michigan Today Contractor Read-Only in Michigan Today All MDOT field offices, local agencies, and consultants are participating 51 contractors participating • 48 Read-Only licenses • 3 Full licenses Over 1660 Read-Only files distributed by MDOT this construction season MDOT Involvement Contractors and consultants license FieldManager directly from Info Tech Training available through Info Tech and ACEC of Michigan Field offices distribute the Contractor Read-Only files • Currently • FieldNet 2.0 beginning in 2005 Wrap-up Contractor Read-Only is off to an excellent start in Michigan FieldManager Read-Only data distribution is easily filtered Good communication is key Potential solution for states and local agencies Questions? Cliff Farr FieldManager Business Engineer 517-322-6039 [email protected]