Forecasting Highway Construction Staffing Requirements (2013)

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36 APPENDIX A Survey Tool NCHRP SYNTHESIS 43-13 FORECASTING CONSTRUCTION STAFFING REQUIREMENTS FOR FUTURE PROJECTS INTRODUCTION Dear Transportation Professional: The Transportation Research Board (TRB) is preparing a synthesis on forecasting construction staffing requirements for future projects. This is being done for NCHRP, under the sponsorship of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration. Transportation agencies are facing dynamic local, state and national revenue streams. The expected fluctuation in available funding will impact both project development and delivery. Many transportation agencies will be faced with streamlining these operations and will create new business models to address current practices and innovations in construction management. Construction workforce (project administration, engineering, and inspection) loading challenges appear to be inevitable. These will involve the assignment/location of in-house staff as well as determining future staffing levels. Construction staffing is a chief component of project delivery cost for owners, and a strategy to staff the construction function is essential in establishing future programs and to effectively determine total project costs. No known standardized approach is available to adequately determine resource levels for construction staffing. The purpose of this study is to identify the current state-of- practice in forecasting construction staffing in transportation organizations and to identify factors that affect construction staffing for highway construction. This questionnaire is being sent to U.S. state departments of transportation. Your cooperation in completing the questionnaire will ensure the success of this effort. If you are not the appropriate person at your agency to complete this questionnaire, please forward it to the correct person. Please complete and submit this survey by Friday, April 13, 2012. We estimate that it should take approximately 60 minutes to complete. If you have any questions, please contact our principal investigator Timothy R. B. Taylor, Ph.D., P.E. at taylor@engr.uky.edu or (859)-323-3680. Any supporting materials can be sent directly to Timothy R. B. Taylor by email or at the postal address shown at the end of the survey. QUESTIONNAIRE INSTRUCTIONS 1. To view and print the entire questionnaire, Click on the following link and print using “control p” http://surveygizmolibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/library/64484/survey_7881561.pdf 2. To save your partial answers and complete the questionnaire later, click on the "Save and Continue Later" link in the upper right hand corner of your screen. A link to the incomplete questionnaire will be emailed to you from SurveyGizmo. To return to the questionnaire later, open the email from SurveyGizmo and click on the link. We suggest using the “Save and Continue Later” feature if there will be more than 15 minutes of inactivity while the survey is opened, as some firewalls may terminate due to inactivity. 3. To pass a partially completed questionnaire to a colleague, click on the on the “Save and Continue Later” link in the upper right hand corner of your screen. A link to the incomplete questionnaire will be emailed to you from SurveyGizmo." Open the email from SurveyGizmo and forward it to a colleague. 4. To view and print your answers before submitting the survey, click forward to the page following question 50. Print using “control p.” 5. To submit the survey, click on “Submit” on the last page. Thank you very much for your time and expertise.

37 The following definitions are used in the current work are provided to ensure consistency across survey respondents. Construction: those activities performed by construction personnel related to the physical construction of highway infrastructure (e.g., construction supervision, construction inspection), contract administration (e.g., payment approval, change order management), construction planning (e.g., constructability reviews, pre-bid meetings), and project closeout (e.g., organizing final inspections, final documentation). Activities that support highway construction but are not typically performed by construction personnel and are therefore not considered within the scope of this project include highway infrastructure design, payment processing, specialized final inspections (e.g., traffic signals, trees and seeding, etc.), and off-site material testing. Some maintenance activities that include a bidding process may also be included in this definition such as milling and filling activities. Construction Personnel: those persons in both field, regional, and central offices assigned to the administration and inspection of construction of highway infrastructure. This definition would include positions such as project engineer, project inspector, and construction technician but would not include positions such as design engineer, materials testing technician, and maintenance inspector. Construction personnel is further divided into the following categories for this project. Warranty: a guarantee of the integrity of a product and its performance and the maker’s (i.e., contractor’s or manufacturer’s) responsibility to repair or replace defective items. Please enter the date (MM/DD/YYYY).* ____________________________________________ Please identify your contact information. Agency/Organization*: ____________________________________________ Address*: ____________________________________________ City*: ____________________________________________ State*: ____________________________________________ Zip Code*: ____________________________________________ Questionnaire Contact*: ____________________________________________ Position/Title*: ____________________________________________ Tel*: ____________________________________________ E-mail*: ____________________________________________ General Information about Your State and Transportation Organization 1) General Information about Your State and Transportation Organization 2000 2005 2010 What was the population of your state? ___ ___ ___ How many lane-miles are in your managed road system? ___ ___ ___ How many bridges? ___ ___ ___ How many full-time equivalent positions? ___ ___ ___ What is your annual budget, including state, federal, and private funds, for all purposes? ___ ___ ___ What is the Annual Vehicle-miles Traveled (AVMT) statistic for your road system? ___ ___ ___ How many Administrative or Highway Engineering Districts does your agency operate? ___ ___ ___

38 2) Which of the following ranges best describes the average age of your construction staff?* ( ) 30–40 ( ) 40–50 ( ) 50–60 ( ) 60–70 3) Which of the following ranges best describes the average experience level of your construction staff?* ( ) 1–5 years ( ) 5–10 years ( ) 10–15 years ( ) 15–20 years ( ) 20–25 years ( ) 25–30 years ( ) 30+ years 4) Does your agency have a method for forecasting construction staffing requirements?* ( ) Yes ( ) No 6) Are employees of your agency represented by a union?* ( ) Yes ( ) No 7) Does the union contract specify minimum staffing levels for a project?* ( ) Yes ( ) No Survey Questions 9) Does your agency utilize public-private partnerships (PPP) for highway construction projects?* ( ) Yes ( ) No 10) If “Yes,” what is the impact on your construction staffing requirements for a PPP project?* ( ) Less construction staff is required ( ) There is no difference in construction staffing requirements ( ) More construction staff is required 11) Over the next 10 years, do you predict that the volume of PPP projects in your agency will:* ( ) Increase ( ) Remain constant at current level ( ) Decrease 12) Does your agency utilize design-build delivery systems for highway construction projects?* ( ) Yes ( ) No

39 13) If “Yes,” what is the impact on your construction staffing requirements for a design-build project?* ( ) Less construction staff is required ( ) There is no difference in construction staffing requirements ( ) More construction staff is required 14) Over the next 10 years, do you predict that the volume of design-build projects in your agency will:* ( ) Increase ( ) Remain constant at current level ( ) Decrease 15) Does your agency undertake projects involving warranties?* ( ) Yes ( ) No 16) What is the impact on your construction staffing requirements for a warranty project?* ( ) Less construction staff is required ( ) There is no difference in construction staffing requirements ( ) More construction staff is required 17) During the warranty period, what agency resources are deployed to monitor the enforcement of the warranty: Function* Yes No Construction Administration ( ) ( ) Construction Engineering ( ) ( ) Construction Inspection ( ) ( ) Others resources: Please identify: ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ 18) In the past five years, as a part of the FHWA independent oversight agreement inspection, have FHWA inspectors stated that projects were understaffed in construction resources?* ( ) No FHWA communications/notices ( ) FHWA communications/notices on fewer than 5 projects ( ) FHWA communications/notices on 5–10 projects ( ) FHWA communications/notices on more than 10 projects 19) Does your agency have staffing metrics for Construction Administration? A staffing metric can be stated as “Placement of asphalt mixtures and aggregate: At least one inspector should be on the project to collect weigh tickets and inspect placement of these materials at all times.”* ( ) Yes ( ) No 21) Does your agency have staffing metrics for Construction Engineering? ( ) Yes ( ) No

40 23) Does your agency have staffing metrics for Construction Inspection? ( ) Yes ( ) No 25) Does your agency have staffing metrics for other functional groups? ( ) Yes ( ) No 26) Please identify the other groups: ____________________________________________ 28) For each of the project types defined below, indicate the size (in $) of the average size project and the number of Full Time Equivalent construction staff positions that would be assigned in each function on that project: Project Type Description Reconstruction Limited Access This is a project that utilized the existing alignment but may revise the profile, number of lanes, or drainage issues on a restricted access roadway (e.g., interstate system). Reconstruction Open Access This is a project that utilized the existing alignment but may revise the profile, number of lanes, or drainage issues on an open access roadway (e.g., a road with signaled intersections and numerous access points). New Route This is a project that builds a new road system be constructed on a new alignment (e.g., “greenfield” construction). Relocation This is a project that relocates a portion of an existing road onto a new alignment and grade. Bridge Rehabilitation This is a project that involves repairing an existing bridge (e.g., lane resurfacing, bridge widening). Bridge Replacement This is a project that involves the construction of a new bridge. Size Administration Engineering Inspection Other If Other, please explain Reconstruction Limited Access ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Reconstruction Open Access ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ New Route ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Relocation ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Bridge Rehabilitation ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Bridge Replacement ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 29) For a typical project for your agency: if the factors shown in each row differ materially from that encountered in the average project, please indicate whether the level of staff in each function (columns) will decrease (–), increase, (+), or remain unchanged (0) by checking the corresponding button. Administra- tion Engineering Inspection Other If Other, please explain. – 0 + – 0 + – 0 + – 0 + Increased Environmental Mitigation ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ___ Project located in a large ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ___ metropolitan area

41 Project located in a rural area ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ___ Increased ADT count ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ___ Increased coordination with other agencies ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ___ Inclement weather ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ___ Increased funding ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ___ Accelerated schedules ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ___ Increased Utility Relocation/Coordination Requirements ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ___ Increased construction staff experience ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ___ Limited material availability ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ___ Expected poor Plan, Specifications and Estimate quality ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ___ Increased contractor experience ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ___ Expected increase in contractor quality ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ___ 30) If there are factors not listed that significantly impact construction staffing needs please list and briefly explain here: ____________________________________________ 31) How does a decision to expedite a project (i.e., a project that receives more attention due to its negative impact on the surrounding) impact construction staffing requirements?* ( ) Less construction staff is required ( ) There is no difference in construction staffing requirements ( ) More construction staff is required 32) Does your agency have separate divisions for construction and maintenance activities or are they handled as part of a single, integrated department?* ( ) Separate divisions ( ) Integrated divisions ( ) Other (Please specify): _________________ 33) In times of limited construction staff availability, which of the following strategies has your agency used in the recent past to address staff shortfall (please check all that apply):* [ ] Reduce inspection requirements [ ] Outsource consulting duties [ ] Reduce work volume [ ] Place existing staff on overtime [ ] Assign non-construction personnel to construction duties [ ] Hire additional staff [ ] Transfer staff among districts [ ] Other (Please identify):

42 34) In each of the project phases listed below, please indicate in which functions your construction staff participates by checking the appropriate box? Function If Other, please explain Administration Engineering Inspection Other Design Phase [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ___ Bid Phase [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ___ Contract Award Phase [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ___ Construction Phase [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ___ Project Close out Phase [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ___ 35) Does your agency perform construction with its own workforce?* ( ) Yes ( ) No 36) If “Yes,” What differences are there in your staffing, if any, in the positions and manning levels between projects constructed with your own workforce and those constructed with outside contractors? Function Own workforce uses fewer positions/lower manning levels Own workforce uses more positions/higher manning levels Construction Administration ( ) ( ) Construction Engineering ( ) ( ) Construction Inspection ( ) ( ) Other: Please identify: ____________________________________________ 37) Do you do anything differently on projects built with your own forces (e.g., reduced inspection requirements, reduced construction supervision)?* ( ) Yes ( ) No 38) If “Yes,” what?* _____________________________________________ 39) In meeting your construction staffing requirements, do you use contract personnel (e.g., outsourced construction inspectors)?* ( ) Yes ( ) No 40) For which functions do you use contract construction personnel? Please check all that apply.* [ ] Construction Administration [ ] Construction Engineering [ ] Construction Inspection [ ] Other: Please identify:

43 41) Which factors do you consider in making the outsourcing decision? Please check all that apply.* [ ] Lack of availability of in-house personnel [ ] Cost [ ] Qualifications lacking in-house [ ] Other: Please identify: 42) How are these factors considered?* _____________________________________________ 43) Are construction personnel using any of the following information technologies? Other Smart Phone Tablet Computer Construction Administration [ ] [ ] ___ Construction Engineering [ ] [ ] ___ Construction Inspection [ ] [ ] ___ Other Functions: Please specify [ ] [ ] ___ 44) If these technologies are being used, please check the tasks for which they are being used: Other: Please specify Smart Phone Tablet Computer Communication [ ] [ ] ___ Inspection [ ] [ ] ___ Plan & Specs [ ] [ ] ___ Daily Work Report [ ] [ ] ___ Change Orders [ ] [ ] ___ Other: Please specify [ ] [ ] ___ 45) The productivity of the individuals using this technology has:* ( ) Increased ( ) Stayed unchanged ( ) Decreased 46) If increased, by approximately how much (percentage)?* ____________________________________________ 47) If decreased, by approximately how much (percentage)?* ____________________________________________ 48) Has the increased productivity allowed you to reduce the number of people in these positions?* ( ) Yes ( ) No 49) Are you doing more with the same number of people as you were 10 years ago?* ( ) Yes ( ) No

44 50) Are you doing more with fewer people than you were 10 years ago?* ( ) Yes ( ) No Thank You! The survey is complete. Thank you for your participation! Your response is very important to us. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Timothy R. B. Taylor at: 151A Raymond Building University of Kentucky Department of Civil Engineering Construction Engineering and Project Management Lexington, KY 40506 E-mail: taylor@engr.uky.edu Phone: (859) 323-3680