Skip to main content

Delivering Measurable Outcomes through Performance-based contracts

At this time of tight public budgets, performance-based maintenance contracts are gaining traction internationally, with a growing number of transport agencies recognising it as an effective instrument for making investment decisions that minimise risk and lower operating costs of existing and newly constructed highway infrastructure. However, a comprehensive survey conducted across 56 countries by IRF’s Asset Management Committee has revealed that progress is uneven. A majority of survey respondents indic
November 1, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Stay on top of a fast-evolving topic of strategic importance to the sector – join IRF in Orlando, Florida on October 28 - November 6, 2012.
At this time of tight public budgets, performance-based maintenance contracts are gaining traction internationally, with a growing number of transport agencies recognising it as an effective instrument for making investment decisions

that minimise risk and lower operating costs of existing and newly constructed highway infrastructure.
However, a comprehensive survey conducted across 56 countries by 3918 IRF Washington's Asset Management Committee has revealed that progress is uneven. A majority of survey respondents indicate that no centralised coordinating structure exists, few or no national knowledge resources are available, and asset management remains predominantly a manual task.  

To address these gaps, participants from 16 countries participated on August 14-16 in the 3rd IRF Workshop on Performance-based Contracts & Evaluating Asset Condition held in Washington DC. 

The workshop keynote address was provided by Kirk Steudle, director of 2630 Michigan Department of Transportation and president of the 3510 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Other notable international attendees included Alfredo Tolentino, undersecretary of the 2569 Department of Public Works and Highways (Philippines); Kulwinder Rao, lead transport specialist at the 2332 World Bank; Moh Lali, executive director of 5811 Alberta Transportation (Canada); and Humberto Ibarolla, director of technical services, 2556 Ministry of Transport (Mexico).

Related Content

  • IRF planning performance-based maintenance seminar
    July 2, 2013
    The International Road Federation (IRF) is planning a new seminar that will focus on delivering outcomes through the utilisation of performance-based maintenance. The Fall Edition of the Executive Seminar Series: Performance-Based Maintenance Contracting will be held from September 15th-25th, 2013. The seminar will feature an intensive programme of presentations and discussions about Sustainable Maintenance Programmes.
  • China's Roads Convention focuses on sustainability
    February 9, 2012
    IRF joins with key Chinese transport authorities to lead the way in efforts to make sustainable rural mobility, transport and access a reality for millions throughout the world.
  • Lessons in asset management from the US
    August 14, 2014
    Jason Bittner discusses effective strategies for implementing efficient asset management practices The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) established a performance-based highway programme aimed at improving how Federal transportation funds are allocated. The MAP-21 programme requires state departments of transport (DOT) to develop risk-based transportation asset management plans (TAMP) for roads and bridges. This move has also refocused attention on the need for asset management in t
  • Building Tomorrow’s Transport Infrastructure Today – IRF Global in Washington
    May 2, 2018
    Preparations are underway for the world’s leading road, tunnel and bridge exhibition Produced by the International Road Federation, the IRF Global Road2Tunnel Expo & Conference is the only international conference and tradeshow of its kind dedicated to road, tunnel and bridge construction. “Technology and innovations are evolving at a pace never seen before in the history of the road and transport sector” noted IRF president & CEO C Patrick Sankey. “From innovations in materials, such as self-healing con