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The Problem and Its Solution The nationâs 6,000 plus transit agencies need to have access to a program that can provide authoritatively researched, specific, limited-scope studies of legal is- sues and problems having national significance and application to their business. Some transit programs involve legal problems and issues that are not shared with other modes; as, for example, compliance with transit-equipment and operations guidelines, FTA fi- nancing initiatives, private-sector programs, and labor or environmental standards relating to transit opera- tions. Also, much of the information that is needed by transit attorneys to address legal concerns is scattered and fragmented. Consequently, it would be helpful to the transit lawyer to have well-resourced and well- documented reports on specific legal topics available to the transit legal community. The Legal Research Digests (LRDs) are developed to assist transit attorneys in dealing with the myriad of initiatives and problems associated with transit start- up and operations, as well as with day-to-day legal work. The LRDs address such issues as eminent do- main, civil rights, constitutional rights, contracting, environmental concerns, labor, procurement, risk management, security, tort liability, and zoning. The transit legal research, when conducted through the TRBâs legal studies process, either collects primary data that generally are not available elsewhere or per- forms analysis of existing literature. Legal Research Digest 39 TRansiT CoopeRaTive ReseaRCh pRogRam sponsored by the Federal Transit administration January 2012 TRanspoRTaTion ReseaRCh BoaRD OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES ComPeTITIon RequIRemenTS of The DeSIgn/BuIlD, ConSTRuCTIon manageR aT RISk, anD PuBlIC-PRIvaTe PaRTneRShIP ConTRaCTSâ Seven CaSe STuDIeS This report was prepared under TCRp project J-5, âLegal aspects of Transit and intermodal Transportation programs,â for which the Transportation Research Board is the agency coordinating the research. The report was prepared by anthony D. songer, ph.D., Boise state University; michael J. garvin, ph.D., p.e., virginia polytechnic institute and state University; and michael C. Loulakis, esq., Capital project strategies, LLC. James B. mcDaniel, TRB Counsel for Legal Research projects, was the principal investigator and content editor. Responsible Senior Program officer: gwen Chisholm Smith application In the recent past, the primary practice of procurement of- ficials for major transportation construction projects has been to follow the design-bid-build methodology. How- ever, increasingly this method is being criticized as restric- tive of public owner flexibility in aligning the procurement process to achieve the best value for locally funded proj- ects. In response to this problem, states and local govern- ments are engaging in procurement methods that place more financial risks and liability on the contractor in the preconstruction planning process, construction manage- ment, and operational aspects of construction projects. Government procurement officers are, however, more and more resorting to alternative delivery meth- ods as a means to greater efficiency while ensuring good outcomes and value in products. This report ex- plores the use of varying systems, including design- build, construction management at risk, and a variety of options considered public-private partnerships, through the examination of seven separate construc- tion projects in various parts of the United States. This examination of the seven selected projects shows how particular, and often unique, problems were met in each project by utilizing a wide variety of procure- ment and delivery methods. The results were success- ful to varying degrees; however, the intent of this re- port is not to suggest the use of one type of delivery method over another, but to demonstrate the wide va- riety of systems and procurement methods that may be available, especially as states and localities broad- en their legislative authority to enter into contracts and private-public agreements.