Project Profile: South Carolina 27 in 7

photo credit: South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT)

Location	South Carolina (statewide)
Project Sponsor / Borrower	South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT)
Program Areas
Mode	Highway / Bridge
Description	This statewide effort from 1999 to 2008 accelerated the implementation of 200 highway improvement projects worth over $5.0 billion from 27 to 7 years. SCDOT entered into partnerships with two private construction and resource management (CRM) firms to undertake strategic planning and financial management and coordinate design and construction activities, all without augmenting the size of the state agency. The state was divided into two regions, with Fluor Daniel responsible for the West and Parsons Brinckerhoff for the East. FHWA also worked closely with SCDOT to administer the partnership and a number of other innovative financing programs. 27 in 7 encompassed Interstate widening projects; interchange improvements; the 16-mile, four-lane Southern Connector; and the Cooper River Bridge Replacement, the single largest project in the history of SCDOT. The CRM contractor developed project and cash management software and procedures to manage projects and the bond proceeds by SCDOT and its two CRM partners.
Cost	Total Program Value - $5.3 billion CRMs each responsible for $750 million subprograms
Funding Sources	Debt financing backed by tolls receipts on selected facilities and future federal and state aid receipts TIFIA State Infrastructure Bank Bonding
Project Delivery / Contract Method	Best Qualified Competitive RFP Process. The CRM contracts were lump sum for management functions over five years, with a milestone payment schedule for design and construction engineering and inspection services. Right-of-way services provided on a per-parcel fee basis.
Private Partner	Program managers - Fluor Daniel (West Region) and Parsons Brinckerhoff (East Region)
Project Advisors / Consultants	Not available
Lenders	Bondholders, USDOT TIFIA
Duration / Status	Program completed in 2008
Financial Status	Closed
Innovations	27 in 7 was the first CRM partnership of this magnitude in the United States. The program included an incentive/disincentive bonus/penalty program to encourage achievements in innovation, schedule, cost control, and customer satisfaction. The value of resulting cost savings to SCDOT paid for the management fees paid to the Department's private CRM partners.
Related Links / Articles	South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank
Contacts	Not available