Partnering-project performance in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Partnering in engineering and construction usually involves an agreement between an owner and contractor to work together for an extended period of time, over several consecutive contracts. Because of legal regulations, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is unable to establish long-term partnering relationships, but has been successful in implementing partnering on a project-by-project basis. This paper presents an overview of the methodology that is used to set up public-sector partnering agreements. It presents the extent of the Corps of Engineers’ partnering program in domestic districts, including the status of projects both completed and ongoing. Data from recently completed projects are presented that indicate significant cost savings and schedule reductions for construction projects executed using partnering arrangements, and interview data with partnering project participants are given that tend to support the premise that partnering is a viable contract administration alternative for public-sector projects. Finally, conclusions and recommendations concerning partnering on Corps of Engineers’ projects are presented.