Going Out to Bid - Winter Road Maintenance
Authored by: Betsy Fitzgerald, Erskine Academy

Grade Level: 9-12

The MLR performance indicators listed below are for illustrative purposes. Depending on the focus of the lessons as developed by individual teachers, these indicators may or may not be addressed. Conversely this is not a definitive listing of all of the performance indicators which could be addressed in this lesson.

MLR - Secondary Grades: Social Studies: (Civics A - 1), (Economics A - 1, B - 4); Language Arts: (Information D - 1, 3, 5), (Research H - 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8); Mathematics: (Statistics C - 1, 2), (Patterns G - 1, 2), (Algebra H - 2, 4), (Reasoning J - 1), (Communication K - 1); Career Prep: (Preparing for future A - 4), (Integrated/applied learning C - 4), (Responsibility D - 4)

Task Description

Students must first research the miles of roads in their town (Town Office has this information) and the past policies on winter road maintenance. They should also find past costs of sand ($/yd), salt ($/ton), trucks ($/hr), and any other associated dollars spent.

After accumulating this information, students will create a chart with at least three possible funding schemes using current costs for sand, salt and truck usage.

Another computation should include a comparison of cost of paying plowing per storm or by the hour. Students will then prepare bid sheets for this project.

Student Products/Performances

Organization of the statistical information in a workable chart and a bid sheet.

Resources

Municipal Road Maintenance Statistics from the 1997 MMA Local Government Fiscal Survey  
Once in the program, select "Tools," "Find" and search for the municipality of interest. Data includes: Municipality, Total Roads, Total Roads/Mile, Winter Roads, Winter Roads/Mile, Total Salt & Sand, Salt/Mile, Sand/Mile. This was a voluntary survey so your community may not have participated. The Summary Section will give population groups, counties, and statewide totals.

Local Road Mileage and Number of Bridges supplement to 1997 MMA Local Government Fiscal Survey.
Contracts for Plowing and Sanding, Maine Townsman, January 1990 [Article and a Sample Contract]
Sample contract for Winter Road Maintenance.
Budgeting for Winter Road Maintenance, Maine Townsman, January 1990
Contracting Out For Road Maintenance and Repairs; Bid Process from Municipal Roads Manual, Maine Municipal Association, 1992.

Bid sheets samples:
INVITATION TO BID FOR _{__________}
INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS FOR _____________

Exhibit 1: BID PROPOSAL FORM / BID FOR FURNISHING________________
Exhibit 2: EXCEPTIONS TO SPECIFICATIONS
Exhibit 3: PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT

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Criteria for Evaluating Quality of Product or Performance

A comparison of student-produced bid sheets and examples from town records. Students should also be prepared to design bid sheets for other town responsibilities, such as collection of solid waste.