Wisconsin DOTs MDSS RFP Experience March 2005 Tom

Wisconsin DOT’s “MDSS” RFP Experience March, 2005 Tom Martinelli Winter Operations Engineer

Contract Background • Weather forecast services contract expired after last winter • Needed to explore new ways of doing business • Wanted more frequent forecasts and more emphasis on computer modeling

Wis. DOT’s Weather Forecast Services RFP • Used NCAR MDSS template as a guide • Required 3 -hourly updates vs hourly in guide • Required vendor to run all forecast and decision support software • Text and graphical outputs • Eliminated items deemed not necessary or too difficult to implement – Weather parameters like drifting snow – Decision support was optional item

Mandatory RFP Items (similar to old contract) • Required the following for one point in each of our 72 counties – – All forecast parameters out to 24 hours Surface air temperature, dew point, RH, wind Precipitation amount and intensity 24 -72 hour statewide outlook • Winter storm warning service (pager/cell phone) • Toll-free access to forecaster

Mandatory RFP Items (new items) • Forecast confidence • Conditional probability of precipitation type • Road and bridge condition products • Pavement, bridge frost potential

Decision Support Limitations • Treatment recommendations was an optional proposal item • Wis. DOT concerned about cost (limited budget) • Little GPS/AVL used in Wisconsin means treatment feedback is limited • Could use initial treatment recommendation, but then would be “business as usual” without treatment feedback loop • Three proposals, but only one gave cost, and it was very high

Questions? Contact Mike Adams Phone: 608 -266 -5004 E-Mail: michael. adams@dot. state. wi. us