A basic research on comprehensive evaluation of
public works in Kochi city
Taichiro Baba and Tsunemi Watanabe
Kochi University of Technology
Due to drastic cut in governmental construction investment and strict enforcement of anti-monopoly law,
dango, a complementary and rotational bidding is disappearing, and bidding competition is becoming very
cutthroat in many public works. To protect the quality of works and so called dumping bidding, the ministryof land, infrastructure and transport is introducing the comprehensive evaluation method in bidding, which isto evaluate not only price but also technical items such as past performance and a concise construction plan.
Some local governments start introducing this approach in bidding. However, there is a concern about thismethod particular for projects ordered by local governments. Some of those projects do not necessarily
require advanced technology; thus, it may be difficult to make difference in evaluation of construction
planning among bidders. Items in which scores of each contractor may be rated differently are experience ofthe same type of construction and existence of qualified engineers. These items seem to evaluate “quality,”technical capability of each contractor. However, there is also criticism that larger scaled contractors can takeadvantage of these evaluation items because generally they have more experience of implementing similarworks and more qualified engineers. This criticism raises another fundamental question: what is the role ofsmall-scaled contractor who do not necessarily pursue enlargement of the company. Thus, the purposes ofthis research are to discuss the role and importance of the local small-scaled contractor and to discuss animage of the comprehensive evaluation of Kochi City. It is recognized that the regional contribution activity
is important to support peoples’ lives in the region. The local small-scale contractor has done these various
kinds of regional contribution activities through regardless of volunteer works or contracted construction
works. Regional characteristics which the local small-scale contractor grasps seem to become important
items to do construction works smoothly in the region. It is considered that the contribution activity of thelocal small contractor should be evaluated all together with the technical capability as the zest to the local
community development by the contractor.

Key words

Kochi City, small-sized contractor, local and regional contribution activity, regional

characteristic
1. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

protect the quality of works and so called dumping
bidding, the ministry of land, infrastructure andDue to drastic cut in governmental construction

transport

isintroducing

thecomprehensive

investment and strict enforcement of anti-monopoly

evaluation method in bidding, which is to evaluate

law, dango, a complementary and rotational bidding

not only price but also technical items such as pastis disappearing, and bidding competition isperformance and a concise construction plan. Somebecoming very cutthroat in many public works. To

local governments start introducing this approach in1. The results of the concerned construction andbidding.
However, there is a concern about this method

the same type of construction,

particular for projects ordered by local governments.

2. Performance scores of completed construction

Some of those projects do not necessarily require

projects marked by the public client for a fixedadvanced technology; thus, it may be difficult toperiod of time,

make difference in evaluation of construction

3. AcquisitionofISO

certificate,theareaplanning among bidders. Items in which scores ofvolunteer, contract agreement to support theeach contractor may be rated differently areregion in case of the disaster and so on,experience of the same type of construction andexistence of qualified engineers. These items seemto evaluate “quality,” technical capability of eachcontractor. However, there is also criticism that

4. Experience of construction, learning record, andqualification of the project engineer, and
5. Contents of the construction plan of theconstruction projectlarger scaled contractors can take advantage ofthese evaluation items because generally they have

2.2 The fairness of evaluation item

more experience of implementing similar works
and more qualified engineers.

It is found that there are problems by the hearing
fundamentalinterviews with practitioners. The evaluation isquestion: what is the role of small-scaled contractor

largely influenced with the management scale of thewho do not necessarily pursue enlargement of thecontractor. There is a view that the fairness of thecompany.

evaluation may be insufficient.

This

criticism

raisesanotherThus, the purposes of this research are to discuss

Many of construction projects ordered by Kochi

the role and importance of the local small-scaled

prefecture are executed by local small-scaled

contractor and to discuss an image of thecontractors.

comprehensive evaluation of Kochi City.

comprehensiveInordertodiscusshowtheevaluation

methodshouldbedesigned, it is useful to clarify the role and2. CURRENT SITUATIONS IN KOCHI CITY

significance of these contractors.
In the next sections, an attempt is made toWestudieditemsofthecomprehensiveevaluation method, which was tested on a trial basis

discuss them from the viewpoint of region,construction risks, and people.

in 2007 in Kochi City.
3 OBSERVATION FROM THE VIEWPOINTS
2.1 Evaluation items
The difference rather appears by the construction

OF THE REGION
3.1 The regional contribution activity

then but the evaluation item of current Kochi City
becomes as follows.
It is said that the company with the highest ratioof the technical points to the bid price is awarded.
Technical points consist of the following items:

We define the regional contribution activity as“the activity that maintains and activates the life
and the environment in the region.”
Their examples are given as follows:1. Disaster control

Here we focus on construction accidents which

・Agreement of disaster damage reduction

are one of the construction risks. The construction

・Post disaster restoration

accident is classified into public accident and an

2. Disaster prevention equipment maintenanceaccident of the person concerned. First, we focus on

・Installation of fire extinguisher toola public accident.

3. Environmental preservation activity
・Rebuilding of garbage depository of town

4.1 Public damage accident

・Cleaning of town

Among public accidents, 79% of accidents are

4. Cultural activity

car accidents, and 16% of fall accidents are bicycle

・Schoolyard maintenance of elementary schooland pedestrian accidents.

・Cooperation for internship

They account for 95% of the whole at these two.
This graph shows causes of public accidents. It is

Regarding the effects of the regional contribution

conjectured that some of causes with orange boxes,activity, it is said that “A good relationship between

the failure of the traffic induction member and thethe contractor and the region can be developed.

failure of the pedestrian road were created byMoreover, the contractor can understand thecontractors. There seems a possibility to reduce

construction knowhow in the region.”manyofthembyunderstanding

regionalcharacteristics.
3.2 An example of post disaster restoration~Niigata Tyuetsuoki earthquake~
The ministry of land, infrastructure, and transport
studied activities of post disaster restoration doneby contractors at the time of Niigata PrefectureTyuetsuoki earthquake in 2007. It was found that
195 contractors were local contractors among 309
contractors which did restoring activities. In
addition, 90 contractors started their activities
within 2 hours after the earthquake occurred.
Among them, 78 contractors were local firms.
In the post earthquake restoration activity, theearly stage support is the most important activity tosave the life of resident. Thus, it is necessary to do
the disaster restoration as early as possible. Resultsof this survey hint that there is a big potential in thelocal contractor.
4. OBSERVATION FROM THE VIEWPOINTSOF CONSTRUCTION RISK

Figure 1 Rates of accident causes(Source: The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure andTransport)

4.2 Labor accident
The next example is labor accident, a collapse
accident in soil cutting construction in Nagano City.
The construction was soil cutting, and a contractor
outside of Nagano city constructed. It was said thatthe soil collapse occurred during construction as thecontractor was not familiar with safe construction
technique incorporating local conditions. There is ahigh possibility that the accident would have notoccurred if the local contractor had construction
works who was familiar with the local soil
conditions.

Figure 2. Construction scale and necessarycommunication with the resident

5 OBSERVATION FROM THE VIEWPOINTS(Source: Ministry of land, infrastructure, andOF RESIDENTS

transport)Thebusinessscaleandnecessary

The local construction contractor is contributing
to the region in a wide range of manner such as postcommunication with the resident

disaster restoration measure, the disaster recovery,
Figure 2 show the relationship between businessthe environmental protection, and the culturalscale and necessity communication with thepromotion. It is possible to say that these arearesident.

contribution activities are important for contractors

It was understood that the smaller construction

to understand characteristics and construction

project it is, the more direct communication is

knowhow in the region and to do works smoothly.

needed with the local residents. Kochi City orders

Moreover, through such activities, the opportunities

many small scaled projects. In those projects, direct

are created for the contractor and the resident tocommunication is necessary with the resident in thecommunicate in the community. The authors

region.

assume that execution of projects by local
contractors leads to smooth construction.

5.2

The

relation

between

theregional

communication and the construction

5.3 Questionnaire to residents

It was found that the direct communication with

Next, we did a questionnaire survey to analyze

the region is necessary to execute the small-scale

the viewpoint of residents. The minimum number ofconstruction in the district. The contractor who

samples is determined to be 96 using the numericalgrasps regional characteristics and can take theformula of the sampling error. Therefore, we asked

direct communication with local resident is the96 residents living in Eboshi-district in Kochi city.

contractor who operates locally.

In this district water supply pipes are being installed
during questionnaire survey. Thus, we selected thisdistrict by judging that these people have a clear

More

than

80%ofpeople

want

local

contractors to do works. It is found that many

image towards public works.
Questions and their answers are given as follows.

residents have a good image towards the localcontractors.

Question1: What discomfort do you feel during
construction in your area?

6. CONCLUDING REMARKS

Traffic jam

34

Noise26

Danger

9

Dust

8

Dirt

8

Shortage of guard

7

Insufficient communication

8

Long construction period

5Vibration4

No specific discomfort

10

It is recognized that the regional contribution
activity is important to support peoples’ lives in theregion. The local small-scale contractor has donethese various kinds of regional contribution
activities through regardless of volunteer works orcontracted construction works.
Regional

characteristics

whichthelocal

small-scale contractor grasps seem to become
important items to do construction works smoothly
in the region.
It is considered that the contribution activity of

Question2: Do you want local contractors to do

the local small contractor should be evaluated all

construction works?

together with the technical capability as the zest to
the local community development by the contractor.

Yes

83

Not really

13

REFERENCES

Question3: What are reasons for your answer?

1. Tsunemi Watanabe

For “Yes”“A Study on characteristic analysis of bidding andcontract systems in Japanese public works and its

Sense of assurance

41

Economic activation

26

Local autonomy

14

Quick response to problems

11

Smooth construction

13

For not a particular reason

5

reform from the viewpoints of risk management,”
Proceedings of The Japan Society of Civil
Engineers，vol.62，No.4，684-703，2006.12．(inJapanese)
2. Mitsuru Suzuki”The evolving public bidding and procurement
systems -Reform and operation of business andFor “Not really”

institutions”, Chiikikagakukenkyuukai (Regional
Technical capability and cost saving

5

Need of competition

5

Any contractor is fine if a good work
is conducted.

5

science study meeting)，2007.2 (in Japanese)
3.NIKKEI CONSTRUCTION,
NIKKEIBPSHA, 2008.1.11

4. The communication guide with the resident in thecase of social overhead capital service
http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/peg/pi-guidebook.htm
5. The foundation construction business information
management center
http://www.ciic.or.jp/topics/danwa20070510.html
6. About the efforts to have paid to the Traffic
accident prevention
http://kenmane.kensetsu-plaza.com/bookpdf/28/ex_01.pdf
7. The contribution of the local building constructor
at the time of the disaster
http://www.nilim.go.jp/engineer/index.html?../newsearch.htm
8. Review of the evaluation of the area contributionof the local firm.
http://www.crcr.pref.gifu.jp/kibanken/kenkyu/H15s
eika/02hattyuu-3.pdf
9. The technical survey relation
http://www.mlit.go.jp/tec/nyuusatu/keiyaku.html