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Subcontracting and competitive bidding on incomplete procurement contracts

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  • Daniel P. Miller

Abstract

type="main"> This article examines the impact of incomplete contracts on subcontracting and the design of procurement auctions. I estimate the effect of ex post contract revisions on unit costs for both subcontracted and in-house performed work items on bridge projects procured by the California Department of Transportation. I model a scoring auction showing how ex post revisions skew bidding decisions and estimate unit costs from bid data using the method of sieve estimation. The results highlight the cost implications of incomplete contracting frictions, subcontracting decisions, and bidding distortions. In conclusion, I propose alternative auction mechanisms that could improve outcomes.

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  • Daniel P. Miller, 2014. "Subcontracting and competitive bidding on incomplete procurement contracts," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 45(4), pages 705-746, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:randje:v:45:y:2014:i:4:p:705-746
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/1756-2171.12068
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    1. Gil, Ricard & Marion, Justin, 2009. "The Role of Repeated Interactions, Self-Enforcing Agreements and Relational [Sub]Contracting: Evidence from California Highway Procurement Auctions," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt2kb8p0cd, University of California Transportation Center.
    2. Dakshina G. De Silva & Timothy Dunne & Georgia Kosmopoulou & Carlos Lamarche, 2015. "Project modifications and bidding in highway procurement auctions," FRB Atlanta Working Paper 2015-14, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
    3. Aggrey Nyakawa Kwamesa & Peterson Obara Magutu & Stephen Onserio Nyamwange & Richard Nyaanga Ongeri & Robert Matwere Bosire & Richard Bitange Nyaoga, PhD., 2021. "Contract Management Strategies and Project Performance at Kenya National Highways Authority," Noble International Journal of Business and Management Research, Noble Academic Publsiher, vol. 5(1), pages 23-38, January.
    4. Luigi Moretti & Paola Valbonesi, 2012. "Subcontracting in Public Procurement: An Empirical Investigation," "Marco Fanno" Working Papers 0154, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche "Marco Fanno".
    5. Seres, G. & Pigon, Adam, 2019. "On the Competitive Effects of Screening in Procurement," Other publications TiSEM 3314c398-ea79-4f74-96f4-8, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    6. Hojin Jung & Georgia Kosmopoulou & Robert Press & Richard Sicotte, 2022. "Subcontracting and the incidence of change orders in procurement contracts," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 60(1), pages 247-264, January.
    7. B. Cesi & M. Lorusso, 2020. "Collusion in public procurement: the role of subcontracting," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 37(1), pages 251-265, April.
    8. Leah Brooks & Zachary Liscow, 2023. "Infrastructure Costs," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 15(2), pages 1-30, April.
    9. Bouckaert, Jan & Van Moer, Geert, 2021. "Joint bidding and horizontal subcontracting," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    10. Andrew S. J. Smith & Jan-Eric Nilsson & Ivan Ridderstedt & Oskar Johansson, 2023. "Efficiency measurement in the tendering of road surface renewal contracts," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 60(2), pages 189-202, October.
    11. De Silva, Dakshina G. & Kosmopoulou, Georgia & Lamarche, Carlos, 2017. "Subcontracting and the survival of plants in the road construction industry: A panel quantile regression analysis," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 113-131.
    12. He Huang & Zhipeng Li & De Liu & Hongyan Xu, 2022. "Auctioning IT Contracts with Renegotiable Scope," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(8), pages 6003-6023, August.
    13. Rosa, Benjamin, 2016. "Subcontracting Requirements and the Cost of Government Procurement," MPRA Paper 77392, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Laura Rondi & Paola Valbonesi, 2017. "Pre- and post-award outsourcing: Temporary partnership versus subcontracting in public procurement," "Marco Fanno" Working Papers 0211, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche "Marco Fanno".
    15. BOUCKAERT, Jan & VAN MOER, Geert, 2022. "When rivals team up in procurement: does it distort competition?," Working Papers 2022001, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Business and Economics.

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