Save Money by Shopping Around: Competing Pipe Materials for Large Diameter Pipelines

The Sabine River Authority of Texas (SRA) saved approximately $1 million by competing prestressed pipe and steel pipe for their new 66-in. diameter pipeline. The project team received bids for the pre-purchased material and evaluated the anticipated install price. The evaluation compared different embedment materials, installation methods, and material costs to estimate the ultimate construction cost of the pipeline depending on the pipe material. Ultimately, prestressed pipe was expected to cost less. Using the SRA project as a case study, this presentation will instruct audience members the advantages of alternate bids, steps to create more competitive material procurement, and factors to consider when evaluating options.