Research Projects - Build America Center

TITLE	DESCRIPTION	LEAD RESEARCHER	TYPE
Estimating and Identifying Local Matching Funds for new BIL Grants	The direct objectives of the study are: (a) develop a framework for assessing state funding sources using different methods, (b) develop an Excel-spreadsheet/tool demonstrating the framework. By developing the tool, the model can provide guidance to public agencies for making appropriate use of the financial resources and it can help link state funding sources for federal grant matching with a goal of maximizing federal funds access.	Sam Labi (Purdue)	Tool/Guide
Guidebook on Estimating Costs of Capital for Value of Money Assessments	The research aims to provide early-stage guidance on estimating debt and equity costs for public-private partnership (P3) projects. It develops practical “rules of thumb” based on available data and expert judgment, aiding initial value-for-money (VfM) assessments while highlighting the need for consultation during higher market volatility and changing conditions.	Sasha Page (Rebel)	Tool/Guide
Risk Allocation and Sharing in P3 Agreements: Guidebook and Toolkit	The purpose of this report is to capture the state of practice of risk allocation and sharing in transportation P3s in the United States by: (1) providing an overview of risks and risk allocation in transportation P3s; (2) presenting how risks have been allocated in recent P3 transportation agreements; and (3) sharing perspectives of practitioners about current risk allocation practices.	Mike Garvin (Virginia Tech)	White Paper
Transportation Megaproject Restructuring and Renegotiation	The objective is to document unsuccessful P3s and understand the type, mechanism, indicator, and lesson learned from P3 failure.	Michael Bennon (Stanford)	White Paper
VfM Assessment General Principles (“Blue Book”)	The direct objectives of the Blue Book for VfM Assessment are twofold: 1) Provide guidance to procuring agencies that are legally required under the IIJA to conduct a VfM assessment; 2) Provide guidance to Federal and State staff that may be required to review VfM assessments submitted under the IIJA requirements	Marcel Ham (Rebel) and Qingbin Cui (UMD)	Best Practice/Guidebook

Estimating and Identifying Local Matching Funds for new BIL Grants

The direct objectives of the study are: (a) develop a framework for assessing state funding sources using different methods, (b) develop an Excel-spreadsheet/tool demonstrating the framework. By developing the tool, the model can provide guidance to public agencies for making appropriate use of the financial resources and it can help link state funding sources for federal grant matching with a goal of maximizing federal funds access.

Sam Labi (Purdue)

Tool/Guide

Guidebook on Estimating Costs of Capital for Value of Money Assessments

The research aims to provide early-stage guidance on estimating debt and equity costs for public-private partnership (P3) projects. It develops practical “rules of thumb” based on available data and expert judgment, aiding initial value-for-money (VfM) assessments while highlighting the need for consultation during higher market volatility and changing conditions.

Sasha Page (Rebel)

Tool/Guide

Risk Allocation and Sharing in P3 Agreements: Guidebook and Toolkit

The purpose of this report is to capture the state of practice of risk allocation and sharing in transportation P3s in the United States by: (1) providing an overview of risks and risk allocation in transportation P3s; (2) presenting how risks have been allocated in recent P3 transportation agreements; and (3) sharing perspectives of practitioners about current risk allocation practices.

Mike Garvin (Virginia Tech)

White Paper

Transportation Megaproject Restructuring and Renegotiation

The objective is to document unsuccessful P3s and understand the type, mechanism, indicator, and lesson learned from P3 failure.

Michael Bennon (Stanford)

White Paper

VfM Assessment General Principles (“Blue Book”)

The direct objectives of the Blue Book for VfM Assessment are twofold: 1) Provide guidance to procuring agencies that are legally required under the IIJA to conduct a VfM assessment; 2) Provide guidance to Federal and State staff that may be required to review VfM assessments submitted under the IIJA requirements

Marcel Ham (Rebel) and Qingbin Cui (UMD)

Best Practice/Guidebook

TITLE	DESCRIPTION	LEAD RESEARCHER	TYPE
Comparing and Contrasting Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) and Master Development Agreement (MDA) Public Private Partnership (P3)	IMG Rebel Advisory, Inc. (“Rebel”) was engaged by the Build America Center (BAC), to explore the similarities and differences between design-build-finance-operate-maintain (DBFOM) public-private partnerships (P3s) and master development agreement (MDA) P3s, which can generically be termed “infrastructure P3s” and “real estate P3s”, respectively, and in doing so, potentially derive any insights about each P3 type.	Sasha Page (Rebel)	White Paper
Crowdfunding Approach to Delivering Equitable EV Infrastructure.	This project examines the viability of crowdfunding as a new method of funding EV charging infrastructure to meet the current need for charging networks and compliance with Justice 40. The project aims to illustrate how financing works and benefits are calculated for disadvantaged communities enrolled in the crowdfunding program.	Qingbin Cui (UMD)	White Paper/Tool
Electric Vehicle (EV) Fee Structures Design and Tool.	The proposed research will document the EV charges and fee collection mechanisms, identify good practices associated with EV fee implementation, evaluate alternative units for EV charging and collection mechanism, and make recommendations on EV charging policies.	Sam Labi (Purdue)	White Paper/Tool
Green Financing in Delivering Sustainable and Equitable Transportation Infrastructure.	The primary objective of this research is to explore the suitability of green financing methods as an alternative funding mechanism to assist transportation agencies in preparing for the deployment, operation, and maintenance of resilient and sustainable transportation infrastructure systems.	Baabak Ashuri (Georgia Tech)	White Paper
Guideline for Risk Allocation and Sharing in Long Term Highway Development Agreements: Phase 2	The objective of Phase 2 is to develop a guide for public transportation agencies about risk allocation and sharing in projects using long term highway development agreements.	Mike Garvin (Virginia Tech)