In Finland the Design-Build-Operate-Maintain (DBOM) and Design-Build-Finance-Operate (DBFO) models are termed as "Life-Cycle Models" due to the closer relationship in obtaining "Life Cycle Costs (LCC)" provided the duration is significantly longer. The main difference is that the DBOM is using public or direct funding and the DBFO model includes private funding from various sources. Of the countries/provinces/states included in this study, only Finland has used the DBOM model and this project was completed in November 2005 (Lahti-Heinola project). This project is for 27 kilometers and is a motorway standard, which now completes a full motorway section from Helsinki to Heinola. The agreement includes maintenance and any operations up until the year 2012. DBOM model is part of the strategy of the Finnish Road Administration (Finnra 2003) to evaluate all main forms of project delivery models and test the results for overall evaluation. The Lahti-Heinola project was estimated to save approximately 15% compared to the traditional model - DBB.
Since there is no robust data available on this model for road projects, it is difficult to make any conclusions other than those from the Lahti-Heinola project in Finland. However, there have been considerable comments by the contracting professionals (in this study), stating that the contractors would significantly include better quality practices as they would also be responsible for the maintenance aspects. Some contractors said that they would consider more whole life costs and even add more quality into the project to make sure that the maintenance costs would be optimized. This is a significant comment which makes practical logic and is worth mentioning. Koppinen & Lahdenpera (2004) includes the DBOM model as having better economic efficiency compared with the Design-Build model and even significantly better against the DBB model. Also Table 5 shows the advantages and disadvantages the of the DBOM model. There are so few DBOM road projects to evaluate that is not practically possible to determine results without further research. More study and research on this model is needed with actual project results.
| Method | ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
| • Integrates the Process of Design, Construction, and Maintenance • One Contract for All Services and Products • Maintenance & Any Operations Aspects Can Be Considered During Design • Better Quality (via interviews) • Better Life Cycle Costs • Similar Benefits Earlier Mentioned in DB | • Longer Tendering Process than DB • Costlier Tendering than DB • Similar Disadvantages As Earlier Mentioned in DB |
Updated from Source: Pakkala (2002)
Table 5 DBOM Advantages & Disadvantages