Framework for Bundling Pavement Maintenance Projects Using Compatibility Scores

State DOTs are facing growing challenges in securing competitive bids for small-scale maintenance projects. This is partly because the small dollar projects are not attractive for contractors with plenty of ongoing and future work. Project bundling has emerged as a promising strategy to address these challenges by aggregating multiple smaller, similar projects into larger contracts, making them more attractive to a wider pool of contractors. Despite its potential, the lack of clear guidelines and automated framework for effective bundling remains a significant barrier. This study develops a practical framework and tool for optimizing project bundling to enhance competition and project delivery efficiency. This research examines key factors influencing successful bundling strategies, including project type compatibility, geographic proximity, and bundle size, using a Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) historic data set to develop a powerful framework for project bundling. A macro-enabled spreadsheet tool is developed to implement the framework and to enable a quick, automated, and accurate bundling process. The tool achieved an 89% success rate for successful bundling and a 78% accuracy in replicating historical bundling patterns. The proposed framework and tool are expected to enable state DOTs to bundle maintenance projects that will maximize competition, improve project delivery, and support more efficient use of public funds.