The Design/Build Contract

1
The Design/Build Contract
2
What Is A Design/Build Contract?

• Contract that combines design construction into
  one agreement
• The design/build team provides a customized
  turn-key project for the Owner.
• Owner defines the standards and general
  specifications they expect for the project

3
What Is A Design/Build Contract?

• Detailed plans are often still being developed
  when construction begins.
• Design firm construction contractor become a
  team.
• Work concurrently on design/construction phases
  of a project.
• Ie, site work can begin before final structural
  details are complete, etc.
• Faster project delivery than the traditional
  design-bid-build process.

4
How Does It Work?

• Design-Build firm will act as the designer and
  construction manager
• Construction is subcontracted to the necessary
  trade subcontractors.
• Contracts for early phases of the work can be
  awarded before the final working drawings have
  been completed

5
How Does It Work?

• Often, Owner will contract with Design/Build firm
  for preliminary services to establish
  preliminary design.
• This is separate from the actual D/B Contract
• Since the preliminary design is complete, a basis
  has been established for an initial contract
  price.

6
Benefits To The Owner

• Time savings is realized by
• Eliminating lead time necessary to contract a
  designer and then proceed to bidding process.
• Project moves from design to construction much
  faster through the use of the single design-build
  contract.

7
Benefits To The Owner

• Designer contractor work in tandem
• Changes can be incorporated in the design phase
• Eliminates costly change orders during
  construction

8
Benefits To The Owner

• The owner has a more direct working relationship
  with the contractor.
• Offers Owner a sole source of responsibility and
  authority on the project
• Owner is often guaranteed a maximum project
  cost as early as the completion of the
  preliminary design stage

9
Disadvantages To The Owner

• Final plans and specifications are not completed
  and reviewed by the client or regulatory agencies
  prior to construction. This has both budget and
  quality/function implications.
• For this reason, most governmentally funded
  projects require conventional design and
  competitive construction bidding procedures. 

10
Benefits To The Project

• Cooperative spirit between the owner, contractor
  designer
• Best ideas are achieved which benefit project
  design, performance, and quality
• Provides a non-adversarial relationship and
  encourages team members to prevent problems

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Benefits To The Project

• Reduces claims
• Ie, construction delays due to design errors
  easily resolved.
• Response time is accelerated
• Concerns are more easily handled due to
  organizational structure.