9.2.2 Design and Build (DB)

Categories: 9.2 Procurement Alternatives
Time of issue: 2022-04-28 10:18:29
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Description:

Information

Design-Build (DB) is a construction delivery method that provides the clients with a single point of contact for both the design and construction phases of a project. Each phase may overlap with others. One entity, the design-builder (DB contractor), holds single-source responsibility and contractual risk for every aspect of a construction project, from estimation, assessments and pre-construction to architecture, schematics, engineering, subcontracting, construction, and post-construction. The design-builder is responsible for managing all contracts with companies, such as subcontractors, equipment vendors and materials providers.

Process

Selection of a design-builder – The client produces a list of requirements for a project, giving an overall view of the project's goals. Several DB contractors present different ideas about how to accomplish these goals. The client selects the approach or ideas they prefer and hires the appropriate DB contractor.

Engineering design – Design engineers can be employed directly by the DB contractor, or the DB contractor can subcontract out specialty design to trusted design partners. Engineers, construction professionals and key subcontractors and vendors all work on the same team to develop a design that balances all needs.

Construction – The construction phase can overlap with the design phase to accelerate project delivery.

Advantages

Rather than a fragmented level of responsibility of the classic DBB, DB provides a collaborative process, encourages teamwork, stimulates information sharing, and enhances transparent communication between design engineers and construction professionals. When challenges arise, finger-pointing is not an option.
Design revisions, project feedback, budgeting, permitting, construction issues, change orders, and billing can all be routed through the DB firm. This single point of contact allows a certain degree of flexibility for the client. Most design-builders will leverage that flexibility for the client's benefit by continually refining the construction program to maximize the client's value at the completion of the project.
The client, the client's other consultants, and the design-builder can work together to determine what methods and materials will maximize the client's value.
As the DB contractor is responsible for both design and construction of the project, much more attention is given to pricing and scheduling in the design phase. The costs of all aspects of the project, including construction costs, utilities, landscaping allowances, and all other costs, are considered early in the process.
For many small-scale rural projects in China the profit margins for design services is very low, so that the incentive to attract qualified engineering firms or institutes is very low. Taking a DB approach can increase the overall profitability of the project and creating more incentive to attracted qualified design-builder teams or companies.

Disadvantages

Cost estimating for a design-build project is sometimes difficult because design documents are often preliminary and may change over the course of the project. As a result, design-build contracts are often written to allow for unexpected situations, and the price of the completed project may vary greatly from the original estimate.
Short-cutting the design process may restrict regulatory review efforts to a potentially cursory overview. Projects that are designed as they are built can result in those with the responsibility of oversight little time to review completed plans and specifications. Projects completed before they are fully designed and approved can be forced into costly change orders to bring the project into compliance with regulatory requirements.
The design-builder is given a great deal of control over the entire process, both of how the project is configured and how it is completed. With no third-party observer, such as, an independent engineer to administer the process, the design-builder may sacrifice the quality of materials and systems in order to pad profits at the expense of the client.
Since the client may not have the expertise to evaluate the quality of portions of the work, he/she must trust the design-builder to properly design a facility that will meet the needs of the client, and to execute the design properly, according to codes, and consistent with industry-standard specifications. Unless the builder agrees with the client's assessment of the situation, the client may have no means to insist on correction of work done improperly, but to go to some form of formal dispute resolution such as litigation, or arbitration.