Project Delivery Systems

Our experienced building team offers several different types of project delivery systems. This flexibility allows us to match our abilities with your needs. Every building project is unique. We can customize a delivery system for your next building project.

There are four main types of Project Deliver System being used today: Design-Build, Negotiated Contract, Competitive Bid, and Construction Management, as well as other, more specialized methods.

Design-Build

A construction system with "single point responsibility." An owner enters into a single contract with a contractor to perform both the design and construction.

Advantages

Saves time & money.
Lead times shorten.
No surprises at bid opening.
Simplified documents.
Maintains competitive bidding.
Fewer changes means fewer disputes.

Cautions

Owner must provide clear scope.
Utilize integrated contract documents.
GC and AE should be familiar with each other

Negotiated Contract

Negotiation allows the owner to engage in the services of a qualified contractor in the early stages of the project to assist in scheduling, budgeting, and constructability review.

Advantages

Quicker process.
Qualified, proven contractor.
Early contractor involvement.
Maintains competitive bidding.
Pre-construction services provided.

Cautions

Final costs not known and dependent on contract.
May require additional cost monitoring or unit pricing.

Competitive Bid

The "traditional" delivery stem based on complete prescriptive plans and contract documents prepared by architects or engineers. The design-bid-build system is common with federal, state and local governing bodies.

Advantages

Established/Publicly crafted legal guidelines.
Allows competition.
Designers believe they have control.
Plans and specs are complete.

Cautions

Requires a great deal of time.
Can easily exceed estimated costs.
Adversarial relationships.
Antiquated.
Frequent differences in interpretation
Assumes all contractors are equal.

Construction Management

CM is an agreement to provide construction leadership and perform administration and management. This can be performed on an Agency or At-Risk basis.

Advantages

Coordination by construction professionals.
Cooperative relationships.
Some time savings possible
Administration for very large or complicated projects.

Cautions

Owner contracts direct with trades.
Duplication of administration.
More paperwork for Owner.
Suited to very large or complicated projects.

Turnkey

A design-build contractor delivers a completed building to an owner for a pre-arranged price which includes design, construction and financing.

Integrated Project Delivery

IPD is a process that collaboratively harnesses the talents and insights of all participants to optimize project results, reduce waste and maximize efficiency in all phases of the design and construction.