Project Delivery - Design-Bid-Build

The Design-Bid-Build (DBB) method of project delivery is easily the most familiar to owners, architects and contractors.

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
Share

No contractor should ever lose their ability to compete, win, and build profitable projects using this method of delivery. It keeps your estimating and operations teams sharp.

CM at Risk: Project Delivery Methods - Definition of Design-Bid-Build and pros and cons.

In this method, the project owner contracts separately with the architect for design and a single prime contractor for construction.  

  • It is the primary procurement method used for public works projects.
      
  • Due to the sequential design followed by the construction workflow, it has the longest timeline.

  • Contractors are typically forced into a competitive bidding situation, resulting in a low initial construction cost.

  • Because the contractors were not involved in the design phase, there are frequently cost and schedule overruns that sometimes end in litigation.  

The negatives must be weighed against the positives for this project delivery method. In many cases this is absolutely the right method for the project.


Project Delivery - Design-Bid-Build
The preferred project delivery method. There is a reason 100 of ENR's Top 400 General Contractors use CMAR as the project delivery method for over 75% of their work. Leverage CMAR as part of your growth strategy....

Project Delivery - Design-Bid-Build
The preferred project delivery method. There is a reason 100 of ENR's Top 400 General Contractors use CMAR as the project delivery method for over 75% of their work. Leverage CMAR as part of your growth strategy....

Site Logistics Manager
About 20% of the field labor hours are spent on material logistics and daily mobilization, demobilization to the work area. What if you could shift 5% of the time spent on logistics to installation while accelerating your foreman development?
Unicorns and the Growing Contractor
If you are having consistent difficulty finding the right person for a role, you may be looking for a unicorn. Requiring unicorns to grow is a bad plan. If you do find a unicorn, just ask them where the pot of gold is and forget about construction!
Average is Rare and Rarely Valuable
Study the differences between the varying levels of performance and work to close those gaps. Seeing how the average is trending can be very valuable to visualizing the trajectory, and that goes for every element on a Contractor's Scoreboard.