Design-Build Procurement Approaches - Design-Build for Water and Wastewater Projects - page 79

Table 7-8. Advantages and disadvantages for progressive DB
Higher quality (e.g., constructability, owner
preferences, and subcontractor screening)

(continued)

May need to engage a procurement
advisor, which adds to the project's
cost

Owner has high degree of control in design
process with regard to decisions on scope,
project quality, price, and schedule

High level of involvement of owner's
staff during design thus diverting
staff from other responsibilities

Virtually all change orders are eliminated

Table 7-9. Advantages and disadvantages for price-based selection

Advantages Disadvantages

Competitive price component
provided; price certainty at time
of proposal submission

Owners and proposers need time and cost to
prepare RFP

Detailed technical information
provided

Greater effort to review detailed proposals
Level and quality of competition could decrease
as there could be several proposals received.
Proposers like to assess competition (i.e., with a
short-list of three, proposers have a one in three
chance)
Could limit proposer creativity and flexibility by
doing too much design for the RFP
Owner input only during procurement development;
during proposal preparation there is no owner
input
Life-cycle cost considerations limited
The proposal price, quality, and scope have to be
accepted. Any change will be an adjustment to
proposal price or a change order.

SUMMARY

The DB method of project delivery is a proven method that delivers significant benefits
to an owner. There are, however, many options to the DB approach, and owners must be
able to make decisions about the project delivery method that is best suited for them and
the project. The owner's organization needs to embrace and accept the approach. There
needs to be a willingness to be flexible because existing processes and procedures to
which owners are accustomed will be evaluated, modified, or changed as needed. These
changes are necessary to implement and complete a successful DB procurement.