Planning and Defining the Design-Build Procurement Process - Design-Build for Water and Wastewater Projects - page 104

Lessons learned from the design-builder's perspective include:
• Keep things simple during procurement. Preparing a proposal is expensive
and time-consuming. Do not create unneeded complexity.
• Allow potential proposers the opportunity to review the draft RFP and
agreement.
• Create objective, measurable, and achievable performance standards.
• Incorporate quality and value into the selection criteria.
• Allow for cooperation and synergy within the design, construction, and oper-
ations and maintenance staff to foster technical excellence and innovation.
• Utilize performance instead of prescriptive specifications to allow flexibility
and creative development of a cost-effective and value-added approach.
• Balance risk allocation (e.g., no one can see underground or into the future),
and do not force costly contingencies.
• Establish trust and fairness, which are critical between the owner and
design-builder.
Success Outcomes
Both the CSO treatment facility and the new WWTP upgrades were completed
ahead of schedule, under budget, and with minimal project changes. In its first
year of operation, the CSO facility achieved compliance and captured and treated
approximately 480 mil gal (1,800 ML) of combined stormwater and wastewater.