Quality Assurance and Quality Control - Design-Build for Water and Wastewater Projects - page 260

chapter is derived from the author's experiences in QA/QC programs for DB projects in
North America over the past two decades. More information on QA/QC for construc-
tion is provided by the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA 2010;
CM A A 2011).
PROJECT QUALITY PLANNING BY THE OWNER
With the traditional DBB approach, quality is defined in the design documents that com-
prise the bulk of construction contract documents. Owners work with the design engi-
neer throughout design development of the project to define the quality requirements
needed for the project, and the level of quality is outlined in the specifications and draw-
ings. Owners have the opportunity to adjust quality requirements throughout the design
prior to final issue of the construction documents for bid.
The timing for establishing quality requirements and metrics for DB projects is
highly dependent on the DB delivery method. For progressive DB, where the design-
builder is selected based on qualifications, design occurs after the selection of the design-
builder and quality requirements are established through the collaborative design process
between the owner and design-builder. Those requirements are incorporated into the
design documents, evaluated in the price and schedule developed by the design-builder,
reviewed and approved by the owner, and incorporated into the construction of the proj-
ect. For a DB selection process based on best value or fixed price, where the design-
builder is developing a design and price in response to an RFP, quality requirements
will be listed in the design criteria document with the RFP. After selection of the design-
builder, the quality requirements may be refined based on any alternate technical solu-
tions that are acceptable to the owner.
In the RFP, an owner will provide the design criteria and performance requirements,
which will include QA/QC objectives, standards, and requirements. The quality objec-
tives should align with the owner's organizational standards and with the purpose and
proposed functionality of the project, as well as with the schedule and budget for the
project.
Owners commonly define the QA/QC standards and requirements for a DB project
through a variety of approaches:
1. The design criteria document of the RFP, where owners define the project-specific
QA/QC standards, codes, material requirements, and other quality requirements
2. Owner's design standards, including local and national code requirements
3. Local, state, and federal regulatory standards enforced by permitting agencies
and other project stakeholders that have quality requirements for applications,
inspections, building codes, and other regulatory standards
4. Industry standards, such as those of the American Water Works Association
(AW WA)
5. Procedures of the design-builder parent company (or companies, in the case of
a joint venture) when a project-specific quality management plan is developed in
collaboration with the owner
As a requirement of implementing the DB contract, owners will typically require
that the design-builder develop a project-specific quality management plan. This plan is
discussed later in this chapter.