Definition
Design-bid-build is the traditional project delivery approach that was used for most of the 20th century to procure public works. The design-bid-build model segregates design and construction responsibilities by awarding them to an independent private engineer and a separate private contractor. By doing so, design-bid-build separates the delivery process into three linear phases: 1) Design, 2) Bid, and 3) Construction.
|
Procurement Process
During the initial design phase, a transportation agency would award a design contract to an engineer or architect using a quality-based approach, awarding the procurement to the firm providing the best experience and quality. The engineer/architect is responsible for completing a final project design and providing detailed documentation, including drawings, specifications, and supporting documentation.
In the bid phase, the owner would use the documentation prepared by the engineer to assemble construction bid documents. Pre-qualified contractors would be invited to submit competitive, lump-sum bids, and the owner would award the construction contract to the contractor submitting the lowest responsible bid or total contract price. The project would then move into the construction phase, with the owner retaining responsibility for monitoring the contractor's performance. |
