Success Factors for Design-Build Contracting

This paper presents some contractor perspectives on design-build contracting. There has been considerable literature written regarding the benefits of design-build from an owner's perspective, but little has been written from a contractor's perspective. This study involved selecting seven contractors from the Engineering News Record list of "Top 100 Design-Build-Firms" and interviewing local project managers using a common set of questions. The responses were then analyzed to determine whether or not there were any consistent themes. Contractors were most interested that the project scope was well defined, that there was a mutual understanding of the scope of work between the owner and the contractor, and that the owner had sufficient experience with the design-build project delivery method. Honorariums seemed to have little influence on some contractors' decision whether or not to pursue a project. The owner's reputation regarding treatment of contractors; the size, scope, and location of the project; and the contractor's current backlog were primary determinants regarding the decision whether or not to pursue a project. The contractors preferred that less than 35% of the design be completed at the time of contract solicitation to provide maximum opportunity for design innovation by the design-build contractor.