Design-bid-build Research Articles

Performance Analysis of Alternative Contracting Methods for Highway Construction Projects: Case Study for Iran

AbstractThe suitability of the project delivery system (PDS) selected for a project greatly influences the efficiency of project implementation. In Iran, traditional design-bid-build (DBB) is commo...

A Bayesian Network Framework for Comparing Project Delivery Methods

Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) are innovative and evolving project delivery methods that have enabled public entities, such as local, state, and federal government agencies to pursue projects that were otherwise infeasible. Value for Money (VfM) is commonly used as a tool to evaluate PPP project delivery with traditional project delivery. In this work, a BN framework is presented for supplementing VfM analysis that allows for the combination of the quantitative and qualitative components of project delivery. The framework includes steps to develop BNs, analyze network scenarios and interpret the results. The proposed BN framework reduces the subjectivity and bias inherent in VfM assessment. It, therefore, has the potential to supplement the decision-making process. We demonstrate the application of the proposed framework to California’s Presidio Parkway Project as a case study. The results corroborate the findings from the VfM assessment and conclude that for the Presidio Parkway project, design–build–finance–operate–maintain is a better method than the traditional design–bid–build project delivery method.

Success Factors of Design-Build Public Sector Projects in Malaysia

Various procurement methods are employed in the construction industry, with each having varying success rates. The popularity of design and build (D-B) method has been increasing worldwide because its distinctive features of integrating design and construction have successfully addressed the problems inherent in the traditional design-bid-build (D-B-B) method. Previous research efforts in Malaysia have been focused on establishing a D-B strategy, including its challenges and risks and defining a broader scope for implementing D-B in public projects. However, not many empirical studies have identified the D-B success factors in Malaysia’s construction industry. This paper aims to determine the main factors attributing to the successful application of the D-B method for public projects in Malaysia’s construction industry. Specifically, this paper answers the main research question of “What are the success factors of the D-B project delivery method in Malaysian public-sector projects?”. To achieve that objective, this study involves interviewing industry practitioners that have direct hands-on experience in managing D-B public sector projects in Malaysia. The interview data are analyzed to identify the D-B success factors in construction projects. The findings suggest that the underlying factors for successful D-B public project include client capabilities, competency of the construction leader, competency of the consultant team, organizational behavior, and effective project management system. The success factors in each underlying categories are discussed in the paper. This paper contributes a better understanding of the D-B project success factors in Malaysia’s construction industry.

Architect and Engineer’s Spectrum of Engagement under Alternative Delivery Methods: Agreement Negotiation and Formation Implications

AbstractThe proliferation of the several alternatives to the traditional design-bid-build (DBB) project delivery method (PDM), coupled with the ever-increasing demand to reach a faster delivery of ...

Change Orders and Schedule Performance of Design-Build Infrastructure Projects: Comparison between Highway and Water and Wastewater Projects

AbstractAccording to previous studies, change orders in general lead to delays in design-bid-build (DBB) projects. However, none of the studies have determined such a relationship in design-build (...

Integrated project delivery implementation framework for water and wastewater treatment plant projects

Purpose The public nature of water and wastewater construction capital projects has rendered design-bid-build (DBB) as the delivery method of choice for such projects over the past years. Shortcomings inherent to DBB have had a negative effect on the key performance indicators (KPIs) of these projects. Numerous studies have been published about the benefits offered by integrated project delivery (IPD) in improving the delivery of DBB projects. Links correlating IPD principles to improvements in KPIs of DBB construction projects have not been established scientifically, thus leaving owners with no guidance on which IPD principle(s) to implement in order to improve a particular project KPI. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach Actual data were collected from 43 water and wastewater construction projects – including two control projects with full implementation of selective IPD principles – and used to compute major projects KPIs. Regression analysis and a focus group are then utilized to determine the effect of each implemented IPD principle on various project KPIs. Findings Implementation of open communication was found to have a significant effect on reducing project cost overrun, and the co-location of teams significantly reduced the time to respond to RFIs. Collaborative decision making significantly reduced the cost of field rework. Other IPD principles showed less-significant effects on project KPIs and were concluded to be ineffective at improving the projects’ performance. Practical implications An implementation framework is developed that can guide utility owners on which IPD principle(s) to implement in order to improve specific project KPIs. Originality/value This study demonstrates that not all IPD principles will result in performance improvement of a project. A selective and cost-effective implementation of certain IPD principle will have to be based on the nature of the project and the particular KPIs targeted for improvement.

Effect of Change Orders on Cost and Schedule for Small Low-Bid Highway Contracts

AbstractFor design-bid-build (DBB) projects, the assumption is that because the bid cost of the lowest bidder is usually below the estimated cost of the project, change orders during construction w...

Enhancing Subcontractors' Participation in BIM-Based Design Coordination under a DBB Contract

AbstractThis paper introduces a two-step subcontracting process for building information modeling (BIM)–based design coordination under a design-bid-build (DBB) contract. Although integrated projec...

Comparison Analysis Between Traditional and Long Segment Contracts on National Road Preservation Activities in Indonesia

National road preservation activities in Indonesia are usually carried out using a traditional approach system, namely in-house system and contract system with a design-bid-build (DBB) approach. An alternative contract method to improve the quality of roads is the long segment contract. Its definition is carrying out road preservation activities in one continuous segment with the aim to obtain good road conditions for all segments. This study aims to compare the performance under traditional approaches and long segment contracts. Road performance is expressed in functional performance terminology and uses the International roughness index (IRI) indicator. The research was conducted on the outer urban road of Palembang - Indralaya intersection - Meranjat which is part of the national road section in the Province of South Sumatra, Indonesia. Results showed that the road performance contracted with traditional approaches was better than that of long segment ones. This was not expected and was probably due to the lack of understanding of the parties involved in the long segment contract to the principles of fulfilling road service performance. The contractors are not interested in carrying out routine road maintenance projects because the value of the work is small and there is a lack of experience regarding routine maintenance.

A Fuzzy-based Decision-Support System for the Analysis of Suitability of Megaproject Delivery Methods

This article describes the Decision Support System (DSS) for identifying the best delivery methods for megaprojects, based on risk factors, opportunities for investments, and project constraints. In addition, the system accounts for the relative importance of various stakeholders’ roles at different stages of a mega infrastructure project. A fuzzy-based multi-criterion decision-making technique used to develop the DSS assists the client to depict his/her best choices of contractual delivery methods. Further, the system provides the best mix of stakeholder entities that would likely provide the best environment for the project success. A two-step system calibration procedure was considered, including the expert judgment of 192 key stakeholder professionals worldwide. The fuzzy model performance was illustrated using default factor sets and sample inputs of differing weights for project risks, constraints, opportunities and the other critical categories affecting the decision-making process. Based on model results, the conventional delivery method (e.g., Design Bid Build) is least recommended if the project risk weighs more than 30%, as provided by the user. With such an intricate system, the client can investigate the specifics of various project stages and study the effects of enhancements or deficiencies of the stakeholder entities’ capabilities.

BEST PRACTICES FOR THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR THE HORIZONTAL DESIGN-BUILDER

In early 1990s, the American driving public insisted that planned highway and bridge projects be completed quicker than was possible using the Design-Bid-Build (DBB) construction project delivery system, which had dominated the industry since 1930s. This led state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to explore fast-track methods of construction. In late 1980s, some DOTs had experimented with Design-Build (D-B) delivery system. Forty-two state DOTs and numerous county and municipal transportation agencies now use the system and it remains the most popular integrated construction project delivery system in US transportation construction despite Federal Highway Administration efforts through the Every Day Counts initiatives to popularize newer methods such as Construction-Manager-as-General-Contractor and Alternative Technical Concepts. Its popularity is due to the speed with which projects move from conception through to completion and the ability through early contractor participation to implement innovative ideas that improve quality and further enhance the speed of the project. With all this speed, however, the design process has struggled to stay ahead of construction, especially when the Design-Builder is faced with new responsibilities such as Right-of-Way acquisition, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, the environmental permitting process, utility re-location, etc. This paper recounts the research performed by a team led by the University of Florida to produce a guidebook to help both design-builder and owner with the design management process for transportation infrastructure construction.

ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS TO A SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTABILITY PROCESS IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

The US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Every Day Counts Program (EDC) has resulted in state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) putting evermore emphasis on speeding up the delivery of highway and bridge construction projects for use by the driving public. This has resulted in an increase in the use of integrated project delivery methods and adding alternative technical concepts (ATCs) to traditional design-bid-build (DBB) contracts. ATCs have exhibited great potential for delivering substantial benefits like cost savings, increased constructability, and quicker project delivery. Previous research has found that knowledge of project constructability was lacking in state DOT planning, programming, and environmental staffs. At the same time, the permitting process for several government agencies has become increasingly restrictive. The intent of this paper is to report on the research team's progress in an ongoing effort to furnish the US government with a uniform set of guidelines for the application of the constructability process during all phases of project development and delivery. The research uses surveys, focus groups and interviews to determine which states have implemented formal programs to ensure that the constructor is furnished with a set of contract documents that affords said constructor with the best possible opportunity to successfully construct the project with the highest quality standards, within the contract duration and without exceeding the construction budget.

Investigative study of project procurement methods and project performance indicators in Saudi Arabia

There exist two basic categories of a construction building procurement methods; those that combine project design with construction under one contract termed design-build (DB) and those that separate the design and construction functions into more than one contract or design-bid-build (DBB). This research compares the performance of DB and DBB in the context of the Saudi Arabian construction industry as an example of international construction practices, by statistically quantifying the effects that project procurement methods had on three objective and 10 subjective performance indicators. The notion that DB outperforms DBB is supported by this research.

Comparison of Quebec’s Project Delivery Methods: Relational Contract Law and Differences in Contractual Language

The province of Quebec, Canada, seeks to implement relational alternate project delivery methods to achieve sustainability and energy efficiency in public construction. However, the relational differences between the formal written parts of different delivery methods have yet to be analyzed and understood, as is the case with the relational aspects of contracts and the achievement of sustainable and energy-efficient infrastructure. Using a hermeneutic interpretation of Macneil’s relational contract norms and grounded theory, 26 contracts involving Quebec’s largest public client of vertical infrastructure and representing three different types of project delivery methods (design–bid–build (DBB), design–Build (DB), and construction manager–general contractor/integrated project delivery (CMGC/IPD)) were analyzed using NVivo. It was found that CMGC/IPD is the most relational project delivery method available to Quebec’s public clients, namely because of the public client’s active involvement in the realization process, the increasing complexity of roles, the multitude of common management structures, and the internalization of sustainability measures and conflict resolution. Furthermore, Quebec’s CMGC/IPD was found to be an IPD-ish delivery method, lacking the early involvement of the construction manager and the risk/reward sharing mechanisms necessary to achieve pure IPD status. The findings and theoretical considerations discussed here will help policymakers, contract drafters, and public clients interested in implementing relational contracting practices in public construction projects.

Transaction Costs and Efficiency in Design-Build Contracting: Empirical Evidence from the Transportation Infrastructure Sector in Oregon

Design-build (DB) contracting as a type of public–private partnerships (PPPs) has been widely used as an alternative to the traditional contracting-out and the in-house provisions for the delivery of infrastructure in the United States. The research question this article seeks to answer is whether the efficiency motive helps explain the use of DB contracting compared to traditional contracting-out, the design-bid-build (DBB), in public infrastructure delivery. By using the transaction cost economics approach, I assessed whether DB contracting is selected to minimize transaction costs in certain infrastructure transactions that would later lead to more efficient results for those infrastructure transactions. By employing a two-stage empirical strategy (the nonparametric data envelopment analysis and the instrumental variable two-stage least squares regression approach), I examined 59 bridge and combination bridge-roadway projects in Oregon that were completed during 2005–2015 using both DB and DBB contracting. I found that when the transaction is complex, the assets in the transaction are specific, and the size of the transaction is large, the use of DB contracting significantly increases the efficiency score by 46 percentage points. The findings suggest that the transaction costs economizing motive underlies the choice of governance structure in public service deliveries.

Analysis of causes of delay in Indian construction projects and mitigation measures

PurposeConstruction projects in India continue to suffer excessive delays. This paper aims to investigate the delay causes in India by project sector (transport, power, buildings and water) and carry out a comparative study of delay causes in design build (DB) projects with that of design bid build (DBB) projects along with mitigation measures.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was conducted among major clients, contractors and consultants in India. Importance Index was used for ranking of the delay causes. Projects were categorized based on the type, and causes of delay in each project type were identified. Projects were also categorized based on type of contract, and delay causes in DB and DBB projects were compared. Statistical analysis of responses by Cronbach’s alpha, one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal–Wallis tests was carried out with Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with senior industry professionals to develop exhaustive mitigation measures.FindingsThe research findings indicate finance-related causes as the most critical causes of delay in Indian projects. Delay in settlement of claims, contractor’s financial difficulties, delay in payment for extra work/variations by owner, late payment from contractor to subcontractor or suppliers, variation orders/changes of scope by owner during construction and changes in design by owner were the highly ranked delay causes. The research found no significant difference in the delay causes in DB and DBB projects.Originality/valueThis is the first study wherein delay causes for various project types within a single country are identified. In addition, the study has identified and compared the delay causes in DB projects and DBB projects. Mitigation measures developed in this study will help professionals and project managers not just in India but other developing countries as well to alleviate delay causes and in improvement of project timelines.

Mapping a Resource-Based Design Workflow to Activate a Circular Economy in Building Design and Construction

This paper introduces an innovative restructuring of the traditional Design-Bid-Build (DBB) project delivery method in the AEC industry, that enables the creative reuse of building materials and components. The restructuring intends to transform the DBB method into an Integrated Project Delivery approach by including building materials reuse stakeholders in the early phases of the design process. The model was developed by capturing the critical expert knowledge using a Delphi research protocol and the Business Process Modelling and Notation standards (BPMN). The proposed business process workflows are integrated with the BIM Project Execution Planning Guide. The study also identifies the critical decision nodes within the proposed process maps and suggests a decision-support framework that aid architects and building professionals when integrating sustainable building solutions regarding reusable building materials and components. The Knowledge Capturing Process (KCP) utilized in this study was applied using a qualitative method and a modified Delphi research protocol with the research participants. Triangulation with literature and built case studies were checked and the results were integrated in an illustrated detailed blueprint set of BPMN workflow maps, which were then used to reach consensus with the industry stakeholders research participants.

Comparison of DB to DBB on highway projects in Washington State, USA

Comparative evaluations of design-build (DB), to design-bid-build (DBB), aredocumented in literature. However, a recent study suggests that even though several studies have been completed to compare DB and DBB, there are few statistically significant comparative results. Comparative analyses of highway projects of the same scope, size, and type could provide the basis to make the argument for the use of either DB or DBB on highway projects. The objective of this research is to compare DB to DBB on highway projects. The basis of comparison includes project cost, contract duration, number and type of contract change orders. Projects used for this research were obtained from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The projects were subsequently selected based on project scope,size, and type, and then analysed using quantitative methods. The research found that there is enough evidence to support the use of DB over DBB on highway projects. The findings of this study have significant implications for practitioners and policymakers on highway projects and should inform decisions on the choice of project delivery method. The main limitation of the research is that the study used only 14 projects due to the difficulty of finding matching projects,and as such the results could not be generalized. However, the findings add to the body of research on criteria for comparing DB to DBB. To enhance understanding of how project scope, size, and type might affect or be affected by project delivery methods,the research recommends the standardization of project types classification for highway projects

Procurement path influencing factors in Ghana: managing the challenge of cultural shift

An integrated procurement planning effort is a precursor for the successful delivery of projects. For traditional reasons, the Ghanaian construction industry has a challenge of cultural shift in the adoption of contemporary procurement systems. This research sought to investigate factors influencing the continuous use of Design Bid Build (DBB) and the main procurement path influencing factors. Using quantitative methods, findings from the field study indicated that familiarity with the DBB has been the driver for the continuous use of DBB. It was established that the main challenges of DBB were high cost and schedule overruns and high variations. On the other hand, the main procurement influencing factors were identified as early start and completion, firm prices before committing to precede, reduction in cost and schedule overruns. It was evident from the study that the Ghanaian construction industry is not ready for cultural shift in procurement strategies, and may continue to embrace the DBB. It is recommended that contractor selection for projects should not necessarily be based on bulk volume of works but the unit of work. This would enhance the early selection of a contractor, whose early involvement would bring to bear buildability, increased contractor’s responsibility and reduce project risk.

Regional Comparisons of Contemporary Construction Industry Sustainable Concepts in the Chinese Context

Emerging construction practices such as building information modelling (BIM), prefabrication construction, green building, and integrated project delivery methods are gaining momentum in China, with great potential due to the size of its construction market. Through this, the sustainability level of China’s construction industry is expected to be enhanced from the economic, social and environmental perspectives. So far, there has been limited understanding of how BIM, as a digital technology, would affect other contemporary sustainable construction practices from the industry professionals’ point of view. Limited studies have been carried out to study the regional differences of these contemporary sustainable practices in China. This study adopted a questionnaire-based approach targeting industry professionals from three different metropolitan cities (Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Wenzhou).The follow-up comprehensive statistical analysis revealed that with regards to these contemporary sustainable construction practices, survey participants held much varied views on the growth of renovation projects, traditional Design–Bid–Build delivery, and conventional on-site construction methods. These three types were also generally perceived to have weak correlation with BIM application. Regional comparison further conveyed information on differences in perceptions among survey respondents from these three cities. For example, respondents from Wenzhou perceived more positive effects of BIM use in conventional construction projects. This research addressed the inter-correlation among these emerging sustainable construction practices, as well as the regional differences in China’s construction market. The findings provide insights and the big picture for both governmental authorities and industry practitioners on the latest sustainable practices of China’s construction industry. Recommendations are also offered towards improved economic, social and environmental sustainability performance for construction projects in the country.