Session Description. Design Build used to be the default delivery method but over the last decade it has decreased in use. We will discuss and analyze Design Build’s status in the private sector and where some key Federal Design and Construction Agents want to go in the future.
Design Build is at an inflection point with the Department of Defense. Design Build came of age in the late 90’s when it was brought into the Federal Procurement world by the National Defense Authorization Act. It took off and became the default delivery method for the Department of Defense accounting for approximately 75 percent of all construction acquisitions. Since that time, it has slowly decreased in usage as a delivery method and now accounts for about 25 percent of all DoD construction acquisitions. This while nearly half (47%) of all construction spending in the U.S. is projected to be design-build by 2026. In discussion with the main DoD Design and Construction Agents, they cited that there aren’t any preset percentages for delivery method and the most appropriate method should be used. Additionally, in the past, they haven’t seen a clear time or cost advantage to design build. Though research over decades has consistently shown the innovation and collaboration inherent in design-build leads to faster project delivery, with more reliable performance and less cost and schedule growth.
With facility requirements increasing for all of DoD and an aging infrastructure, the Design and Construction Agents are driving to get more construction in place for less money. One initiative is to return to Design Build with a focus on more performance-based specifications and less prescriptive. There is a desire to procure better solutions.
Moderator – Michael Blount, SAME, DBIA, NAC
Panelist – Bob Silver, NAVFAC
Panelist – Dave Triplett, FBI
Panelist – Kenny Simmons, USACE
Panelist – John Korka, Clark Construction