DBIA Executing Design-Build Projects Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a partnering workshop at the start of a design-build project?
- To renegotiate the contract price
- To establish team relationships, align expectations, and develop collaborative working procedures (Correct answer)
- To assign blame for potential future problems
- To select subcontractors through competitive bidding
Correct answer: To establish team relationships, align expectations, and develop collaborative working procedures
Partnering workshops bring together stakeholders early to build relationships, establish communication protocols, and create a collaborative framework.
Partnering workshops are held within the first few weeks after contract award, bringing together all key participants. They establish shared goals, communication protocols, issue escalation ladders, and a project charter. Research shows partnered projects experience fewer claims.
Question 2: During design-build project execution, what is the recommended approach to managing design changes?
- Freeze the design completely after contract award
- Use a formal change management process that evaluates cost, schedule, and quality impacts before approving changes (Correct answer)
- Allow unlimited changes as long as the design-builder agrees
- Only accept changes proposed by the owner
Correct answer: Use a formal change management process that evaluates cost, schedule, and quality impacts before approving changes
Effective change management requires a formal process to evaluate each proposed change's impact on cost, schedule, and quality.
A robust change management process includes procedures for identifying changes, evaluating their impacts, obtaining approvals, and documenting modifications. The process must distinguish between changes within the original scope and changes to the scope.
Question 3: What role does Building Information Modeling (BIM) play in design-build project execution?
- BIM is only used for marketing purposes
- BIM facilitates integrated design and construction coordination, clash detection, scheduling visualization, and facility management data (Correct answer)
- BIM replaces the need for construction documents
- BIM is prohibited in design-build projects
Correct answer: BIM facilitates integrated design and construction coordination, clash detection, scheduling visualization, and facility management data
BIM supports the integrated workflow through 3D coordination, automated clash detection, 4D scheduling, and cost estimation.
BIM provides a shared digital environment for simultaneous collaborative work. Applications include clash detection, 4D scheduling linked to construction sequences, 5D cost modeling, and handover of as-built data. Design-build facilitates BIM adoption because there are fewer contractual barriers.
Question 4: How should quality management be structured on a design-build project?
- Quality is solely the inspector's responsibility
- The design-builder should implement a comprehensive quality management plan covering both design quality control and construction quality assurance (Correct answer)
- Quality reviews only occur at project completion
- The owner assumes all quality responsibility after contract award
Correct answer: The design-builder should implement a comprehensive quality management plan covering both design quality control and construction quality assurance
Design-build quality management requires an integrated plan addressing both design quality and construction quality under the design-builder's responsibility.
The quality management plan covers design quality control procedures, construction quality assurance protocols, and system commissioning processes. The owner retains the right to monitor quality but relies primarily on the design-builder's quality management system.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a design-build project's 'validation phase' in progressive design-build?
- To validate the owner's insurance coverage
- To allow the design-builder to develop the design, refine cost estimates, and negotiate a GMP before committing to full construction (Correct answer)
- To validate that all subcontractors have proper licenses
- To test the completed building before occupancy
Correct answer: To allow the design-builder to develop the design, refine cost estimates, and negotiate a GMP before committing to full construction
The validation phase is where the design-builder develops design, investigates conditions, refines pricing, and works with the owner to establish a mutually acceptable GMP.
In progressive design-build, the validation phase involves investigating site conditions, refining the program, developing design to an agreed level, and progressively developing cost estimates. The goal is to reach agreement on a GMP based on collaborative development.
Question 6: What is the design-builder's responsibility regarding building code compliance?
- Code compliance is solely the building official's responsibility
- The design-builder is responsible for ensuring the design and construction comply with all applicable codes, standards, and regulations (Correct answer)
- Building codes do not apply to design-build projects
- Only the owner's criteria consultant checks code compliance
Correct answer: The design-builder is responsible for ensuring the design and construction comply with all applicable codes, standards, and regulations
As the single entity responsible for both design and construction, the design-builder bears full responsibility for code compliance.
Code compliance responsibility rests squarely with the design-builder as part of single-source responsibility. This includes building codes, fire codes, accessibility requirements, energy codes, and all other applicable standards.
