DBIA - Design-Build Institute of America Executing Design-Build Projects Questions and Answers

Question 1

Immediately following contract award for a design-build project, what is the primary purpose of the project kick-off meeting?

Accepted Answer

To align the entire integrated team on project goals, communication protocols, and team culture.

Answer

The post-award kick-off meeting is a critical step in executing a design-build project. Its main goal is to transition from procurement to execution by integrating all key stakeholders (owner, designer, builder) into a cohesive team, establishing clear communication lines, and ensuring everyone is aligned on the project's objectives and the collaborative culture required for success.

Question 2

An owner provides comments on the 60% design documents that significantly alter the building's footprint, impacting previously reviewed structural and civil plans. According to DBIA principles, how should the integrated design-build team ideally respond?

Accepted Answer

The entire integrated team meets to collaboratively assess the cost, schedule, and performance impacts before proceeding.

Answer

A core principle of 'Design-Build Done Right®' is collaborative problem-solving. When a significant change is proposed, the best practice is for the entire integrated team—including the owner, designer, and contractor—to convene and holistically evaluate the impacts on all aspects of the project. This allows for an informed decision that considers cost, schedule, and overall project goals, rather than one party acting unilaterally.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes a key difference in how a Request for Information (RFI) is typically handled during construction in design-build versus design-bid-build?

Accepted Answer

In design-build, many potential RFIs are resolved internally through direct communication within the integrated team.

Answer

Because the designer and builder are part of the same entity in design-build, many questions that would become formal, contractual RFIs in design-bid-build can be resolved quickly through informal, direct communication and collaborative problem-solving. This streamlines the process, reduces delays, and avoids the adversarial relationship that can arise from a formal RFI process between separate entities.

Question 4

In a design-build project, who holds the ultimate single-point responsibility for the quality and adequacy of both the design documents and the completed construction?

Accepted Answer

The Design-Build entity.

Answer

A fundamental principle and key advantage of the design-build delivery method is the single point of responsibility. The owner has one contract with the design-build entity, which is solely responsible for delivering a project that meets the contract requirements, covering both the quality of design and construction.

Question 5

Which statement best describes a primary advantage of the commissioning process within an integrated design-build project?

Accepted Answer

Commissioning activities and planning can be integrated early in the design phase for better performance verification.

Answer

According to DBIA best practices, the integrated nature of design-build allows the commissioning plan and authority to be involved early in the design process. This ensures that the owner's performance requirements are understood, incorporated into the design, and that systems are designed for testability and maintainability, leading to a smoother turnover and a better-performing facility.

DBIA - Design-Build Institute of America Certification Practice Test

DBIA - Design-Build Institute of America Certification Practice Test

DBIA - Design-Build Institute of America Executing Design-Build Projects Questions and Answers