DBIA - Design-Build Institute of America Procuring Design-Build Services Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An owner is using a two-phase best value selection process for a complex hospital project. According to DBIA best practices, what should be the primary focus during Phase 1 (RFQ)?
- Detailed design concepts and technical solutions.
- A firm, fixed price for the entire project.
- The qualifications, experience, and past performance of the design-build teams. (Correct answer)
- Subcontractor selection and procurement plan.
Correct answer: The qualifications, experience, and past performance of the design-build teams.
DBIA best practices emphasize that Phase 1 of a two-phase best value procurement should focus on selecting the most qualified teams. The evaluation should be based on factors like experience, past performance, key personnel, and the team's understanding of the project, rather than on detailed design or price at this early stage.
Question 2: A public agency is preparing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a design-build project. To encourage high-quality, innovative proposals from the shortlisted firms, the agency is considering offering a payment to the unsuccessful proposers. This payment is known as a:
- Performance bonus
- Contingency fee
- Stipend (Correct answer)
- Pre-construction service fee
Correct answer: Stipend
A stipend is a payment offered to unsuccessful, but responsive, proposers in a design-build competition to offset the significant cost of preparing a detailed proposal. This practice encourages more firms to compete, leading to better quality and more innovative solutions for the owner.
Question 3: Which of the following is a key characteristic of a Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) process for procuring design-build services?
- The contract is awarded to the team with the lowest proposed price among qualified firms.
- The design-builder is selected primarily on qualifications, with price being negotiated after selection. (Correct answer)
- Proposers submit a full technical design and a fixed price in a single-phase submission.
- It is most appropriate for simple projects where scope is rigidly defined and innovation is not a priority.
Correct answer: The design-builder is selected primarily on qualifications, with price being negotiated after selection.
In a Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) process, the design-builder is selected based on their qualifications, experience, and team competence, not price. After the most qualified firm is selected, the owner and the design-builder collaborate to define the scope and negotiate a price for the project.
Question 4: A city is procuring design-build services for a new fire station. They have shortlisted three qualified teams. To ensure a fair and transparent selection in the second phase, the RFP should clearly articulate the:
- Prescriptive specifications for all building materials.
- Owner's preferred list of subcontractors.
- Evaluation criteria and their relative order of importance. (Correct answer)
- Final construction schedule with no room for alteration.
Correct answer: Evaluation criteria and their relative order of importance.
DBIA strongly recommends that the basis for evaluating best value design-build proposals, including all evaluation criteria and their relative importance, be clearly articulated in the RFP. This transparency allows proposers to focus their efforts on what is most important to the owner and ensures a fair and defensible selection process.
Question 5: When procuring design-build services, maximizing the use of performance-based requirements instead of prescriptive specifications allows for what primary benefit?
- Guarantees the use of specific brands and materials preferred by the owner.
- Reduces the owner's involvement during the design phase.
- Empowers the design-build team to innovate and find the best solution to meet the owner's needs. (Correct answer)
- Simplifies the procurement process by eliminating the need for a technical proposal.
Correct answer: Empowers the design-build team to innovate and find the best solution to meet the owner's needs.
Performance-based requirements define the desired outcomes and functional requirements of the project, giving the design-build team the flexibility to innovate and propose creative, value-based solutions. Prescriptive specifications, in contrast, dictate the specific materials and methods, which can stifle innovation.
Question 6: According to DBIA's Universal Design-Build Best Practices, what is the recommended maximum number of design-build teams an owner should shortlist to submit proposals in Phase 2 of a best value procurement?
- Two
- Five
- Three (Correct answer)
- There is no recommended limit.
Correct answer: Three
DBIA best practices recommend shortlisting a maximum of three design-build teams to submit proposals in the second phase. This practice provides robust competition while respecting the significant time and expense proposers incur, and it allows the owner's evaluation team to focus on the best-qualified teams.
DBIA - Design-Build Institute of America Procuring Design-Build Services Questions and Answers
An owner is using a two-phase best value selection process for a complex hospital project.
According to DBIA best practices, what should be the primary focus during Phase 1 (RFQ)?