DBIA Design-Build Certification — Questions and Answers

Question 1: An owner is evaluating whether to use a bridging approach (owner retains a bridging designer through design development, then transfers to design-build) versus a pure performance-based design-build RFP. The project is a federal courthouse. Which condition would most strongly argue AGAINST using bridging?

The owner wants to retain aesthetic control over the building's exterior character
The owner has strong in-house programming and project management expertise
The design-builder market in the region has limited experience with civic architecture
The owner intends to use the bridging designer's DD documents as the basis for a GMP negotiation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The owner intends to use the bridging designer's DD documents as the basis for a GMP negotiation

Using bridging designer DD documents as the basis for GMP negotiation undermines the fundamental purpose of design-build and creates significant risk. The design-builder inherits a design they did not develop, cannot accurately price incomplete DD-level documents to a firm GMP without substantial contingency, and has diminished ability to optimize constructability since design decisions are already locked. This scenario produces the worst of both worlds: the owner pays for bridging design services AND loses the design-builder's innovation value, while the GMP is inflated or disputed. Bridging is appropriate when the owner needs aesthetic/programmatic control but should not drive GMP negotiations from inherited incomplete documents.

Question 2: During the design phase of a design-build project, a Design Criteria Package (DCP) discrepancy is discovered. Who bears primary responsibility for resolving the conflict?

The owner's legal counsel
The design-builder through the design review and RFI process (Correct answer)
The independent third-party commissioning agent
The lead designer working independently

Correct answer: The design-builder through the design review and RFI process

Under design-build delivery, the design-builder assumes responsibility for coordinating and resolving design conflicts through formal channels such as the design review and RFI process.

Question 3: An owner conducting a two-phase design-build procurement offers a stipend to each unsuccessful Phase 2 proposer. The RFP is silent on intellectual property rights. After award, the owner directs the awarded design-builder to incorporate a distinctive facade concept submitted by one of the unsuccessful proposers. Which statement MOST accurately reflects the legal and ethical risk?

The design-builder who receives the award assumes all IP liability for concepts incorporated at the owner's direction, shielding the owner from any claim.
The owner may use any concept from unsuccessful proposals freely because competitive procurement submissions are treated as public domain offers.
Without explicit IP assignment or license language in the RFP, the unsuccessful proposer likely retains copyright in the design concept, and the owner's use could constitute infringement even after stipend payment. (Correct answer)
Payment of a stipend automatically conveys a perpetual, unrestricted license to all concepts in the unsuccessful proposals, so the owner faces no risk.

Correct answer: Without explicit IP assignment or license language in the RFP, the unsuccessful proposer likely retains copyright in the design concept, and the owner's use could constitute infringement even after stipend payment.

A stipend compensates for the cost of preparing a proposal and may purchase a limited license, but the scope of that license must be explicitly defined. Without RFP language specifying IP assignment or a broad license, copyright in creative design concepts remains with the originating firm. DBIA model procurement documents specifically recommend that owners include clear IP provisions in the RFP to avoid this exact ambiguity.

Question 4: What constitutes a 'differing site condition' that may give rise to a claim in a design-build project?

Subcontractor disputes about scope of work
Physical conditions at the site that materially differ from those indicated in contract documents or from what is ordinarily encountered (Correct answer)
Owner-requested design changes after contract execution
Delays caused by weather events

Correct answer: Physical conditions at the site that materially differ from those indicated in contract documents or from what is ordinarily encountered

A differing site condition is a physical site condition that differs materially from what is described in contract documents or from normally expected conditions, potentially entitling the D-B entity to additional compensation.

Question 5: When might design-bid-build still be the most appropriate delivery method?

When the project is complex and requires fast delivery
Only when the budget exceeds $100 million
When the project has a well-defined scope, the owner wants maximum design control, schedule is not compressed, and regulations require competitive low-bid procurement (Correct answer)
Design-bid-build is never appropriate

Correct answer: When the project has a well-defined scope, the owner wants maximum design control, schedule is not compressed, and regulations require competitive low-bid procurement

DBB remains appropriate for well-defined projects, maximum design control, no schedule pressure, and competitive low-bid requirements.

Question 6: A municipality procures a water treatment facility using Design-Build with a performance specification requiring an effluent turbidity not to exceed 0.1 NTU at 95th percentile over rolling 30-day periods. The design-builder proposes a membrane bioreactor system that meets the specification but the owner's retained engineer prefers conventional media filtration. The owner's engineer directs the design-builder to switch to conventional filtration, citing 'value engineering.' The design-builder refuses. Under DBIA contract principles, who has the stronger legal position?

The owner's engineer, because 'value engineering' directives are exempt from change order requirements under most public design-build contracts.
The owner's engineer, because retained engineers have inherent authority to direct means and methods under standard design-build oversight provisions.
Neither party; the dispute must go to a Dispute Review Board per DBIA Standard Form provisions before either party can assert a legal position.
The design-builder, because performance specifications grant the design-builder the right to select any compliant technical solution, and the owner cannot dictate design solutions without issuing a formal change order that compensates for added cost or schedule impact. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The design-builder, because performance specifications grant the design-builder the right to select any compliant technical solution, and the owner cannot dictate design solutions without issuing a formal change order that compensates for added cost or schedule impact.

Performance specifications are the foundational design-build mechanism for allocating design latitude. When an owner specifies outcomes (effluent quality ≤ 0.1 NTU) rather than design solutions, the design-builder has contractual latitude to select any compliant approach. An owner who subsequently prescribes the specific design solution — even through a retained engineer — is issuing a design directive that converts design risk back to the owner and constitutes a compensable change. 'Value engineering' does not exempt an owner from change order obligations when the direction imposes different technical solutions on the design-builder.

Question 7: When evaluating design-build proposals, a technical evaluation panel should ideally:

Be composed entirely of independent third-party auditors
Comprise members with relevant technical, project management, and owner-representative expertise (Correct answer)
Include only the owner's legal and finance staff
Be limited to two evaluators to ensure consistent scoring

Correct answer: Comprise members with relevant technical, project management, and owner-representative expertise

A well-rounded technical evaluation panel with diverse expertise ensures proposals are assessed on all critical dimensions—technical merit, management, and owner needs.

Question 8: In design-build, 'design-assist' subcontracting involves:

Using the design-builder's in-house engineers to assist subcontractors during installation
Having the owner's design consultant assist the design-builder with construction administration
Requiring subcontractors to redesign their scopes after receiving construction documents
Engaging specialty subcontractors early to contribute technical expertise during the design phase (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Engaging specialty subcontractors early to contribute technical expertise during the design phase

Design-assist brings specialty trades such as MEP or curtain wall contractors into the design process early, improving constructability and cost accuracy.

Question 9: A design-build team is using Earned Value Management (EVM) on a complex infrastructure project. At the 40% completion milestone, the Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is 0.82 and the Cost Performance Index (CPI) is 1.07. Which interpretation and recommended response BEST aligns with DBIA project controls guidance?

The project is under budget and ahead of schedule; maintain current resource levels and bank the cost savings for contingency
The project is under budget but behind schedule; conduct a schedule recovery analysis and consider resource reallocation or fast-tracking non-critical-path activities (Correct answer)
The project is over budget and behind schedule; issue a cure notice to subcontractors and invoke the contract's liquidated damages clause
The project is over budget but ahead of schedule; reduce scope to realign costs with the performance baseline

Correct answer: The project is under budget but behind schedule; conduct a schedule recovery analysis and consider resource reallocation or fast-tracking non-critical-path activities

SPI < 1.0 means the project is behind schedule (earning less schedule value than planned); CPI > 1.0 means it is under budget (spending less than the budgeted cost for work performed). DBIA controls guidance calls for a schedule recovery analysis first, then targeted interventions such as resource reallocation or fast-tracking — not liquidated damages, which are a last resort and an owner tool, not a design-builder's internal response.

Question 10: A design-build team is conducting a VE workshop during the schematic design phase. The structural engineer proposes switching from a cast-in-place concrete frame to a hybrid steel-composite system, estimating $1.1M in savings. However, the owner's program requires LEED Gold certification. Which cost management consideration is MOST critical before accepting this VE proposal?

Whether the steel fabricator's union agreements will delay the schedule beyond the concrete subcontractor's timeline
Whether the $1.1M savings can be shared equally between the owner and design-builder under the contract's gainshare provision
Whether the embodied carbon and material sourcing attributes of the hybrid system affect available LEED credits, potentially creating downstream compliance costs that erode the projected savings (Correct answer)
Whether the structural engineer carries sufficient E&O insurance to cover the redesign liability

Correct answer: Whether the embodied carbon and material sourcing attributes of the hybrid system affect available LEED credits, potentially creating downstream compliance costs that erode the projected savings

LEED Gold certification creates interdependencies between structural systems and multiple credit categories—particularly MRc (Materials & Resources) credits for recycled content, regional materials, and increasingly, EPD/embodied carbon credits under LEED v4.1. Switching structural systems mid-schematic could jeopardize credits already targeted, triggering compensatory measures that exceed the $1.1M saving. A rigorous VE analysis must trace downstream certification cost impacts before accepting any proposal.

Question 11: The Brooks Act (40 U.S.C. §§ 1101–1104) mandates qualifications-based selection (QBS) for federal architect-engineer services contracts. When a federal civilian agency procures a design-build contract for a new headquarters facility under FAR Subpart 36.3, which statement most precisely reflects the legal relationship between the Brooks Act QBS requirement and the two-phase design-build selection procedure?

FAR Subpart 36.3 operates as a distinct statutory authority for design-build procurement; the contract is classified as a construction procurement, not an A-E services contract, so the Brooks Act QBS mandate does not govern the prime contract selection (Correct answer)
The Brooks Act applies only to the design-build team's A-E subconsultant, who must be selected by QBS before the prime design-builder is chosen
Agencies must conduct a parallel Brooks Act QBS for design services and a FAR Part 36.3 competition for construction, then negotiate a combined contract with the firms selected through each respective process
The Brooks Act applies to the entire design-build contract and overrides FAR Subpart 36.3, requiring QBS without price competition for the combined design-build award

Correct answer: FAR Subpart 36.3 operates as a distinct statutory authority for design-build procurement; the contract is classified as a construction procurement, not an A-E services contract, so the Brooks Act QBS mandate does not govern the prime contract selection

Under the FAR, a design-build contract for facilities construction is classified as a construction contract and procured under FAR Part 36, specifically Subpart 36.3 for the two-phase procedure. The Brooks Act QBS mandate (implemented in FAR Subpart 36.6) applies to acquisitions where the predominant purpose is architect-engineer services. Because the design-build contract's primary purpose is construction — with design integrated as a means to that end — it does not trigger the Brooks Act QBS requirement for the prime contractor selection. FAR 36.3 itself provides a qualifications-based Phase 1 process, but this is a procurement regulation, not a Brooks Act requirement. Critically, the Brooks Act does not require the design-builder's A-E subconsultant to be independently selected by QBS either; that decision is the design-builder's teaming choice.

Question 12: When a design-build team uses a 'pull planning' scheduling technique, they are primarily:

Scheduling inspections by pulling permits in advance
Pulling subcontractor bids from a prequalified list
Working backward from project milestones to identify prerequisite activities and handoffs (Correct answer)
Extracting design data from BIM models automatically

Correct answer: Working backward from project milestones to identify prerequisite activities and handoffs

Pull planning, a lean construction technique, starts from target milestones and works backward to identify what must be done and by whom to meet those dates.

Question 13: 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:

Stipend (Correct answer)
Contingency fee
Performance bonus
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 14: What is DBIA's recommended approach to risk allocation in design-build contracts?

The owner should retain all project risk
Risk allocation should not be discussed until problems arise
Transfer all risk to the design-builder
Allocate each risk to the party best able to manage, mitigate, or absorb that risk (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Allocate each risk to the party best able to manage, mitigate, or absorb that risk

DBIA advocates that risks should be allocated to the party best positioned to manage them, producing lower overall project costs.

Question 15: What is the benefit to an owner of including a dispute resolution ladder in a design-build contract?

It requires all disputes to proceed directly to federal court
It provides a structured escalation process that encourages resolution at the lowest possible level before formal proceedings (Correct answer)
It transfers all dispute resolution authority to the design-builder
It eliminates the owner's right to seek arbitration or litigation

Correct answer: It provides a structured escalation process that encourages resolution at the lowest possible level before formal proceedings

A dispute resolution ladder encourages project-level resolution of issues before they escalate to arbitration or litigation, saving time and preserving the working relationship.

Question 16: An owner is using a progressive design-build delivery model and has just completed Phase 1 (preliminary design and GMP development). The design-builder's Phase 1 GMP comes in 18% above the owner's budget. Under progressive design-build, what is the owner's most appropriate course of action according to DBIA guidance?

Issue a unilateral deductive change order to reduce the GMP to the original budget figure
Engage in a scope/cost reconciliation workshop with the design-builder to explore value-engineering options before deciding whether to renegotiate or terminate for convenience (Correct answer)
Terminate the design-builder for cause and re-procure using a traditional competitive bid
Accept the GMP, because the owner committed to the design-builder at project inception and re-procurement would be more costly

Correct answer: Engage in a scope/cost reconciliation workshop with the design-builder to explore value-engineering options before deciding whether to renegotiate or terminate for convenience

Progressive design-build is specifically structured so that if Phase 1 pricing is unacceptable, the owner has a legitimate off-ramp. DBIA guidance calls for a collaborative scope/cost reconciliation process before exercising the termination option, because collaborative problem-solving often resolves the gap. Terminating immediately forfeits the collaborative value of progressive DB, and unilateral deductive change orders are not a proper remedy for a GMP disagreement.

Question 17: Which of the following represents a significant misallocation of risk that contradicts the principles of 'Design-Build Done Right®'?

The contract requiring the design-builder to assume liability for all unforeseen site conditions without providing any preliminary site information. (Correct answer)
The design-builder accepting schedule risk associated with coordinating its design and construction activities.
The contract allocating the risk of obtaining standard building permits to the design-builder.
The owner retaining the risk for hazardous material abatement if discovered on site.

Correct answer: The contract requiring the design-builder to assume liability for all unforeseen site conditions without providing any preliminary site information.

Forcing a design-builder to accept a 100% 'blind' risk for something like unforeseen site conditions is a poor practice. DBIA principles state that risk should be allocated to the party best able to manage it. Without any information, the design-builder cannot reasonably assess or price this risk, forcing them to either carry an excessive contingency (raising the project cost) or potentially face a catastrophic loss. The owner is better positioned to manage this risk initially by providing all known information.

Question 18: Which procurement characteristic distinguishes qualifications-based selection (QBS) from low-bid selection in design-build?

QBS requires federal funding to be used
Low-bid selection is prohibited on public design-build projects
QBS awards based on the team's experience and technical approach before price negotiation (Correct answer)
QBS always results in a lower project cost

Correct answer: QBS awards based on the team's experience and technical approach before price negotiation

QBS evaluates a firm's qualifications, past performance, and technical approach first, with price negotiated after the best-qualified team is identified.

Question 19: What is a 'responsibility matrix' in design-build team management?

A document that defines roles, responsibilities, decision-making authority, and communication protocols for all team members (Correct answer)
A financial tracking spreadsheet
A chart tracking employee attendance
A matrix of all project materials

Correct answer: A document that defines roles, responsibilities, decision-making authority, and communication protocols for all team members

A responsibility matrix (such as RACI chart) clarifies roles in the integrated team environment where traditional boundaries are blurred.

Question 20: A public owner in a state with no explicit PDB enabling legislation wants to use Progressive Design-Build for a $90M civic center. Which approach BEST addresses the legal procurement barrier while preserving PDB's collaborative structure?

Use a standard design-build RFP but contractually defer GMP negotiation to after 60% construction documents, mimicking PDB phasing
Obtain an attorney general opinion confirming that PDB qualifies as a construction management variant permissible under existing CM statutes
Structure the contract as a Professional Services Agreement for Phase 1 (design) followed by a separately procured Construction Manager at-Risk contract for Phase 2, marketed publicly as a PDB-equivalent delivery method
Seek a legislative appropriation exemption or pilot-program authority before proceeding with PDB procurement (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Seek a legislative appropriation exemption or pilot-program authority before proceeding with PDB procurement

When PDB enabling legislation does not exist, the correct path for a public owner is to pursue legislative authority — either through a standalone PDB statute, a pilot program authorization, or a specific appropriation exemption. Rebranding a CM-at-Risk + Professional Services split as 'PDB-equivalent' misrepresents the delivery method and creates legal and audit risk. Deferring GMP in a standard DB contract does not create PDB's Phase 1 collaborative structure and may violate competitive procurement requirements by avoiding a fixed-price competition. An AG opinion interpreting CM statutes to cover PDB is legally speculative and unlikely to be sustained if challenged.

Question 21: The 'stipulated sum' payment structure in design-build is most suitable for projects where:

Construction is expected to take more than five years
Scope is well-defined through owner's criteria, allowing reliable pricing by proposers (Correct answer)
Scope is highly uncertain and design is incomplete at contract award
The owner wants to control all design decisions

Correct answer: Scope is well-defined through owner's criteria, allowing reliable pricing by proposers

A stipulated sum requires sufficient project definition so proposers can accurately price the work; it is inappropriate when scope uncertainty is high.

Question 22: In a Progressive Design-Build project, the owner's representative makes a series of direct design decisions during Phase 1 that the design-builder's engineer-of-record believes will increase construction cost beyond the emerging GMP target. Under the DBIA risk allocation framework, which outcome MOST accurately reflects the contractual consequence?

Owner-directed design decisions that deviate from the agreed design basis may constitute owner-assumed risks, entitling the design-builder to GMP adjustments (Correct answer)
The design-builder must issue a formal notice of non-conformance to the licensing board before proceeding
The engineer-of-record may halt design progress until the owner retracts the decisions, as this is standard PDB protocol
The design-builder absorbs all resulting cost increases as the single point of responsibility for both design and construction

Correct answer: Owner-directed design decisions that deviate from the agreed design basis may constitute owner-assumed risks, entitling the design-builder to GMP adjustments

Progressive Design-Build explicitly acknowledges that the owner participates in design decisions during Phase 1. When the owner directs changes or makes choices that deviate from the agreed design basis or program, those decisions shift risk to the owner. The DBIA contract framework provides mechanisms for the design-builder to flag and price these owner-driven changes, which may result in GMP adjustments. This is a key distinction from stipulated-sum design-build where the design-builder bears broader design risk.

Question 23: In the federal government sector, which agency pioneered the use of design-build under the Brooks Act alternative for construction projects?

General Services Administration (GSA)
Veterans Administration
Department of Transportation
Department of Defense (DoD) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Department of Defense (DoD)

The DoD, particularly the Army Corps of Engineers and Naval Facilities Engineering Command, has been among the federal government's most prolific users of design-build.

Question 24: A proposed state design-build statute includes a $10 million project cost threshold. What does this threshold typically mean?

Design contingency must not exceed $10 million
Design-build may only be used on projects with a total cost above $10 million (Correct answer)
The design-builder must post a $10 million performance bond
Design-build is prohibited on projects exceeding $10 million

Correct answer: Design-build may only be used on projects with a total cost above $10 million

Many enabling statutes set minimum project value thresholds above which design-build may be used, intended to limit its use to sufficiently complex projects.

Question 25: In a design-build contract governed by DBIA standard documents, a subcontractor submits a differing site condition claim 45 days after discovering subsurface rock that increases excavation costs by $2.3M. The design-builder had independent geotechnical data suggesting possible rock but did not disclose it in the RFP. Which legal doctrine most directly exposes the owner to liability despite the subcontractor's late notice?

Promissory estoppel, because the owner's silence constitutes an implied promise that conditions were as represented
Active concealment, which can toll contractual notice deadlines when the owner possessed superior knowledge of a known risk (Correct answer)
The economic loss rule, which bars tort recovery but preserves contract claims regardless of notice timing
Substantial performance, which waives procedural notice defects when the underlying work is materially completed

Correct answer: Active concealment, which can toll contractual notice deadlines when the owner possessed superior knowledge of a known risk

Active concealment (or fraudulent concealment) is the doctrine most directly applicable. When an owner possesses superior subsurface knowledge and omits it from the RFP, courts routinely toll or nullify contractual notice deadlines because a party cannot benefit from a procedural bar when their own concealment contributed to the claimant's delayed discovery. The economic loss rule and promissory estoppel address different legal issues, and substantial performance governs completion quality, not notice waiver.

Question 26: Which of the following sustainability strategies is most effectively deployed in a design-build project during the pre-design phase?

Issuance of LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council
Retainage release conditioned on energy performance metering
Integrated passive design strategies such as building orientation, massing, and daylighting (Correct answer)
Punch list completion and commissioning of energy systems

Correct answer: Integrated passive design strategies such as building orientation, massing, and daylighting

Passive design strategies—orientation to minimize solar heat gain, building massing for natural ventilation, and daylighting optimization—must be established during pre-design and schematic design. These decisions are difficult or impossible to change later. Design-build's early designer-builder collaboration makes pre-design the ideal phase to lock in high-impact passive strategies.

Question 27: Under a design-build GMP contract, 'contingency' held within the GMP by the design-builder is intended to cover:

Owner-directed scope changes
Design-builder's risks within the defined scope, such as estimating uncertainty (Correct answer)
Differing site conditions
Force majeure events

Correct answer: Design-builder's risks within the defined scope, such as estimating uncertainty

Design-builder contingency within the GMP covers the design-builder's own risk items like incomplete design pricing uncertainty, not owner-initiated changes or external risks.

Question 28: In the context of Progressive Design-Build, what does 'design assist' from trade contractors primarily mean?

Specialty subcontractors contribute technical expertise during design to improve constructability and cost certainty (Correct answer)
Design assist refers to owner-supplied design standards that the team must follow
Trade contractors review completed designs only after construction documents are 100% finished
Trade contractors take over all design responsibilities from the architect

Correct answer: Specialty subcontractors contribute technical expertise during design to improve constructability and cost certainty

Design assist involves specialty subcontractors providing input during design to enhance constructability, reduce waste, and improve cost reliability.

Question 29: An owner's primary driver for selecting a project delivery method is achieving the absolute lowest construction cost through open market competition, and the project design is straightforward and completely defined. Which delivery method aligns best with this priority?

Design-Build (DB)
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR)
Design-Bid-Build (DBB) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Design-Bid-Build (DBB)

Design-Bid-Build is structured to achieve the lowest construction cost through a competitive bidding process after the design is 100% complete. When the design is straightforward and fully detailed, it allows contractors to bid on a fixed scope of work, promoting price competition.

Question 30: What is the design-builder's obligation regarding 'design-to-budget' in progressive design-build?

Budget management is solely the criteria consultant's role
The design-builder has no budget responsibility
The design-builder must develop a design meeting the owner's requirements within the target budget, proactively identifying value engineering opportunities (Correct answer)
The design-builder must always design the cheapest building

Correct answer: The design-builder must develop a design meeting the owner's requirements within the target budget, proactively identifying value engineering opportunities

A core PDB expectation is that the design-builder will manage the design process to deliver within the target budget, actively managing costs.

Question 31: Which technique BEST reduces design-to-construction coordination errors on complex design-build projects?

Assigning separate teams for design and construction with minimal interaction
Relying on field personnel to identify and resolve all coordination issues during construction
Requiring all design to be 100% complete before any construction begins
Using Building Information Modeling (BIM) with clash detection across disciplines (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Using Building Information Modeling (BIM) with clash detection across disciplines

BIM with clash detection identifies spatial conflicts between systems (structural, mechanical, electrical, etc.) during design, preventing costly field conflicts.

Question 32: In a design-build bridging contract, the owner's criteria consultant prepared performance specifications for a mechanical system that inadvertently omit minimum outdoor air ventilation rates required by the local code. The design-builder's engineers identify this gap during design development. Under DBIA risk allocation principles, who bears the cost to meet the code-required ventilation rates, and why?

The owner bears the cost because the gap originated in owner-furnished bridging documents, making it a changed condition for which the design-builder can seek an equitable adjustment. (Correct answer)
The design-builder bears the cost because design-build contracts transfer all design risk, including code compliance, to the design-builder regardless of how the performance specifications were written.
Cost is shared equally because bridging contracts explicitly split design errors between owner and design-builder through a defined error-and-omission apportionment clause.
The owner bears the cost only if the design-builder submitted a formal Request for Information (RFI) during the proposal phase specifically questioning ventilation rates; otherwise the design-builder assumed the risk.

Correct answer: The owner bears the cost because the gap originated in owner-furnished bridging documents, making it a changed condition for which the design-builder can seek an equitable adjustment.

DBIA risk allocation doctrine draws a clear line at owner-furnished information. When the owner provides bridging documents (criteria consultant's performance specs), deficiencies or omissions in those documents are owner-furnished information gaps — not design-builder design errors. The design-builder is entitled to an equitable adjustment for costs above what a competent contractor could have anticipated from the stated criteria. Code compliance is required regardless, but the cost delta above the omitted scope is recoverable. Option A incorrectly treats design-build as a blanket risk transfer. Option C adds an RFI prerequisite not found in DBIA doctrine for owner-furnished information. Option D fabricates an apportionment clause.

Question 33: How should an owner structure their internal team for a design-build project?

The same DBB team structure works equally well
An empowered representative with decision-making authority, supported by technical advisors and stakeholder representatives (Correct answer)
No internal team is needed
Only the attorney needs to be involved

Correct answer: An empowered representative with decision-making authority, supported by technical advisors and stakeholder representatives

Design-build requires an empowered representative who can make timely decisions, supported by technical and stakeholder input.

Question 34: How does Progressive Design-Build support innovation in building systems and materials?

Innovation is discouraged in PDB to maintain cost certainty from day one
By requiring all materials to match the owner's previous project specifications
By locking in specifications before the design-build team is selected, preventing substitutions
By allowing the design-build team to propose innovative systems early, with owner review before cost commitment (Correct answer)

Correct answer: By allowing the design-build team to propose innovative systems early, with owner review before cost commitment

PDB's collaborative preconstruction phase creates an environment where the team can propose and evaluate innovative solutions before the GMP fixes the design.

Question 35: Builder's Risk insurance in a design-build project is best described as:

A liability policy covering third-party claims for construction-related injuries
A temporary policy covering physical loss or damage to the project during the construction phase (Correct answer)
A permanent property policy transferring to the owner at project completion
A fidelity bond protecting the owner against design-builder fraud

Correct answer: A temporary policy covering physical loss or damage to the project during the construction phase

Builder's Risk (also called installation floater) is a temporary property insurance policy covering the project structure and materials against covered perils—fire, wind, theft, vandalism—during construction. It expires at substantial completion when the owner's property insurance takes over.

Question 36: An owner selects the Progressive Design-Build (PDB) delivery method. A primary reason for this choice is the ability to defer the final price commitment. At what point in the PDB process is the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) or Lump Sum price typically established?

Once the project reaches 100% construction completion.
After the design-build team is selected and the design has progressed significantly. (Correct answer)
During the initial RFQ/RFP submission phase.
Immediately upon contract award for Phase 1 services.

Correct answer: After the design-build team is selected and the design has progressed significantly.

In Progressive Design-Build, the design-builder is selected primarily on qualifications. The team then collaborates with the owner during Phase 1 to develop the design. The final contract price (GMP or Lump Sum) is negotiated and committed to only after the design is sufficiently advanced (e.g., 60-90% complete), allowing for greater cost transparency and alignment with the owner's goals.

Question 37: Which of the following is a common challenge owners face when implementing Progressive Design-Build for the first time?

Too many fixed-price bids from competing design-build teams
Lack of any legal framework or contract templates for PDB
Excessive design-build team control over the final GMP without owner input
Difficulty engaging the owner's internal team in ongoing collaborative design decisions (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Difficulty engaging the owner's internal team in ongoing collaborative design decisions

First-time PDB owners often struggle to sustain the active internal engagement required during design development, since PDB demands more owner participation than traditional delivery.

Question 38: Which phase of the Progressive Design-Build process involves the team refining cost estimates as design progresses from conceptual to schematic?

Preconstruction/design development phase (Correct answer)
Commissioning and systems startup phase
Punch-list and closeout phase
Post-occupancy evaluation phase

Correct answer: Preconstruction/design development phase

The preconstruction/design development phase is when the design-build team progressively refines cost estimates as design moves from concept through schematic levels.

Question 39: When DBIA testifies on design-build legislation, which metric is most compelling for demonstrating schedule improvement over design-bid-build?

Percentage reduction in overall project delivery time attributable to design-construction overlap (Correct answer)
Average bid tabulation time savings during procurement
Number of states that have enacted enabling legislation
Total number of design-build projects completed nationwide

Correct answer: Percentage reduction in overall project delivery time attributable to design-construction overlap

Quantified schedule compression data from real projects showing how design-construction overlap reduces total delivery time is the most persuasive metric for legislators.

Question 40: How has the transportation sector been affected by design-build legislation?

Federal and state legislation have made design-build the fastest-growing delivery method for transportation infrastructure (Correct answer)
Transportation projects cannot use design-build
Transportation design-build requires different legislation
Design-build is only for building construction

Correct answer: Federal and state legislation have made design-build the fastest-growing delivery method for transportation infrastructure

Federal transportation legislation and state DOT authorization have driven major design-build growth in highways, bridges, and transit.

Question 41: During design development under a lump-sum design-build contract, the design-builder discovers that the owner's performance specification contains an internal conflict: the structural loading requirement is physically irreconcilable with the ceiling height requirement. No bridging documents exist. Under the DBIA contract framework, what is the design-builder's correct obligation?

The design-builder must promptly notify the owner of the conflict in writing, propose a resolution, and if the owner's required resolution increases cost or time, seek an equitable adjustment (Correct answer)
The design-builder may choose either requirement to satisfy and is not liable for failing to meet the one it abandoned
The conflict automatically triggers a force majeure event, suspending performance until the owner rewrites the specification
The design-builder must resolve the conflict at no additional cost because it assumed full design responsibility by accepting the performance specification

Correct answer: The design-builder must promptly notify the owner of the conflict in writing, propose a resolution, and if the owner's required resolution increases cost or time, seek an equitable adjustment

Under DBIA standard documents, the design-builder has an obligation to promptly notify the owner in writing when it discovers conflicts or ambiguities in owner-provided documents or performance specifications. The design-builder then proposes a resolution, but if the owner's preferred resolution goes beyond what either conflicting requirement originally required — or requires a design change — the design-builder is entitled to an equitable adjustment in price and time. The design-builder is not silently absolved of the conflict, nor must it absorb all costs of resolving an owner-created ambiguity.

Question 42: What is the significance of 'oral presentations' or 'interviews' in design-build selection?

They replace the written proposal entirely
They are only used when written proposals are insufficient
They allow the evaluation committee to assess the proposed team's understanding, chemistry, and leadership beyond what written proposals convey (Correct answer)
They are prohibited in public sector procurement

Correct answer: They allow the evaluation committee to assess the proposed team's understanding, chemistry, and leadership beyond what written proposals convey

Oral presentations provide an opportunity to evaluate the team's project understanding, leadership capabilities, and interpersonal dynamics.

Question 43: The term 'shortlisting' in design-build procurement refers to:

Issuing a simplified contract for small projects
Reducing the field of interested firms to a manageable number of pre-qualified teams for the RFP phase (Correct answer)
Creating an abbreviated scope document for fast-track projects
Selecting the final design-builder after price negotiations

Correct answer: Reducing the field of interested firms to a manageable number of pre-qualified teams for the RFP phase

Shortlisting narrows the pool of respondents from an RFQ to typically three to five qualified teams who are then invited to submit full proposals.

Question 44: An owner's legal counsel reviewing a state's design-build enabling statute should specifically look for which provision to ensure flexibility in contractor selection?

A provision mandating independent cost estimates before award
A provision requiring sealed bids
A provision authorizing qualifications-based or best-value selection criteria (Correct answer)
A provision requiring design professional approval of all submittals

Correct answer: A provision authorizing qualifications-based or best-value selection criteria

Authorization for qualifications-based or best-value selection is essential to allow owners to consider factors beyond price when selecting a design-build team.

Question 45: Commissioning in a design-build project primarily involves:

Obtaining all required building permits before construction begins
Transferring design documents to the owner's facility management team
Verifying that building systems are installed, tested, and operating per the owner's design intent (Correct answer)
Awarding subcontracts for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems

Correct answer: Verifying that building systems are installed, tested, and operating per the owner's design intent

Commissioning is a systematic quality process that verifies mechanical, electrical, plumbing, controls, and other systems are installed correctly, functionally tested, calibrated, and performing per the Owner's Project Requirements (OPR). It bridges construction completion and operational readiness—distinct from permitting or procurement activities.

Question 46: What is the significance of 'price to be determined later' in a progressive design-build contract?

The owner and design-builder agree on GMP or fixed price only after design reaches sufficient definition, reducing pricing risk for both parties (Correct answer)
It means the design-builder can charge any amount at project completion
It allows the owner to cancel without paying anything to the design-builder
It means subcontractors set prices unilaterally during construction

Correct answer: The owner and design-builder agree on GMP or fixed price only after design reaches sufficient definition, reducing pricing risk for both parties

Progressive design-build defers final pricing until enough design detail exists to price accurately, reducing the risk premiums that design-builders add when pricing with incomplete information.

Question 47: In design-build contracting, 'owner's criteria' documents are significant because they:

Define the performance outcomes and functional requirements the design-builder's solution must meet (Correct answer)
Represent the complete construction documents the design-builder must follow exactly
Specify the exact materials and systems the design-builder must use
Establish the design-builder's fee structure and profit margin

Correct answer: Define the performance outcomes and functional requirements the design-builder's solution must meet

Owner's criteria establish what the facility must achieve (performance, function, operational requirements) rather than prescribing exactly how to achieve it, giving the design-builder design flexibility.

Question 48: How does Progressive Design-Build differ from traditional Design-Build regarding contractor selection?

PDB requires a fully developed design before any team is selected
PDB eliminates qualifications-based selection in favor of price competition
PDB always awards to the lowest bidder among design-build teams
PDB selects the team based on qualifications and approach rather than a fixed-price proposal (Correct answer)

Correct answer: PDB selects the team based on qualifications and approach rather than a fixed-price proposal

In PDB, selection is qualifications-based, focusing on team competency and approach rather than a fixed price bid.

Question 49: In a design-build project, which type of insurance specifically covers claims arising from errors or omissions in the design professional's services?

Workers' Compensation insurance
Builder's Risk insurance
Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance
Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions) insurance (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions) insurance

Professional Liability (E&O) insurance covers claims resulting from negligent acts, errors, or omissions in professional design services. CGL covers bodily injury and property damage but explicitly excludes professional services. Builder's Risk covers physical damage to the structure during construction, and Workers' Comp covers employee injuries.

Question 50: An owner uses a best-value procurement for a design-build project and selects a proposer whose technical score was highest but whose price was 22% above the next competitor. Six months into preliminary design, the selected design-builder identifies a latent regulatory compliance issue that will require a significant scope change. The owner argues this risk was 'foreseeable' and therefore the design-builder's responsibility. Under DBIA risk allocation principles, which analysis MOST accurately resolves this dispute?

The 22% price premium creates an implied warranty that the design-builder priced all regulatory contingencies; therefore the design-builder absorbs the compliance change with no entitlement
Regulatory compliance risk is always an owner risk under DBIA principles because the owner holds the permit and bears statutory obligations
The foreseeability standard requires assessing whether a reasonably competent design-build entity in the same discipline would have identified the issue during proposal preparation given the information made available; if the owner withheld relevant permit history, foreseeability is diminished (Correct answer)
Because best-value selection implies the owner paid a premium for superior risk management capability, all foreseeable regulatory risks transfer to the design-builder at contract execution

Correct answer: The foreseeability standard requires assessing whether a reasonably competent design-build entity in the same discipline would have identified the issue during proposal preparation given the information made available; if the owner withheld relevant permit history, foreseeability is diminished

DBIA risk allocation principles hold that 'foreseeable' risk must be evaluated against what a competent entity could reasonably have identified given the information disclosed during procurement. If the owner possessed relevant permit history, prior regulatory correspondence, or environmental records and did not include them in the RFP package, the foreseeability argument weakens substantially. Best-value selection rewards technical merit and does not create a blanket transfer of all regulatory risk. Regulatory compliance is not categorically an owner risk — design-builders are typically responsible for code-compliant design — but the source and availability of information at proposal time is the decisive factor.

Question 51: Progressive Design-Build is considered particularly effective for which type of project condition?

Projects with fully defined scope, detailed drawings, and established budgets
Projects requiring the fastest possible procurement with minimal owner engagement
Projects that legally mandate competitive sealed bidding processes
Projects with evolving or complex programs where early owner-team collaboration adds value (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Projects with evolving or complex programs where early owner-team collaboration adds value

PDB excels when project scope is complex or evolving, because the collaborative structure allows requirements to be refined before cost is fixed.

Question 52: Which DBIA-aligned approach best describes how design-build teams should handle value engineering proposals?

All VE proposals must be submitted by the owner after design is complete
VE proposals are evaluated collaboratively by the full integrated team to assess impact on cost, schedule, quality, and owner requirements simultaneously (Correct answer)
VE is handled exclusively by the cost estimator without design team input
VE proposals are automatically accepted if they reduce project cost by more than 5%

Correct answer: VE proposals are evaluated collaboratively by the full integrated team to assess impact on cost, schedule, quality, and owner requirements simultaneously

Collaborative VE evaluation by the full team ensures proposals are assessed holistically, preventing false savings that sacrifice quality, schedule, or owner requirements.

Question 53: What is the owner's 'criteria document' in design-build, and why is it important?

The design-builder's marketing brochure
The final construction drawings prepared by the design-builder
A post-construction warranty manual
A document prepared by or for the owner that defines the project's functional and performance requirements as the basis for design-build proposals (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A document prepared by or for the owner that defines the project's functional and performance requirements as the basis for design-build proposals

The criteria document defines what the owner needs the project to accomplish and serves as the foundation for the design-build RFP, proposals, and contract.

Question 54: A newly formed design-build team is about to begin work on a complex public library. To establish a foundation for high performance and collaboration, what is one of the most critical initial activities the integrated team should undertake?

Draft a partnering charter to define mutual goals, communication protocols, and issue resolution procedures. (Correct answer)
Complete a detailed risk analysis focused solely on the constructor's financial exposure.
Procure all long-lead materials to mitigate supply chain risks.
Immediately begin creating detailed design drawings to accelerate the schedule.

Correct answer: Draft a partnering charter to define mutual goals, communication protocols, and issue resolution procedures.

A formal partnering session to create a charter is a key DBIA-endorsed practice for project kick-off. This process aligns the entire team, including the owner, on common objectives, establishes trust, and creates a pre-agreed framework for communication and problem-solving, which is fundamental to collaboration. The other actions are important project tasks but do not serve the foundational purpose of building the integrated team's culture and operating principles.

Question 55: During the construction phase of a design-build project, the owner begins directly instructing on-site subcontractors about work sequencing without going through the design-builder. This occurs three times over two weeks. What is the PRIMARY risk this creates under the DBIA contract structure, and what should the design-builder do?

It creates a risk of fragmented authority and potential constructive change claims; the design-builder should formally notify the owner that all field direction must flow through the design-build team to maintain single-point-of-responsibility (Correct answer)
It constitutes grounds for immediate contract termination because owner interference voids the design-builder's performance obligations
It creates no contractual risk because the owner has ultimate authority over all project activities under any design-build contract
It is beneficial because it reduces the design-builder's coordination burden and should be encouraged to accelerate the schedule

Correct answer: It creates a risk of fragmented authority and potential constructive change claims; the design-builder should formally notify the owner that all field direction must flow through the design-build team to maintain single-point-of-responsibility

A foundational principle of design-build is single-point-of-responsibility with the design-builder. When owners directly instruct subcontractors, they fragment this responsibility, create ambiguity about who directed the work, and expose themselves to constructive change claims if the directed sequencing causes cost or schedule impacts. The design-builder's appropriate response is formal written notification requiring all field direction to flow through the design-build team. This preserves accountability and protects both parties. Owner authority does not override the contractual chain of responsibility; direct owner-subcontractor direction is not beneficial from a contract management standpoint; and this scenario does not rise to grounds for immediate termination.

Question 56: During the execution phase of a design-build project, the owner discovers that the design-builder's proposed structural system differs significantly from the Reference Concept Documents used during procurement. The design-builder argues the alternative system meets all performance criteria. Under DBIA principles, what is the most appropriate course of action?

The design-builder must revert to the structural system outlined in the Reference Concept Documents, as deviation constitutes a material breach.
The parties should convene a value engineering change proposal (VECP) review, and the owner retains final approval authority over systems that affect life safety or structural integrity. (Correct answer)
The owner must accept the alternative system if it demonstrably meets all performance specifications, since design-build contracts award design discretion to the design-builder.
The owner may reject the alternative system only if the design-builder cannot provide a third-party peer review confirming equivalency.

Correct answer: The parties should convene a value engineering change proposal (VECP) review, and the owner retains final approval authority over systems that affect life safety or structural integrity.

DBIA's execution framework recognizes that while design-builders have design discretion to meet performance criteria, the owner retains approval authority over significant design deviations—especially those affecting structural integrity or life safety. A VECP review process is the proper mechanism for evaluating proposed alternatives that diverge from the Reference Concept Documents, not unilateral acceptance or rejection by either party.

Question 57: On a design-build project, the 'technical proposal' submitted during procurement typically includes:

Only the proposed project cost and schedule
Conceptual design, technical approach, project schedule, and qualifications of key personnel (Correct answer)
Only the design-builder's insurance certificates and bonding capacity
A complete set of construction documents ready for permit

Correct answer: Conceptual design, technical approach, project schedule, and qualifications of key personnel

Technical proposals present the design-builder's conceptual solution, approach, schedule, and team qualifications to enable the owner to evaluate competing proposals.

Question 58: Which earned value metric indicates that a design-build project is behind schedule when its value is less than 1.0?

Budget at Completion (BAC)
Schedule Performance Index (SPI) (Correct answer)
Estimate to Complete (ETC)
Cost Performance Index (CPI)

Correct answer: Schedule Performance Index (SPI)

SPI = EV/PV; a value below 1.0 means less work has been accomplished than was planned for that time period, indicating a schedule delay.

Question 59: What is a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) in the context of design-build delivery?

A fixed fee paid to the designer regardless of scope
A contract ceiling beyond which the owner does not pay cost overruns (Correct answer)
A minimum price guarantee for subcontractors
The lowest possible bid a design-builder can offer

Correct answer: A contract ceiling beyond which the owner does not pay cost overruns

A GMP establishes an upper cost limit, protecting the owner from overruns while allowing savings to be shared if the project comes in under budget.

Question 60: An owner establishes a project budget that includes both the design-builder's contract price and a separate owner's contingency. According to DBIA best practices, what is the appropriate use for the owner's contingency?

To cover cost overruns caused by the design-builder's inefficient management.
To be used as a bonus for the design-builder if the project is completed ahead of schedule.
To fund owner-directed scope changes or deal with risks explicitly retained by the owner. (Correct answer)
To pay for design development costs incurred by the design-builder before contract execution.

Correct answer: To fund owner-directed scope changes or deal with risks explicitly retained by the owner.

The owner's contingency is a fund set aside to manage risks that the owner retains. These typically include things like owner-directed changes in scope (e.g., adding a new feature), unforeseen site conditions for which the owner has retained risk, or other defined events outside the design-builder's control. It is not intended to cover costs for which the design-builder is responsible, such as poor performance or design errors.

Question 61: A DBIA member is asked by a client to sign off on work that the member knows does not meet applicable building codes. Under the Code of Professional Conduct, the member should:

Defer to the contractor's professional judgment
Escalate the decision to the project owner only
Refuse to certify non-compliant work regardless of client pressure (Correct answer)
Sign off if the client accepts full liability

Correct answer: Refuse to certify non-compliant work regardless of client pressure

DBIA's Code prohibits certifying or approving work that does not meet applicable laws, codes, or standards.

Question 62: Why is the 'continuity of team' principle especially important in progressive design-build?

Team continuity is a legal requirement for PDB
Because the collaborative relationships and project knowledge built during Phase 1 are essential for effective Phase 2 execution (Correct answer)
It only applies to the owner's team
It is not important in PDB

Correct answer: Because the collaborative relationships and project knowledge built during Phase 1 are essential for effective Phase 2 execution

PDB's success depends heavily on relationships and knowledge developed during the validation phase, making retention of key personnel critical.

Question 63: Under a Progressive Design-Build contract using open-book pricing, the owner's auditor discovers that the design-builder has allocated 18% of a subcontractor's invoice to a cost code for 'general conditions' that the owner believes should be classified under the subcontractor's direct cost. Which party bears the burden of demonstrating correct cost allocation under standard DBIA contract language?

The owner, because the open-book audit right is limited to verifying that invoices exist, not to challenging the design-builder's internal cost allocation methodology.
An independent third-party auditor mutually selected by the owner and design-builder, whose determination is binding and non-appealable under DBIA contract terms.
The design-builder, who must demonstrate that the allocation methodology was disclosed in the contract's cost definition exhibit and applied consistently. (Correct answer)
The subcontractor, who is responsible for correctly coding its own invoices before submitting them to the design-builder.

Correct answer: The design-builder, who must demonstrate that the allocation methodology was disclosed in the contract's cost definition exhibit and applied consistently.

Under standard DBIA Progressive Design-Build contract language, the design-builder bears the burden of demonstrating that its cost allocation methodology was (1) defined in the contract's cost definition exhibit and (2) applied consistently throughout the project. Open-book pricing means the owner has the right to audit not just whether invoices exist, but how costs are categorized. The design-builder cannot unilaterally reclassify costs post-award in ways that shift risk to the owner. Options A and C understate the scope of audit rights; Option D invents a binding arbitration mechanism not present in standard DBIA open-book provisions.

Question 64: A DBIA advocacy member testifying before a state legislature about enabling design-build should primarily emphasize which type of evidence?

Case studies demonstrating schedule, cost, and quality outcomes on real projects (Correct answer)
Theoretical cost models from academic studies
Estimates of future project volume if design-build is authorized
International comparisons with countries using design-build exclusively

Correct answer: Case studies demonstrating schedule, cost, and quality outcomes on real projects

Concrete case studies with documented outcomes on actual projects provide the most persuasive evidence to legislators evaluating design-build authorization.

Question 65: Which procurement method allows the owner to select a design-build contractor early based on qualifications and then negotiate scope and price as design progresses?

Qualification-based low-bid design-build
Hard-bid lump sum design-build
Competitive sealed proposal design-build
Progressive design-build (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Progressive design-build

Progressive design-build allows early contractor selection based on qualifications, with price and scope refined collaboratively as the design develops.

Question 66: An owner's decision to use design-build rather than design-bid-build is most strongly supported when the project has:

A requirement for the lowest possible first cost with no schedule pressure
Time constraints that require overlapping design and construction phases (Correct answer)
Fully detailed construction documents ready before procurement
A regulatory mandate for sealed competitive bidding on all elements

Correct answer: Time constraints that require overlapping design and construction phases

Design-build's ability to fast-track a project by overlapping design and construction is one of its primary advantages over sequential design-bid-build delivery.

Question 67: According to DBIA's delivery method selection framework, which project characteristic most strongly argues AGAINST design-build and in favor of Construction Manager at Risk, even when the owner has a compressed schedule?

The owner's legal department requires separation of design liability from construction liability for insurance purposes
The project requires significant public engagement and comment periods that will delay design approvals
The owner's project involves multiple prime contracts across different facility systems
The owner has a well-defined program but anticipates significant scope changes driven by end-user input during construction (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The owner has a well-defined program but anticipates significant scope changes driven by end-user input during construction

CMAR is best suited when the owner anticipates significant scope evolution during construction — because the design remains under the owner's contract with a separate A/E firm, scope changes can be incorporated through normal A/E services without triggering the DB team's change-order leverage over an integrated design-build contract. In DB, mid-construction scope changes are structurally expensive: the DB entity controls both design and construction, so the owner has limited competitive leverage when requesting changes. Answers B and C describe complexity and delay but do not fundamentally argue against DB. Answer D reflects a misconception — professional liability (E&O) and construction liability are separated through insurance even under DB, via the design-builder's subconsultant agreements.

Question 68: In design-build procurement, 'bridging' refers to:

A phase transition from schematic design to design development
A method of financing design-build projects using public-private partnerships
The owner hiring a separate designer to develop partial design documents used as the basis for the RFP (Correct answer)
A teaming arrangement where two design-build firms share a single contract

Correct answer: The owner hiring a separate designer to develop partial design documents used as the basis for the RFP

Bridging involves the owner retaining a designer of record to develop concept or schematic documents that are then included in the RFP as the design basis for the design-build competition.

Question 69: How should design-build teams handle unforeseen site conditions during construction?

Stop all work indefinitely until conditions are resolved
Unforeseen conditions are always the owner's financial responsibility
The contract should define the process for identifying, documenting, and allocating responsibility for differing site conditions based on what was reasonably foreseeable (Correct answer)
Ignore unforeseen conditions and continue as planned

Correct answer: The contract should define the process for identifying, documenting, and allocating responsibility for differing site conditions based on what was reasonably foreseeable

Design-build contracts should include differing site conditions clauses that define procedures for notice, documentation, and equitable adjustment.

Question 70: 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?

The architect proceeds with the owner's changes and instructs the other disciplines to adapt.
The entire integrated team meets to collaboratively assess the cost, schedule, and performance impacts before proceeding. (Correct answer)
The design-builder immediately rejects the comments as they are too late in the design process.
The designer formally issues a change order request to the owner for the redesign costs.

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

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 71: During construction phase of a design-build transportation project, field conditions reveal an unforeseen subsurface obstruction that requires a design change. The design-builder's field superintendent, without consulting the project architect, directs a subcontractor to implement an improvised structural solution to maintain schedule. The architect later discovers the change and determines it is technically adequate but deviates from the basis of design and was implemented without their input. What is the MOST significant team integration failure this scenario illustrates?

An owner communication failure, since the owner should have been notified of field conditions before any design decision was made
Breakdown of the design-construction integration protocol, where field-driven decisions bypassed the design professional's role, creating untracked deviations from the basis of design and potential licensure liability for the architect (Correct answer)
A subcontractor management failure, since the subcontractor should have refused the superintendent's directive without written design approval
A schedule management failure, since maintaining schedule should always take priority over design consultation processes on fast-track projects

Correct answer: Breakdown of the design-construction integration protocol, where field-driven decisions bypassed the design professional's role, creating untracked deviations from the basis of design and potential licensure liability for the architect

The core failure is the breakdown of design-construction integration — the foundational premise of design-build. By bypassing the architect, the field team created an undocumented deviation from the basis of design, exposed the architect to potential liability for work they did not review, and undermined the single-entity accountability that design-build provides. While owner communication and subcontractor compliance are relevant secondary concerns, the primary failure is the severed design-construction feedback loop that makes design-build distinct from traditional delivery.

Question 72: Which of the following best describes 'integrated project delivery' as it relates to design-build principles?

Aligning the interests of owner, designer, and constructor to optimize project outcomes collaboratively (Correct answer)
Delivering the project in multiple separate contracts
Separating design and construction responsibilities to minimize disputes
Using only union labor for all project phases

Correct answer: Aligning the interests of owner, designer, and constructor to optimize project outcomes collaboratively

Integrated project delivery aligns stakeholder interests and encourages collaboration, a core principle underlying design-build philosophy.

Question 73: During a design-build project, a DBIA member discovers that a subcontractor is using a fabrication process that fully complies with the contract specifications but that the member knows — based on proprietary research not yet published — poses a long-term durability risk to the structure. The client has not asked about alternative fabrication methods. What does the DBIA Code of Professional Conduct most directly require?

The member may remain silent but must refuse to sign any professional certifications related to the affected building system
The member should document the concern internally and disclose only if the structure is classified as a critical facility under local building codes
No disclosure is required because the subcontractor's process meets the contractual specifications and the research is proprietary
The member must disclose the known durability risk to the client, even if the information derives from proprietary research, when public safety or long-term structural integrity is implicated (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The member must disclose the known durability risk to the client, even if the information derives from proprietary research, when public safety or long-term structural integrity is implicated

The DBIA Code places the safety, health, and welfare of the public as paramount. When a credentialed professional possesses material knowledge of a risk to structural integrity, the obligation to inform the client overrides the fact that specifications are technically met or that the underlying research is proprietary. Silent non-disclosure is not a permissible option when public safety is implicated. The professional must disclose the risk and allow the client to make an informed decision.

Question 74: What is DBIA's primary legislative advocacy goal?

To make design-build mandatory for all projects
To eliminate all government regulation of construction
To reduce contractor licensing requirements
To enact and protect legislation enabling public sector owners to use design-build with qualifications-based or best-value procurement (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To enact and protect legislation enabling public sector owners to use design-build with qualifications-based or best-value procurement

DBIA's advocacy focuses on ensuring public sector owners have legal authority to use design-build with fair procurement processes.

Question 75: During the proposal phase, how should a design-build team structure its internal collaboration to produce a competitive and accurate proposal?

Assign proposal writing solely to the design firm
Have designers complete 100% design documents before costing begins
Submit separate design and cost proposals for owner review
Integrate estimators and constructors early to provide real-time cost feedback on design decisions (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Integrate estimators and constructors early to provide real-time cost feedback on design decisions

Early integration of estimators ensures design decisions are cost-informed, producing a more accurate and competitive proposal.

Question 76: Which of the following BEST describes the role of a Design-Build Project Manager during the construction phase?

Managing subcontractor payments and lien waivers exclusively
Acting solely as the owner's representative on site
Managing only the design team's deliverables and design schedule
Coordinating between design and construction disciplines to ensure design intent is achieved in the field (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Coordinating between design and construction disciplines to ensure design intent is achieved in the field

The design-build PM serves as the integrating force between design and construction, ensuring field execution reflects design intent and resolving conflicts across disciplines.

Question 77: What are the requirements for maintaining DBIA professional certification?

Certification is permanent once obtained
Periodic renewal with continuing education credits, adherence to the Code, and payment of renewal fees (Correct answer)
Only annual dues payment
Only attending one DBIA conference

Correct answer: Periodic renewal with continuing education credits, adherence to the Code, and payment of renewal fees

DBIA certification requires periodic renewal demonstrating ongoing professional development and ethical standing.

Question 78: Which two-step federal design-build selection process is prescribed under FAR Subpart 36.3?

Qualifications-Based Selection followed by negotiation
Request for Information followed by Invitation for Bid
Best Value Continuum followed by price negotiation
Two-Phase Design-Build Selection Procedure (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Two-Phase Design-Build Selection Procedure

FAR Subpart 36.3 establishes the two-phase design-build selection procedure where Phase I evaluates qualifications and Phase II solicits proposals from shortlisted firms.

Question 79: In a Progressive Design-Build project using DBIA's model contract documents, the owner's representative and the design-builder disagree during Phase 1 on whether a specific building system should be modeled as a target-cost allowance or a fixed-scope line item within the developing GMP. Which party has contractual authority to make this determination under standard DBIA PDB document structure?

The parties jointly, because DBIA model documents require mutual written agreement on all GMP line-item classifications (Correct answer)
An independent cost estimator named in the contract, whose determination is binding on both parties
The owner, because cost allocation methodology within the GMP development process is an owner prerogative under DBIA model PDB contracts
The design-builder, because they carry the cost risk and have the expertise to determine appropriate contingency structures

Correct answer: The parties jointly, because DBIA model documents require mutual written agreement on all GMP line-item classifications

DBIA model PDB contract documents are structured around collaborative, consensus-based GMP development. Classification of cost items within the evolving GMP — including whether a system is carried as a target-cost allowance or a fixed line item — requires mutual written agreement between the owner and design-builder. This reflects PDB's fundamental premise: the GMP document is co-developed, not unilaterally imposed. The owner does not have unilateral prerogative over GMP structuring, and neither does the design-builder. While an independent cost estimator may be referenced in dispute resolution, they are not the primary decision-maker for GMP classification methodology.

Question 80: Which federal legislation was a key victory for DBIA advocacy in recent years?

The Public-Private Partnership (P3) Restriction Act
Legislation Infrastructure Investment and Job Act
Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Correct answer)
The General Contractor Preference Act

Correct answer: Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

The Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was a landmark legislative victory for DBIA advocacy. This act significantly increased funding for infrastructure projects and, crucially, expanded the opportunities for federal agencies and states to use the design-build delivery method. It solidified design-build as a preferred method for efficient infrastructure development.

Question 81: What is the purpose of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in a two-phase design-build procurement?

To obtain final pricing from all interested firms
To eliminate the need for an RFP
To shortlist the most qualified design-build teams before requesting detailed proposals in the RFP phase (Correct answer)
To award the contract to the first respondent

Correct answer: To shortlist the most qualified design-build teams before requesting detailed proposals in the RFP phase

The RFQ phase narrows the field to a manageable shortlist (typically 3-5 firms) based on qualifications.

Question 82: Which integrated project control tool BEST supports real-time tracking of both design completion and construction progress on a design-build project?

A submittal log tracking only shop drawings
The project's as-bid cost estimate
A Gantt chart showing only construction milestones
Critical Path Method (CPM) schedule integrated with a design deliverable log (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Critical Path Method (CPM) schedule integrated with a design deliverable log

A CPM schedule integrated with a design deliverable log allows the team to monitor interdependencies between design releases and construction start dates.

Question 83: What is a 'bridging' approach, and how does it relate to Progressive Design-Build?

Bridging is a method where the owner develops partial design documents before engaging a design-build team, which differs from PDB's approach (Correct answer)
Bridging refers to the physical connection between project phases in PDB schedules
Bridging is the same as Progressive Design-Build and uses identical contracts
Bridging is another term for the GMP negotiation phase in PDB

Correct answer: Bridging is a method where the owner develops partial design documents before engaging a design-build team, which differs from PDB's approach

Bridging involves owner-developed design criteria documents used to solicit design-build proposals, which contrasts with PDB's approach of selecting the team first and developing design collaboratively.

Question 84: Which of the following sectors is most commonly associated with design-build project delivery?

Food and beverage services
Residential housing
Retail and small business development
Infrastructure and transportation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Infrastructure and transportation

The design-build project delivery method is most commonly associated with and widely adopted in the infrastructure and transportation sectors. Its ability to accelerate project timelines, integrate complex design and construction elements, and manage large-scale public works makes it ideal for roads, bridges, airports, and other critical infrastructure projects. This sector benefits significantly from the single-point responsibility and efficiency of design-build.

Question 85: In design-build dispute resolution, what is the typical hierarchy of escalation in DBIA standard documents?

Litigation → Arbitration → Mediation
Arbitration → Mediation → Litigation
Government review → Mediation → Direct negotiation
Direct negotiation → Mediation → Arbitration or Litigation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Direct negotiation → Mediation → Arbitration or Litigation

DBIA standard documents follow a tiered escalation: first direct negotiation between senior representatives, then mediation with a neutral, then binding arbitration or litigation if still unresolved.

Question 86: A design-build team submits a Request for Equitable Adjustment (REA) for $2.4 million tied to a series of owner-directed changes. The owner's representative responds that the claim is time-barred because notice was not provided within 21 days of each directive as required by contract. The design-builder argues that the owner had actual knowledge of the impacts and was not prejudiced by delayed notice. Which doctrine most directly supports the design-builder's position?

The actual-notice/no-prejudice exception, which courts recognize to excuse strict contractual notice requirements when the owner had contemporaneous knowledge of the changed condition and suffered no demonstrable harm from the delay in formal notice. (Correct answer)
Force majeure tolling, which suspends all contractual deadlines during periods of owner-directed changes to the work.
The prevention doctrine, which tolls notice periods when the owner's own directives caused the condition requiring notice.
Quantum meruit, which allows recovery for the reasonable value of services rendered regardless of contractual notice requirements.

Correct answer: The actual-notice/no-prejudice exception, which courts recognize to excuse strict contractual notice requirements when the owner had contemporaneous knowledge of the changed condition and suffered no demonstrable harm from the delay in formal notice.

Many jurisdictions and arbitral bodies apply the actual-notice/no-prejudice exception, holding that contractual notice provisions are intended to protect the owner's ability to investigate and mitigate — not to serve as a technical forfeiture trap. If the owner possessed actual knowledge of the changed conditions contemporaneously and cannot demonstrate prejudice from the late formal notice, strict enforcement of the notice bar is often rejected. Quantum meruit, the prevention doctrine, and force majeure tolling are distinct legal theories that do not directly address notice bar defenses in this context.

Question 87: Why is progressive design-build particularly suited for water and wastewater infrastructure projects?

Water projects do not require environmental permits
Water projects are always simple enough for any delivery method
These projects involve complex existing conditions, regulatory requirements, and operational constraints that benefit from early design-builder involvement (Correct answer)
Federal law requires PDB for all water projects

Correct answer: These projects involve complex existing conditions, regulatory requirements, and operational constraints that benefit from early design-builder involvement

Water/wastewater projects frequently involve complex existing infrastructure, strict regulations, and operational constraints that must be maintained during construction.

Question 88: 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.
Proposers submit a full technical design and a fixed price in a single-phase submission.
The design-builder is selected primarily on qualifications, with price being negotiated after selection. (Correct answer)
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 89: What is mediation in the context of construction dispute resolution?

A non-binding process where a neutral facilitator helps parties reach a voluntary settlement (Correct answer)
A contractual provision that waives the right to litigation
A government-mandated review of construction disputes
A binding process where an arbitrator issues a final decision

Correct answer: A non-binding process where a neutral facilitator helps parties reach a voluntary settlement

Mediation is a non-binding ADR process where a neutral mediator facilitates negotiation between parties, helping them reach a voluntary settlement without issuing a binding decision.

Question 90: How should design-build contracts address warranty obligations?

Contracts should distinguish between construction warranties (typically 1-year correction period) and the designer's ongoing professional standard of care obligation (Correct answer)
Design-build projects do not have warranties
Warranties expire at substantial completion
The owner waives all warranty rights

Correct answer: Contracts should distinguish between construction warranties (typically 1-year correction period) and the designer's ongoing professional standard of care obligation

Design-build warranty structures must address both the construction correction period and the professional standard of care for design services.

Question 91: Which document, issued after a design-build project is awarded, formally authorizes the design-builder to begin work?

Letter of Intent (LOI)
Preliminary Project Assessment
Notice to Proceed (NTP) (Correct answer)
Certificate of Substantial Completion

Correct answer: Notice to Proceed (NTP)

The Notice to Proceed (NTP) is the formal written authorization from the owner to the design-builder to commence work on the project.

Question 92: An owner using Progressive Design-Build procurement selects a design-build entity based solely on qualifications at roughly 10–15% design completion, then collaborates through design development before establishing a Guaranteed Maximum Price. What is the PRIMARY procurement risk this delivery model introduces that is absent in a conventional two-phase best-value RFP?

The owner cannot verify competitive pricing because no market-tested bids are compared at the time of GMP establishment. (Correct answer)
The owner loses the ability to enforce liquidated damages because price is not established at contract award.
Progressive design-build is prohibited on federally funded projects, exposing the owner to funding clawback.
The design-build entity holds copyright over all design documents produced before GMP execution, limiting the owner's ability to rebid.

Correct answer: The owner cannot verify competitive pricing because no market-tested bids are compared at the time of GMP establishment.

The defining risk in progressive design-build is price transparency: because the GMP is negotiated collaboratively rather than competitively bid, the owner cannot benchmark whether the final price reflects fair market value. Owners mitigate this through open-book accounting, independent cost estimating, and pre-agreed fee structures. Answer A is incorrect—LDs can still be tied to schedule milestones. Answer C is incorrect—progressive DB is permissible on many federally funded projects with proper justification. Answer D mischaracterizes copyright law; work-made-for-hire clauses in the contract address ownership.

Question 93: What is a 'not-to-exceed' (NTE) price in design-build contracting?

A preliminary price ceiling established early in the project before a formal GMP is set (Correct answer)
The minimum fee the design-builder will accept
The total cost of owner-directed changes
A penalty threshold for schedule delays

Correct answer: A preliminary price ceiling established early in the project before a formal GMP is set

A not-to-exceed price is an interim price ceiling established before a full GMP, often used in progressive design-build to set budget expectations while design development continues.

Question 94: What is the primary purpose of a 'Geotechnical Baseline Report' (GBR) in a design-build project?

To establish a contractual baseline for subsurface conditions that defines risk allocation (Correct answer)
To replace the need for geotechnical investigation during construction
To transfer all geotechnical risk to the owner regardless of actual conditions
To serve as the owner's warranty of subsurface conditions

Correct answer: To establish a contractual baseline for subsurface conditions that defines risk allocation

A GBR establishes contractual baseline subsurface conditions, clarifying which conditions the design-builder has priced and which are owner-retained risks.

Question 95: An experienced PDB owner is evaluating whether to include a 'Phase 2 Right of First Negotiation' clause versus a 'Phase 2 Automatic Award' clause in their PDB contract for a hospital expansion. Which statement MOST accurately reflects the risk implications of these two approaches under DBIA guidance?

Automatic Award eliminates the owner's ability to re-procure if the GMP is unacceptable, undermining a core PDB risk-management feature, while Right of First Negotiation preserves competitive leverage without fully surrendering the owner's off-ramp (Correct answer)
Automatic Award is preferred by DBIA for public owners because it reduces procurement risk and the appearance of favoritism in GMP negotiations
Right of First Negotiation creates a contractual obligation to accept any GMP within 15% of the owner's budget, whereas Automatic Award gives the owner full discretion to reject the GMP for any reason
Both clauses are functionally equivalent under DBIA model documents because the owner always retains the right to reject a non-conforming GMP regardless of Phase 2 award language

Correct answer: Automatic Award eliminates the owner's ability to re-procure if the GMP is unacceptable, undermining a core PDB risk-management feature, while Right of First Negotiation preserves competitive leverage without fully surrendering the owner's off-ramp

This is a nuanced PDB contract structuring issue. Automatic Award of Phase 2 to the Phase 1 design-builder, regardless of GMP acceptability, removes the owner's fundamental off-ramp — the ability to terminate for convenience and re-procure using Phase 1 documents. This off-ramp is what gives the owner leverage during GMP negotiations and is a defining risk-management feature of PDB. A Right of First Negotiation preserves the collaborative relationship and gives the Phase 1 team priority to negotiate Phase 2, while still allowing the owner to walk away if negotiations fail. DBIA guidance consistently supports owner retention of the re-procurement right. The other options misstate DBIA positions and create fictional contract mechanics.

Question 96: On a DB project, the design-builder's quality control manager rejects a structural steel connection during inspection. The subcontractor argues the connection meets the Basis of Design (BOD) performance specification and should be accepted. The DB project manager overrules the QC manager and accepts the connection to avoid schedule delay. Which DBIA quality management principle has been MOST directly violated?

The principle of progressive design elaboration, because the BOD should have defined tolerances with more precision
The bridging document hierarchy, because performance specifications always supersede prescriptive QC inspection criteria
The principle of owner-integrated quality oversight, because the owner's QA representative should have made the final determination
The independence of quality control authority — the QC manager's rejection authority must not be overruled by the project manager for schedule convenience (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The independence of quality control authority — the QC manager's rejection authority must not be overruled by the project manager for schedule convenience

DBIA quality management requires that the QC manager have independent authority to reject non-conforming work. Allowing the project manager — who has competing schedule and budget incentives — to overrule a QC rejection undermines the entire QC system and violates the independence principle. The owner's QA role is oversight, not first-level acceptance decisions. The performance spec argument doesn't resolve the conflict created by bypassing documented QC authority.

Question 97: A design-build team is evaluating a lump-sum, bridging-document RFP for a wastewater treatment facility. The bridging documents include 30% design drawings prepared by the owner's engineer. The RFP states the design-builder assumes 'full design responsibility upon contract execution.' Three months into detailed design, the design-builder discovers the bridging documents contain a fundamental process design error that requires significant rework. Which analysis most accurately reflects the risk allocation under DBIA principles?

The design-builder bears full responsibility because the 'full design responsibility' clause is unambiguous and all-encompassing
Risk is automatically allocated to whichever party's insurance covers the loss, as DBIA contracts defer to insurance outcomes on design errors
The owner bears responsibility for errors in the bridging documents they provided, but the design-builder bears responsibility for failing to identify the error during the proposal phase if it was discoverable through reasonable professional review (Correct answer)
The owner bears full responsibility because bridging documents always remain the owner's design under DBIA contract structure

Correct answer: The owner bears responsibility for errors in the bridging documents they provided, but the design-builder bears responsibility for failing to identify the error during the proposal phase if it was discoverable through reasonable professional review

Bridging-document risk allocation is nuanced under DBIA principles. The owner generally retains responsibility for errors embedded in their bridging documents — these represent owner-directed design. However, the design-builder, as the professional design entity taking over the design, has a duty to conduct reasonable professional review of furnished documents. If the error was patent (readily discoverable by a competent professional), the design-builder's failure to identify and flag it during proposal or early design may transfer some or all of the risk. If the error was latent and not discoverable through reasonable review, the owner's liability for the bridging document error is more clearly preserved despite 'full design responsibility' language.

Question 98: What are the three common design-build procurement methods recognized by DBIA?

Cost-plus, fixed-price, and time-and-materials
Qualifications-based selection (QBS), best-value with adjusted score, and low price/technically acceptable (Correct answer)
Low bid, negotiated, and sole source
Direct appointment, lottery, and reverse auction

Correct answer: Qualifications-based selection (QBS), best-value with adjusted score, and low price/technically acceptable

DBIA recognizes three primary procurement approaches across a spectrum from pure qualifications-based to pure price-based selection.

Question 99: A design-build team is executing a fast-track healthcare project under a bridging documents delivery model. The owner's criteria architect insists on a specific HVAC system configuration that the design-builder's MEP engineer believes violates the latest ASHRAE 170 ventilation standards for surgical suites. The design-builder has contractual responsibility for code compliance. What is the correct team integration protocol in this scenario?

The design-builder should request a code variance from the authority having jurisdiction to accommodate the bridging document requirements
The design-builder should defer to the criteria architect since bridging documents define the design intent and take contractual precedence
The MEP engineer should independently redesign the system to code compliance without notifying the criteria architect to avoid project delays
The design-builder must document the conflict in writing, propose a compliant alternative, and escalate to the owner for resolution before proceeding (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The design-builder must document the conflict in writing, propose a compliant alternative, and escalate to the owner for resolution before proceeding

In a bridging model, the design-builder retains full responsibility for code compliance regardless of the criteria architect's specifications. The correct protocol is formal written documentation of the conflict, a compliant alternative proposal, and owner-level resolution — not silent redesign (which undermines collaboration), unilateral deference to non-compliant documents, or variance requests that may not be granted. This preserves transparency and protects all parties.

Question 100: An owner using a Best Value procurement method assigns 40% weight to price and 60% weight to technical/qualifications factors in its RFP scoring matrix. After proposals are received, the owner's evaluation committee wants to adjust the weighting to 50/50 because technical scores were clustered. Under DBIA procurement principles, this adjustment is:

Permissible only if all proposers unanimously consent in writing to the revised weighting
Permissible if the change is documented in a written addendum issued before evaluation scores are finalized
Not permissible only if the procurement is publicly funded; private owners may adjust criteria at any stage
Not permissible, because evaluation criteria and weightings must be established and disclosed before proposals are submitted and cannot be changed post-submission (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Not permissible, because evaluation criteria and weightings must be established and disclosed before proposals are submitted and cannot be changed post-submission

A foundational principle of fair procurement—reinforced by DBIA standards—is that evaluation criteria and their weightings must be fixed and disclosed to all proposers before proposals are submitted. Changing weightings after receipt of proposals undermines competitive fairness, exposes the owner to legal challenge, and violates the transparency requirements that make Best Value selection defensible. This rule applies regardless of funding source.

DBIA Design-Build Certification

The DBIA Designated Design-Build Professional exam certifies professionals in design-build project delivery, assessing competency in procurement, contracting, and execution of design-build projects.

100

Questions

120 min

Time Limit

72%

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