DBIA Design-Build Fundamentals and Principles 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a design-build contract, who holds the single point of responsibility for both design and construction?
- The owner
- The design-builder (Correct answer)
- The architect of record
- The construction manager
Correct answer: The design-builder
The design-builder holds single point of responsibility, integrating design and construction under one contract with the owner.
Question 2: Which procurement method allows the owner to select a design-builder based on qualifications and best-value criteria rather than low bid alone?
- Competitive sealed bidding
- Best-value selection (Correct answer)
- Sole source procurement
- Multi-prime contracting
Correct answer: Best-value selection
Best-value selection evaluates qualifications, technical approach, and price together, not lowest price alone.
Question 3: What document does the owner use to communicate project requirements, performance standards, and design criteria to prospective design-builders?
- Request for Proposal (RFP) (Correct answer)
- Notice to Proceed (NTP)
- Submittal log
- Change order directive
Correct answer: Request for Proposal (RFP)
The RFP conveys the owner's requirements, criteria, and evaluation factors to competing design-builders.
Question 4: Which phase of design-build procurement involves shortlisting qualified firms before requesting detailed proposals?
- Bridging
- Stipend negotiation
- Qualifications-based shortlisting (RFQ) (Correct answer)
- Notice of Award
Correct answer: Qualifications-based shortlisting (RFQ)
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is used to shortlist firms based on experience before the full proposal stage.
Question 5: The 'bridging' method in design-build refers to:
- Transferring risk from owner to contractor
- Owner hiring a design consultant to develop partial design before soliciting design-builders (Correct answer)
- Building a temporary structure during design
- Linking multiple design-build contracts together
Correct answer: Owner hiring a design consultant to develop partial design before soliciting design-builders
Bridging involves an owner's consultant developing schematic or design-development documents used as the basis for the design-build RFP.
Question 6: Which of the following is a primary financial advantage of design-build for owners?
- Unlimited design changes at no cost
- Reduced total project cost through early contractor input and fewer change orders (Correct answer)
- Elimination of all project contingencies
- Owner retains full design control at all stages
Correct answer: Reduced total project cost through early contractor input and fewer change orders
Design-build reduces costs through integrated team collaboration, constructability input early, and fewer design-error change orders.
Question 7: In design-build, the Employer's Requirements (or Owner's Project Requirements) primarily serve to:
- Specify exact materials and methods
- Define performance outcomes and functional objectives the facility must meet (Correct answer)
- Assign subcontractor responsibilities
- Set the contractor's profit margin
Correct answer: Define performance outcomes and functional objectives the facility must meet
Owner's Project Requirements define performance outcomes, leaving design and means-and-methods decisions to the design-builder.
DBIA Design-Build Fundamentals and Principles 2
In a design-build contract, who holds the single point of responsibility for both design and construction?