DBIA Design-Build Fundamentals and Principles 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which delivery method is most closely associated with the concept of 'fast-tracking,' where construction begins before design is fully complete?
- Traditional design-bid-build
- Design-build (Correct answer)
- Construction management at-risk
- Job order contracting
Correct answer: Design-build
Design-build enables fast-tracking because the integrated team can begin construction on early packages while later design work continues.
Question 2: What is the role of the stipend in a competitive design-build procurement?
- A penalty for late proposals
- Partial compensation paid to unsuccessful proposers for their proposal costs (Correct answer)
- A bonus paid to the winning team
- A retainage amount held until project completion
Correct answer: Partial compensation paid to unsuccessful proposers for their proposal costs
Stipends partially compensate unsuccessful design-build proposers, encouraging high-quality competition and use of proprietary ideas.
Question 3: Which entity typically provides the independent quality assurance role when the owner has limited in-house expertise in a design-build project?
- The design-builder's subcontractors
- An owner's representative or commissioning authority (Correct answer)
- The local building department only
- The bonding company
Correct answer: An owner's representative or commissioning authority
An owner's representative or commissioning authority provides independent oversight when the owner lacks internal technical capacity.
Question 4: The design-build contract price is typically established:
- After construction is 50% complete
- At the time of proposal or through progressive negotiation at defined milestones (Correct answer)
- Only after all subcontractors are awarded
- When the certificate of occupancy is issued
Correct answer: At the time of proposal or through progressive negotiation at defined milestones
Price is established at proposal submission or through defined negotiation milestones such as concept approval or design development.
Question 5: Which risk is typically transferred to the design-builder in a design-build contract that would remain with the owner in design-bid-build?
- Site contamination
- Design errors and omissions (Correct answer)
- Acts of God (force majeure)
- Owner-furnished equipment delays
Correct answer: Design errors and omissions
In design-build, design errors and omissions risk shifts to the design-builder, unlike design-bid-build where the owner retains that risk.
Question 6: How does design-build typically affect project schedule compared to traditional design-bid-build?
- It always doubles the schedule
- It compresses the schedule by overlapping design and construction phases (Correct answer)
- It has no effect on schedule
- It extends the schedule due to additional coordination requirements
Correct answer: It compresses the schedule by overlapping design and construction phases
Design-build compresses schedules by allowing construction to begin on completed packages while design continues on later elements.
Question 7: In the DBIA's progressive design-build model, what distinguishes it from lump-sum design-build?
- The owner selects the design-builder based on low bid only
- The project is delivered in phases with price established progressively as design is refined (Correct answer)
- Construction begins before any design work is started
- The owner retains separate contracts for design and construction
Correct answer: The project is delivered in phases with price established progressively as design is refined
Progressive design-build establishes price in phases as design matures, offering flexibility while maintaining integration benefits.
DBIA Design-Build Fundamentals and Principles 3
Which delivery method is most closely associated with the concept of 'fast-tracking,' where construction begins before design is fully complete?