DBIA Owner Engagement Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the most important early decision an owner makes in design-build delivery?
- Selecting the lowest-cost contractor
- Defining clear performance criteria and project requirements that communicate the owner's vision while allowing room to innovate (Correct answer)
- Choosing the project color scheme
- Deciding on construction equipment
Correct answer: Defining clear performance criteria and project requirements that communicate the owner's vision while allowing room to innovate
The quality of the owner's performance criteria directly determines proposal quality and ultimately the project outcome.
Unlike design-bid-build where the owner provides complete construction documents, the criteria document communicates requirements through function, performance, and quality standards. Well-crafted criteria enable innovation; poorly defined criteria lead to misaligned proposals.
Question 2: How should an owner structure their internal team for a design-build project?
- No internal team is needed
- An empowered representative with decision-making authority, supported by technical advisors and stakeholder representatives (Correct answer)
- Only the attorney needs to be involved
- The same DBB team structure works equally well
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.
The most critical element is an empowered representative with authority to decide without extensive approval chains. Support from technical advisors, facilities staff, financial/procurement staff, and key stakeholders is also essential.
Question 3: What is the owner's role during the design phase of a design-build project?
- The owner has no role once the design-builder is selected
- Review design at defined milestones for criteria compliance, provide timely decisions, and participate as a collaborative partner (Correct answer)
- The owner directs every design decision
- The owner's role is limited to making payments
Correct answer: Review design at defined milestones for criteria compliance, provide timely decisions, and participate as a collaborative partner
The owner participates actively through milestone reviews, timely decision-making, and collaborative engagement while reviewing for criteria compliance.
The owner reviews at 30%, 60%, 90% milestones, provides timely responses to questions, participates in presentations and workshops, and communicates changing requirements promptly. The key balance is between active engagement and micromanagement.
Question 4: How should owners prepare for their first design-build project?
- No preparation needed
- Educate themselves on principles, engage experienced advisors, develop appropriate procurement documents, and establish internal processes for the different pace (Correct answer)
- Attend a single information session
- Only the procurement department needs preparation
Correct answer: Educate themselves on principles, engage experienced advisors, develop appropriate procurement documents, and establish internal processes for the different pace
First-time owners should invest in education, engage advisors, develop appropriate procurement documents, and adjust internal processes.
Key preparation includes educating decision-makers, engaging an experienced owner's advisor, developing performance criteria (not prescriptive specifications), adjusting procurement procedures, and establishing faster internal decision-making processes.
Question 5: What is the concept of 'over-the-shoulder' review in design-build?
- Physical surveillance of employees
- A collaborative review where the owner monitors design development in real-time rather than through formal submit-review-return cycles (Correct answer)
- A security protocol for documents
- A review conducted only at completion
Correct answer: A collaborative review where the owner monitors design development in real-time rather than through formal submit-review-return cycles
Over-the-shoulder review involves ongoing monitoring and informal feedback rather than formal submission-review-comment-revision cycles.
Rather than waiting for formal packages, owner representatives attend regular coordination meetings, review work-in-progress, and provide informal feedback designers can incorporate immediately. Formal milestones become confirmation points rather than first-look reviews.
Question 6: How should owners handle scope changes during a design-build project?
- Scope changes are not permitted
- Use the formal change management process, understanding cost and schedule impacts before approving (Correct answer)
- All scope changes are free with a fixed price
- The design-builder should absorb all changes at no cost
Correct answer: Use the formal change management process, understanding cost and schedule impacts before approving
While design-build reduces the need for changes, owners should use the formal change process and evaluate impacts before approval.
The formal process involves the owner issuing a written change request, the design-builder evaluating impacts, submitting a proposal, the owner negotiating if needed, and formal approval before proceeding. Changes affect both design and construction simultaneously.
DBIA Owner Engagement Questions and Answers 2
What is the most important early decision an owner makes in design-build delivery?