Project Characteristics for Successful Public-Sector Design-Build

TLDR

Design‑build procurement is rapidly expanding in the public sector, driven by documented successes and upcoming federal law changes, yet many agencies lack long‑term experience, prompting further study of its underlying principles. The study aims to identify which project characteristics are essential for successful design‑build implementation by public agencies. A comprehensive research study was conducted, surveying 88 public‑sector design‑build personnel and interviewing federal agency representatives to assess selection criteria. Survey and interview results highlight five key characteristics—well‑defined scope, shared scope understanding, owner construction sophistication, adequate owner staffing, and established budget—as critical for success, and confirm that design‑build is appropriate when projects stay on budget, meet user expectations, and finish on schedule.

Abstract

The use of design-build project procurement is rapidly increasing in the public sector. Documented design-build success and imminent changes in federal procurement law are indicators of continued large-scale growth in the public sector. Rapid growth, combined with a lack of long-term experience among many public agencies, necessitates continued investigation of the underlying principles of design-build. Understanding which project characteristics are critical for success is fundamental for improved public agency implementation. To this end, a comprehensive research study was conducted on public-sector selection of design-build. This paper discusses results from a survey of 88 public-sector design-build personnel and structured interviews of federal agency representatives. Five primary project characteristics are discussed: well-defined scope, shared understanding of scope, owner construction sophistication, adequate owner staffing, and established budget. These suggest selection of design-build as an appropriate delivery strategy for successful project completion. Additionally, this paper addresses public-sector criteria of success; these include: staying on budget, conforming to user's expectations, and staying on schedule.