Engineering and Construction

Selecting the general contractor is a crucial part of a project. A number of selection methods exist. The method used in selecting the general contractor, its timing, and the contractor’s obligations under the contract distinguishes one project delivery method from the other. Some of the most commonly used delivery methods are:

•    Design-bid-build  method
•    Design-negotiate-build  method
•    Construction manager as agent method
•     Construction  manager  at  risk   method
•    Design-build  method
•    Integrated  project  delivery  method

The design-bid-build method is the oldest and most familiar method of project delivery. This method is covered first. Because the essential features of construction and postconstruction phases are almost identical in all delivery methods, a discussion of what is included in these two phases is presented next. Subsequently, other methods are discussed in terms of how they differ from the design-bid-build method. The table “Project Delivery Methods at a Glance” provides a synopsis of these methods.