The Design-Build Institute of America has released the first iteration of “Design-Build Done Right,” identifying industry wide best practices for design-build project delivery.  Tracking a project delivery timeline, the practices are grouped into three areas: (1) Procuring Design-Build Services; (2) Contracting for Design-Build Services; and (3) Executing the Delivery of Design-Build Projects.  DBIA’s goal is to identify practices in this document that have two basic characteristics:

1. The practices are written in a way that is intended to be universal in applicability, spanning any type of design-build project, whether public or private, vertical or horizontal, large or small.

2. The practices are important enough to directly affect project performance. Stated differently, if these practices are implemented, there is an increased probability that the design-build program/project will be successful. If these practices are not implemented, the performance of the program/project may be compromised and expectations of one or all of the participants may not be met.

I have been told that DBIA expects to follow up with industry specific best practices to enhance and elaborate on the broad concepts presented here.   DBIA intends to refine its best practices series over time based on input from the industry so please email them directly at BestPractices@dbia.org with your comments!