All construction projects require a mixture of services, including planning, design, and construction. Construction project delivery methods provide different ways to organize those services contractually in order to execute a project. While each project team generally consists of an owner, a designer, and a builder, how each project is executed differs. Choosing the right project delivery method is a crucial step before design begins, as it sets the tone for how the team will communicate and how payments will be distributed
What does project delivery mean?
The Project Delivery Institute defines a construction project delivery system as “the structure of the relationships of the parties, the roles and responsibilities of the parties, and the general sequence of activities required to deliver the project.” It defines how the parties are related to each other contractually throughout the progress of the project.
It may seem like the relationships between the project owner, designer, and contractor are easy to define and quantify, but many projects require these relationships to be adapted or changed to meet the project objectives.
For example, a fast-track project owner may go to contract with one party, either the designer or the contractor, in a design-build agreement. By contracting with only one entity for the project, they have simplified the payment process and allow the designer and contractor to work together from the beginning, shortening the overall project schedule.
Construction project delivery methods
Before choosing a project delivery method, there are a few things you should consider. This includes the owner’s budget, the scope of the project, the risks involved, the schedule, and the owner’s experience with similar projects.
The following will be a breakdown of six of the most common types of project delivery methods.
Design-Bid-Build (DBB)
Design-Build (DB)
Construction Management-at-Risk (CMAR)
Construction Management Multi-Prime (CMMP)
Public-Private Partnership (PPP or P3)
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
