Design-build pre-qualification and tendering approach for public projects

While the design-build delivery system is gaining ground in the private sector, due to its proven success, public sector owners are still skeptical and hesitant to adopt it. Selecting the design-builder can be complex process, particularly for public-sector projects. The selection of private-sector design-build teams can be much less formal. This paper presents the result of a study on the applications of the design-build delivery method in the public sector using professional construction management services. The methodology and implementation of selecting a contracting firm for design-build project is described in detail. The process includes pre-qualification, technical and financial evaluation, key issues in the Terms of Reference, pre-tender meeting, tender's design-supervision consultant, and critical contract clauses. The analysis resulted in positive indicators for the adaptation of design-build and its importance in public projects.