A PROJECT DELIVERY METHOD is a system used by project owners for organizing and financing Design, Construction, Operations, and Maintenance services for a structure or facility by entering into legal agreements with one or more entities.
For small projects, the Owner-Provided Delivery (OPD) is mostly applicable where the scope of the work is within the owner’s range of skills, experience, and resources. For example, simple modifications to an existing facility, projects with limited cost or complexity, repetitive projects.
HOWEVER, when the scope, complexity, risks, and resources are more, wider, and bigger, the three most preferred project delivery methods are:
Design-Bid-Build (DBB): Traditional method where the project is divided into separate design and construction phases. Design is completed first, bids are solicited, and then construction begins under a single contract.
Design-Build (DB): A single entity is responsible for both design and construction. This streamlines communication and can lead to faster project completion, as design and construction phases overlap.
Construction Management (CM): A professional construction manager is hired to oversee the project on behalf of the owner. CM can be “at-risk,” where the manager also handles construction, or “agency,” where the owner contracts directly with various trade contractors. Each Delivery Method has its advantages and disadvantages. The owner usually considers the following factors to decide how project resources are to be organized: Past practices and experience; the advice of consultants; funding sources and constraints; and the risks involved.
