What are the differences between Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, and Negotiated-Bid projects?
Design-Bid-Build is the traditional arrangement in which the design professional (architect, engineer, or other designer) is hired by the owner first, to create a design according to the client’s needs. This design is then presented to qualified builders who submit their bids, and a contract is made with the winning bidder to build the project. In the Design-Build scenario, the client hires one entity (which could be the architect, the builder, or a joint-venture between them) who then assumes responsibility for both design and construction. Using this method the client simplifies its legal position by having only one agreement; however, this advantage may be offset by some uncertainty as to the final design. A Negotiated-Bid project is one in which the builder is selected at the beginning of the design. The builder knows what the project budget is, and works with the architect as the design develops to assure that it does not exceed it. This may allow for a less adversarial flavor to
