The US construction industry employs various procurement types to complete projects. Each procurement type has its own advantages and challenges.
Design-Bid-Build (DBB)
Design-Bid-Build (DBB) is the most traditional procurement type in the US construction industry. Under DBB, the owner contracts with a design team to complete the design and then contracts with a contractor to construct the project. The main challenge with this procurement type is a lack of collaboration between the design and construction teams, which can lead to errors and omissions in the design documents, resulting in change orders and delays during construction.
Design-Build (DB)
Design-Build (DB) is a procurement type where the owner contracts with a single entity to complete both the design and construction of the project. The advantage of DB is that it can result in faster project delivery and better collaboration between the design and construction teams. However, this procurement type can sometimes result in conflicts of interest between the design and construction teams.
Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR)
Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) is a procurement type where the owner contracts with a construction manager (CM) who acts as a consultant during the design phase and then transitions to a general contractor role during the construction phase. The CM provides constructability and cost feedback during the design phase, which can help reduce the risk of cost overruns and delays during construction. However, this procurement type can sometimes lead to disputes over the CM’s role and responsibility.
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is a relatively new procurement type in the US construction industry. Under IPD, the owner contracts with a team of designers, contractors, and other stakeholders to work collaboratively from the start of the project. This procurement type is designed to encourage collaboration, transparency, and risk sharing among all stakeholders. However, IPD can be challenging to implement due to the need for a high level of trust and cooperation among stakeholders.
The US construction industry is facing various challenges, such as a shortage of skilled labor, rising material costs, project delays and cost overruns, lack of collaboration, and increasing demand for sustainability and resilience. These challenges can be addressed through the use of technology, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Bluebeam Revu.
BIM is a process that involves creating a digital model of a building or infrastructure project, which can be used for design, construction, and maintenance. BIM can help reduce errors and omissions in the design documents, improve collaboration among stakeholders, and reduce construction costs and project timelines.
Bluebeam Revu is a software tool that can help with the creation and management of construction documents, including bills of quantities. Revu has features such as markup tools, document comparison, and document tracking that can help reduce errors and improve collaboration among stakeholders.
The US construction industry employs various procurement types, each with its own advantages and challenges. To address the challenges facing the industry, the use of technology such as BIM and Bluebeam Revu can help reduce errors, improve collaboration, and increase efficiency in the construction process
