General Contracting

The design-bid-build approach to project development involves the contractor after the design process is completed, and typically involves a lump-sum contract. Another approach is to select the general contractor through an interview process after the design is completed, or during the early stages of the project. In these scenarios the contractor becomes an important and valuable component of the team and provides experience-based preconstruction services such as budgeting, scheduling and value engineering. Non-bid formats such as these would result in a negotiated contract with options of cost plus a fee with a guaranteed maximum price, or a lump-sum price.

Design-Build

Through the design-build approach, the contractor works for the owner as a single provider, responsible for the design, engineering and construction of the project. The contractor selects the architect(s) and the engineer(s), and manages design and preconstruction activities, including budgeting and scheduling. This approach maximizes the contractor’s experience in favor of the owner.

Construction Management

As a construction manager, the contractor’s experience serves the owner through professionally managing all contracts associated with the project. From the initial processes of design and complex negotiation the construction manager directs the project until completion. There are two types of construction management contracts, they are: “Not At Risk”, where the CM is a manager-only, wholly representing the owner; and, “At Risk” where the CM may perform certain portions of the work as well.