Fiscal Year 2001

Strategic Initiative 9

ODOT will adopt the Design-Build process as an additional project delivery method.

Design-Build ensures a reliable project delivery process that creates a fast-track system where project construction can be initiated concurrent with, or immediately following the detailed design phase.

Design-Build, typically faster than the traditional design-bid-build process, combines the design and construction of a project into one contract. The designing firm and construction contractor become a team, working together on the design and construction phases of a project concurrently. This method can often expedite projects by as much as 50 percent. ODOT will refine the criteria for choosing good Design-Build projects and develop Quality Assurance Reviews.

In ODOT's SFY 2000 Strategic Initiatives, there was a departmental commitment to ensure a reliable project delivery process and implement innovative contracting techniques. As part of ODOT's effort to accomplish these goals, the department tested the Design-Build method in several pilot projects, as authorized by the state legislature.

In order to speed up the construction, Design-Build allows for concurrent design. The benefits include encouraging collaboration between the designer and contractor to develop innovative techniques to build the project, industry sharing of knowledge regarding constructability and level of detail required to bid and build a job, and strengthening their appreciation of one another's role. Design-Build is a step toward performance-based construction contract requirements. Design-Build can be accomplished with our existing resources, and it allows different offices within the organization to better cooperate and communicate with one another.

After FY2001, additional legislative authority will be needed to continue the use of Design-Build. The legislature granted ODOT temporary authority to use Design-Build on a two-year trial basis.

Ownership of this initiative will lie within the Office of Construction Administration. This office will develop a training program for the district production departments on administering Design-Build projects. In cooperation with the Major Initiative Coordinator, this office will also prepare an annual report, describing advantages and disadvantages, and developing methods for the resolution of the negative aspects of design-build. This report will be presented to the Legislature, once value and dollars are established by senior management. The Major Initiative Coordinator will continue close partnership with construction and design consultant industries to make improvements to Design-Build.

The goals of this initiative are:

•To better understand the policy, and accept it as an alternative project delivery method.
•To standardize project selection, contract documents, and bonding/insurance requirements.
•To understand and define ODOT's role and responsibility.
•To be able to use Design-Build as another reliable tool, not necessarily as a cost saving measure.