DBIA Owner Engagement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During the bridging method of design-build procurement, what is the owner's primary role?
- Developing bridging documents that define project requirements before selecting a design-builder (Correct answer)
- Completing full construction documents before issuing an RFP
- Selecting the design-builder solely based on lowest bid
- Delegating all design decisions to the design-builder after award
Correct answer: Developing bridging documents that define project requirements before selecting a design-builder
In bridging, the owner uses a bridging consultant to develop partial design documents that define scope and performance requirements, which are then handed to the design-builder to complete.
Question 2: What is the significance of an owner establishing a 'single point of contact' on a design-build project?
- It eliminates the need for a project management plan
- It streamlines communication and reduces conflicting instructions to the design-builder (Correct answer)
- It transfers all decision-making authority to the design-builder
- It allows the owner to bypass contractual change order procedures
Correct answer: It streamlines communication and reduces conflicting instructions to the design-builder
A single point of contact ensures the design-builder receives consistent direction and avoids confusion from conflicting instructions from multiple owner representatives.
Question 3: Which owner action is most critical when the design-builder proposes a value engineering change during construction?
- Automatically accepting the change to reduce costs
- Evaluating the change against the Owner's Project Requirements to confirm it still meets goals (Correct answer)
- Rejecting all value engineering proposals to maintain original design intent
- Delegating the evaluation entirely to the design-builder
Correct answer: Evaluating the change against the Owner's Project Requirements to confirm it still meets goals
Value engineering proposals must be assessed against the OPR to ensure cost savings do not compromise the owner's defined project goals and performance standards.
Question 4: How does an owner's level of involvement typically differ between design-build and design-bid-build projects during design development?
- Owners are less involved in design-build because design responsibility shifts to the design-builder (Correct answer)
- Owners have the same level of involvement in both delivery methods
- Owners must approve every design drawing in design-build just as in design-bid-build
- Owners have no role in design review under design-build contracts
Correct answer: Owners are less involved in design-build because design responsibility shifts to the design-builder
In design-build, the owner shifts detailed design oversight to the design-builder and instead focuses on performance outcomes rather than prescriptive design review.
Question 5: What does an owner risk by issuing a poorly defined Request for Proposal (RFP) in a design-build procurement?
- Receiving proposals that do not align with project goals, leading to scope gaps or disputes (Correct answer)
- Receiving too many qualified proposers, slowing the selection process
- Being required to select the lowest-cost proposer regardless of technical merit
- Losing the ability to negotiate contract terms after selection
Correct answer: Receiving proposals that do not align with project goals, leading to scope gaps or disputes
An unclear RFP leads design-build teams to make divergent assumptions, resulting in proposals that may not meet owner needs and creating disputes during project execution.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the owner's responsibility regarding 'owner-furnished information' on a design-build project?
- The design-builder bears full risk for any errors in owner-furnished data
- The owner is responsible for the accuracy of information it provides, which the design-builder may rely upon (Correct answer)
- Owner-furnished information is treated as advisory only and carries no contractual weight
- The design-builder must independently verify all owner-furnished information before using it
Correct answer: The owner is responsible for the accuracy of information it provides, which the design-builder may rely upon
Under DBIA principles, the owner warrants the accuracy of information it provides, and the design-builder is entitled to rely on that information without independent verification.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of an owner conducting a 'lessons learned' review after design-build project completion?
- To identify grounds for litigation against the design-builder
- To capture insights that improve future project delivery and owner-design-builder collaboration (Correct answer)
- To create a public record of all project deficiencies
- To satisfy federal audit requirements for public projects
Correct answer: To capture insights that improve future project delivery and owner-design-builder collaboration
Lessons learned reviews help owners refine their project delivery processes, improve future RFP documents, and build more effective collaborative relationships with design-build teams.
DBIA Owner Engagement 2
During the bridging method of design-build procurement, what is the owner's primary role?