JG Prime News - WATER AUTHORITIES GIVE HIGH MARKS TO DESIGN- BUILD IN NEW SURVEY

The Water Design-Build Council recently completed a telephone survey of 24 municipal water utility executives who have undertaken design-build for their water or wastewater projects. Respondents to the “Survey of Municipal Clients for Design-Build of Water and Wastewater Systems” had, on average, slightly less than six years experience with design-build, a project delivery process which provides all of the services necessary to both design and construct a project through a single contracting entity. Using open- and closed-ended questions, the survey revealed a generally high level of customer satisfaction among respondents. To judge the success of their projects, the survey focused on four areas: schedule, budget, performance requirements, and design requirements. Respondents gave high marks for all four categories.

The two most highly rated reasons cited by respondents for choosing design-build were single-point accountability and responsive builder involvement. Cost savings – a consistent feature of design-build – was the lowest-rated reason. Other advantages cited included faster project delivery and greater opportunities for flexibility and innovation.

Not only were the respondents pleased with design-build in general, they were extremely impressed with the quality of designers and builders who made up the design-build teams and the ability of the teams to meet the needs of the municipalities. All of the respondents stated they will use their designer again, while all but one stated that they will use their builder again.

The results of this survey substantiate the many advantages design-build offers municipalities in terms of practicality and value. Most respondents only reported positive experiences with design-build. The survey noted isolated complaints but no two respondents shared the same one, and disappointments were not attributable to the fundamental concept behind this innovative, high-value process.

While not all projects are suited for design-build, most are. Survey respondents cited the following characteristics of projects that are especially well suited for design-build:

• Fast-tracked projects
• Large and complex facilities
• Projects where municipal owners want to be able to control the quality of construction
• Projects for which the municipal owner does not have any familiarity
• Communities that are short staffed and cannot provide a lot of oversight in the design and construction of their new facility.

To see the entire survey, complete with graphs that will assist you in evaluating which projects are best suited for design-build, go to the WDBC website at www.waterdesignbuild.org.

Additional support and advice for both utility executives and design-build teams can be found in the Water Design-Build Council’s 2008 publication, The Municipal Water and Wastewater Design-Build Handbook.

About The Water Design-Build Council
The Water Design-Build Council seeks to advance the development and rehabilitation of municipal water and wastewater systems through the sound use of design-build services. We fulfill this mission by working with all stakeholders to define and disseminate those best practices that facilitate a productive and collaborative relationship between service providers and local government officials. Above all, these best practices should enable owners who choose to implement design-build to realize benefits resulting from the integration of design and construction: innovation, speed, improved quality control, and single-point accountability.

SOURCE: The Water Design-Build Council

CONTACT: Sarah Chittenden
TEL: 202 833 1950, ext. 4
EMAIL: chittenden@waterdesignbuild.org
WEB SITE: http://www.waterdesignbuild.org