JE Dunn has proven expertise meeting clients where they are, no matter which route our clients take. With JE Dunn as an authentic partner, owners have the flexibility to weigh multiple delivery methods to find which option best suits their vision. Our experts have the design and construction knowledge to help our partners navigate the tradeoffs and get the most benefit from each delivery method we offer. 

Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) 

Benefits: CMAR projects provide owners additional support from a contractor partner while also offloading the risk. In this delivery method, the contractor is empowered to select subcontractors and give budget, constructability, value engineering and planning input during the design phase. CMAR projects also value selecting contractors based on qualifications, experience, and workforce rather than cost alone, which may prove equally, if not more, valuable to some clients seeking a more collaborative partnership. These projects typically follow faster schedules than design-bid-build work and establish a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) early on. 

Tradeoffs: For some owners, juggling separate contracts for design and construction can prove difficult. Faster schedules also may require multiple design and guaranteed maximum pricing packages. 

Design-Build  

Benefits: Design-build projects offer owners a streamlined approach with a single point of contact and contract for both design and construction. In some cases, having one expert coordinating design and construction may create opportunities to fast-track progress. These projects prioritize selection based on qualifications, experience, workforce, and cost rather than cost alone. Additionally, some design-build projects establish a GMP early on. 

Tradeoffs: Design-build work can lead to lengthier selection processes. To see the most success, owners need to have a clear understanding of concept and scope before selecting their team. If a project is on a fast-track schedule, quick decisions are necessary with less time for owners to review or provide input, and owners also generally have less flexibility on final scope items after a GMP is set.  

Engineer Procure Construct (EPC) 

Benefits: EPC projects benefit owners by empowering contractors to provide input and leadership through each phase: engineering, procurement, and construction. EPC projects are designed to deliver a complete operational facility. In this delivery method, communication is streamlined to a single point of contact with the contractor overseeing the entire project lifecycle. Owners who choose this delivery method prioritize selection based on qualifications, experience, and workforce. In choosing this option, owners may see enhanced cost efficiency and control from strategic procurement and other solutions — such as lean construction practices and self-performed work — that can be tailored to the project.  

Tradeoffs: EPC projects require owners to have a clear understanding of concept and scope before selecting their team. Additionally, these projects tend to follow a more rigid process due to fixed nature of technical specifications. 

Design-Bid-Build 

Benefits: Design-bid-build projects offer owners a familiar delivery method that prioritizes accepting the lowest initial bid. It allows the design and construction teams to independently define full scopes. Additionally, the linear design-bid-build process can be easier to manage, and some owners may prefer working and maintaining accountability with a design team and contractor separately. 

Tradeoffs: The linear nature of design-bid-build projects often lead to some of the longest project schedule durations. Owners may also see that because pricing is not established until they receive bids, redesign and rebidding may be needed if the budget is exceeded. Design-bid-build projects also do not allow for contractors to work on project planning, constructability, budget, or estimates. Without this input, these projects also do not ensure quality of contractors and subcontractors and can be more change order intensive due to gaps or conflicting info in project documents between separate teams. These projects can also foster more adversarial relationships between design and contractor teams. 

Construction Manager as Agent (CMA) 

Benefits: Owners who choose the CMA route maintain a significantly greater amount of control over the project. This delivery method offers faster scheduling than design-bid-build and greater pricing transparency, as a fixed price contract is established based on complete documents. Owners also reap the benefits of having their design and construction teams work together without competition or other conflicts of interest between the experts. 

Tradeoffs: In CMA projects, owners will carry all the risk. Project outcomes in CMA work can suffer from a lack of earlier input from subcontractors. Additionally, the construction manager maintains less power to affect cost savings, and no fixed price is set early on to guide the project.  

Have more questions about which delivery method to choose? Check out our Design Services page or contact us.