In Construction Management at Risk (CM@R), the owner selects a contractor based upon qualifications and experience, team and CM@R fee, before the design and bidding documents are fully completed. The CM@R and design team work together to develop and estimate the design. A guaranteed maximum price is provided by the CM@R, who then receives proposals and awards subcontracts. The design consultant team is selected separately and reports directly to the owner.
In Design-Build (D-B), the contractor and architect team are hired by the owner, and partner together as one entity to deliver a complete project. A guaranteed maximum price is provided by the D-B team based on preliminary scope and programming documents provided by the owner. Typically, a separate design team is hired by the owner to provide “Bridging Documents.” The D-B team develops preliminary drawings that meet the program requirements and provide a guaranteed maximum price to design and build the project. After award, the D-B team will complete the design, solicit proposals, and build the project.
In EPC, the contractor has capabilities during each phase – engineering, procurement, and construction. This approach allows us to handle comprehensive multi-discipline design, front-end loading (FEL), BIM modeling and permitting; advanced procurement planning or early lead-time strategy, trade partner/vendor prequalification and selection, bid solicitation and contract negotiations; and general construction services from preconstruction to self-perform capabilities.
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.
In Construction Manager as Agent (CMA), the owner selects a fee-based contractor to function in an advisory capacity only, serving as agent to the owner. The CMA acts in the owner’s interests at every stage of the project and works to prevent scope-creep, performs value engineering, cost/ benefit analysis and best value comparisons. Actual construction is typically provided by prime contractors (typically referred to as Subcontractors) other than the CMA. The owner holds the contracts directly for all prime contractors.
