construction process, especially if
I can say the reason may be due to the
there was a flaw in the design. Such
lack of awareness of its advantages.
issue has a potential to adversely
Under Design and Built, the Employer
affect
the construction industry and
has a contract with Agent/Adviser who
to enhance the dispute between the
act as employer representative
can be utilized in advising of the
parties, which in turns, leads to extra
among other duties, he prepares the
buildability of the project in the design
cost and time. Furthermore, this
Employer Requirements (E.R.)/
stage. Additionally, the work can
method is time consuming as the
Objectives, prepare the tender docu-
commence on the site at early stage
design should be completed, followed
ments and administer the contract.
while the design is still under process.
by bid process and contract awarding.
The invitation to tender in D& B is
As mentioned before, the split of
Then, the construction process can to
based on meeting the Employer
design and construction responsibili-
be started by contractor. .
Requirements which can be varied
ties, adopted in traditional procure-
In fact, the traditional procurement
from brief performance requirements,
ment method made the parties
method to be succeeded, the scheme
such as type of structure, function,
involved in the construction industry
should be more or less fully designed
size,
quality, aesthetics, costs, etc.
vulnerable to claims and disputes.
before tenders. However, in practice
(see Figure 3), to detailed designs,
This is not the case under the Design
this is very seldom to occur.
such as full scheme Design prepared
and Built approach as the Contractor
Design and Built procurement
by an architect . The tenderers submit
is responsible for the design and
method:
their proposals which are considered
construction of the project and many
Due to aforementioned cons of tradi-
as the basis of the contract. The
risks are transferred to the Contractor
tional procurement method, in several
contractors respond to the employer
consequently, cost and time certain-
countries the Design and Built
requirements by providing "contrac-
ties for the employer can be achieved.
approach was introduced. For exam-
tors' proposals" which may include:
Having said that, the advantages of
ple in the UK, since 2000, the
specifications for materials and work-
this method can be compromised if
Government mandated any public
manship, plans, elevations and details
many changing orders are introduced
construction project should be
drawings. On the other hand, the
in the project as it is expected to be
procured either by Design and Built,
Employer has another contract with
expensive
t o
t he
Employer.
Prime Contracting or PFI procurement
the Contractor who is responsible to
Furthermore, the selection process of
method. Additionally, in private
translate that requirements/objectives
contractor can be complicated.
sectors the aspects of Design and
into proposal and design, then to
Conclusion
Built approach is well known to the
construct the project. Therefore, a
Choosing the best approach for
public.
In the UAE, in the last five
single point of responsibility, certainty
construction a project depends on
years I was involved as 3rd party
of cost and tome over all development
many factors. The main factors to
certifier in over 100 Escrow Projects
process can be achieved. In addition,
decide that:
firstly to analyze the
and I found that
Design and Built
Lean construction and integrated
employer requirements in terms of
approach was only followed in three
project delivery can be concluded
time, cost quality and risks. If the time
projects and the remaining projects
through this rout. Figure 4 illustrates
is of the essence and cost is critical,
were procured by traditional procure-
the contractual relationships between
provided that the scope should not be
ment method. This does not mean that
the parties.
dramatically changed, then the best
the lack of this approach, in this part of
The main advantages of this approach
approach may be achieved via the
the world, is due to its pitfalls however;
are: the experience of the Contractor
Design and Built approach.
28
Issue 72 March 2014
2014
72

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