AIA, AGC unveil Primer on Project Delivery

Primer on Project Delivery, which can be downloaded from the AIA Web site at www.aia.org and the AGC Web site at www.agc.org, helps owners who are unfamiliar with the various methods of procuring design and construction services.

There are no industry-wide accepted definitions of project delivery methods, and many groups, organizations and individuals have developed their own. In so doing, they have often used different characteristics to define the delivery methods. The result has been a multiplicity of definitions. This primer offers basic definitions to help clients and owners better understand their options.

The goals of the booklet include:

• To develop a set of definitions for the three primary delivery methods – design-bid-build, design-build, and construction management at-risk, or CM@R. CM@R is also known by the designations CMc, CM/GC and GC/CM.

• To create definitions broad enough that all hybrids fall within the three primary delivery methods mentioned above.

• To encourage consensus on a set of defining characteristics for each delivery method. Other characteristics, termed “typical,” can be used to clarify a definition, but are not required to define the delivery method.

• To provide the industry with a set of definitions that others can use as a baseline.

The design and construction industry has lacked standard definitions for so long that industry-wide consensus will not be reached quickly. Therefore, the goal of this primer is to provide a baseline against which people can reconcile their own set of definitions.

The Additional Resources section of the booklet lists contact information for related organizations and publications, including the AIA/AGC Recommended Guidelines for Procurement of Design-Build Projects in the Public Sector and the AIA/AGC Design-Build Teaming Checklist.