WASHINGTON, DC -- (Marketwire) -- 08/26/09 -- Ewire -- New survey results show thatdesign-build projects for water and wastewater have a shorter duration fordesign and construction than design-bid-build projects and come in ahead ofor on schedule more often than design-bid-build projects. Additionally,design-build projects are delivered at, or below, the owner's budget almosttwice as often. Most importantly, these efficiencies are realized with nosignificant difference in quality. These findings come from a new studyperformed by a consortium of universities commissioned by the WaterDesign-Build Council.Municipal agencies utilize a variety of project delivery methods to buildor upgrade their water and wastewater infrastructure. The traditionaldelivery method is design-bid-build, but changes in procurement laws andthe successes of alternative delivery methods are leading owners to chooseother methods more often, including design-build. The public depends onthese facilities, and utility owners have a responsibility to deliverfacilities that excel in terms of cost, schedule, and quality.
Professors Susan Bogus Halter of the University of New Mexico, KeithMolenaar of the University of Colorado at Boulder, and Jennifer Shane ofIowa State University were the main researchers for the one-yearcomparative evaluation. The team collected data on 100 projects (31design-build and 69 design-bid-build) completed since January 2003, eachwith total project costs of at least $3 million.
The conclusions from this study of water and wastewater projects areconsistent with similar studies performed for building projects andtransportation projects. In the previous studies, projects completed usingdesign-build were found to save both time and money compared to projectscompleted using design-bid-build.
A summary report is available as a free download for visitors to the WaterDesign-Build Council's website at www.waterdesignbuild.org.
For more information about the Water Design-Build Council, please visitwww.waterdesignbuild.org or contact Sarah Chittenden at 202 833 1950 ext. 4or by email at chittenden@waterdesignbuild.org.
About the Water Design-Build Council
The Water Design-Build Council is a not-for-profit organization seeking toadvance the development and rehabilitation of the nation's municipal waterand wastewater systems through the use of the design-build method ofproject delivery. This process integrates both the design and constructionphases to optimize innovation, speed, quality control, and single-pointaccountability. The WDBC's mission is to promote the best design-buildpractices to facilitate productive and collaborative relationships betweenservice providers and local governments.
Contact:
Sarah Chittenden
Water Design-Build Council
Phone: 202-833-1950, ext. 4
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