Thought Leaders on Infrastructure video series. Quincy Zhang, Ph.D., Visiting Scientist with CPIP, talks about his research as to
whether the project delivery method for infrastructure projects has any impact
on cost or performance of highway projects. Dr. Zhang identifies three primary contractual methods of
delivering infrastructure:
- DB – design/build,
whereby a single contractor is responsible for both the design and
construction of the infrastructure project
- DBB – design/bid/build,
where the design and construction are performed in a linear fashion, and
may be performed by different contractors
- P3 (DBFOM) – public
private partnerships, which often use one contractor for
design/build/finance/operate/maintain services
The assumption is that in the DB and DBFOM scenarios, the
contractor is taking on more risk, but can fast track the design and
construction processes with the goal of lowering costs. Dr. Zhang reviewed federal highway data for delivery cost
and performance and concluded that while DB and DBFOM methods indeed improved
schedule certainty, they showed no difference in project cost, in comparison
with the DBB method.