Progressive Design-Build with a Twist: Managing and Delivering Complex Projects at the San Jose/Santa Clara RWF Using a Collaborative Project Delivery and Governance Framework

摘要

The primary challenge for Owners considering a collaborative project delivery approach for Design-Build (DB) projects in the public sector is the perception that costs cannot be controlled due to an increased focus on performance standards and construction quality, and a reduced emphasis on obtaining competitive pricing. One way to mitigate this perception is to establish a project-specific Project Delivery Model (PDM) for alternate delivery projects to provide the client with a framework to effectively review and reconcile costs without sacrificing performance and quality. Using a tailored PDM for a PDB project also enables the Owner to use a stage gate governance approach to ensure that the project remains in alignment with program goals and objectives as project development proceeds. The San Jose/Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF) is currently facilitating the delivery of multiple, concurrent Progressive Design-Build (PDB) projects within tight time and budget constraints by restructuring the PDM to meet the demands of a PDB delivery model. The PDB delivery model reflects the advantages of DB, i.e. assigning single point of responsibility, with a qualifications-driven procurement process. A PDB delivery model ensures that the design is developed collaboratively by the Owner and the DB-Entity in a step-by-step progression until a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) is reached. The Owner has access to the DB-Entity's cost model and can make real-time scope changes as the design develops to ensure that project objectives are satisfied prior to establishing the GMP. The PDB delivery model can require the Owner to be heavily involved in scoping, sequencing, prioritization, cost model review, decision making, resource optimization and performance monitoring. On a program with multiple PDB projects, a PDM ensures consistency of approach across project teams, and clearly defines roles, responsibilities and deliverables required at each project stage. Reconfiguring the original PDM framework to align with a PDB delivery model is a unique way to streamline project progression, introduce transparency into the DB-Entity's pricing methods, establish quality control checkpoints, and provide an effective way to ensure a project meets overall program goals and objectives.