DESIGN/BUILD FOR THE STEE FABRICATOR/ERECTOR

摘要

Design/Build was once thought of as a "flavor-of-the-month" phenomenon, but instead has grown until today it represents nearly 50 percent of all non-residential construction procurement, especially in large or complex commercial and institutional projects. In all types of construction contract, someone takes on risk, and someone has control, and different types of construction contract shift this risk and control between Owner and Contractor. However, an underlying precept is that he who takes on the risk must also assume control, and Design/Build permits the steel fabricator/erector to take on risk while still retaining control. The steel fabricator/erector entering the Design/Build arena must ensure that he talks the same language as the Design/Builder, a fundamental part of which must involve being able to think conceptually, and to think beyond just the structural steel or even the entire structural frame. This may require the fabricator to acquire new skills and the software to go with them. In addition, the fabricator/erector must be able to assess how his risk changes in Design/Build, how those risks can be quantified, and then how to include those quantified risks in his bid or proposal. An example is included in assessing the increased risk, in actual dollars, compared with a traditional lump sum contract. This paper also includes various strategies in risk management, as well as supply chain management, all of which involves assessing how the process of design and construction changes in Design/Build, and then setting down the parameters for combining the inherent risk and control in a Design/Build contract in a way that ensures that all players are aware of the expectations and goals to be achieved while reaping the rewards. Finally, some discussion is included on the concept of Partnering―what it is and how it can be used in a Design/Build contract to improve the overall outcome for everyone, whether owner, Design/Builder or steel fabricator/erector.