Which delivery method has a wide spectrum of contracting approaches?

• A. Integrated Project Delivery
• B. Design-Bid-Build
• C. Construction Manager at Risk
• D. Design-Build

Answer: (D)

Design-Build stands out because it combines design and construction under one contract, giving the owner flexibility to tailor how the project is priced and how risk is shared. With this delivery method, you can choose from a range of contract forms—lump-sum, cost-plus with a target or GMP, incentive-based arrangements, or other pricing structures—while still having a single point of responsibility for both design and construction. That flexibility lets the project adapt to budget, schedule, and risk preferences without changing delivery method.

In contrast, design-bid-build follows a traditional sequence with separate contracts for design and construction and a more fixed pricing path after competitive bidding. Construction Manager at Risk focuses on a specific role for the CM with a GMP, which is just one way to structure preconstruction and cost risk. Integrated Project Delivery emphasizes collaboration among multiple parties under a distinct contractual framework, but it’s a different delivery approach rather than a broad set of contracting forms under one umbrella. So the ability to accommodate many contracting approaches within a single delivery method is a hallmark of design-build.