Which option best reflects the IPD approach described?

• A. Low-bid competitive tender
• B. Design-Bid-Build with fixed price
• C. Open-book cost and early involvement and qualification-based selection
• D. Sequential design then build

Answer: (C)

Integrated Project Delivery hinges on bringing the owner, designer, contractor, and key trade partners together early, sharing information openly, and aligning incentives so the team solves problems collectively rather than defending separate interests. The best option captures this: costs are shared openly (open-book cost), the team is involved early to shape design and decisions, and selection is based on qualifications and ability to collaborate rather than on price alone. This combination drives better value, reduces waste, and supports integrated decision-making from the outset.

The other approaches reflect more traditional paths: a low-bid tender focuses on price and can foster adversarial dynamics; a fixed-price design-bid-build sequence locks in scope and price with late handoffs, limiting collaboration; and a purely sequential design-then-build process misses early integration, reducing the opportunity to optimize design with construction input.