DESIGN-NEGOTIATE-BID

Design-Negotiate-Bid model resembles a hybrid of the design-bid-build and design-build models. Like a design-bid-build, the owner has separate contracts with the architect and contractor. However, the owner selects the contractor privately, rather than through a bidding process. As such, this approach can create a collaborative relationship between the architect and contractor, resembling a design-build method.

Pros & Cons

Like design-builds, architects and contractors can collaborate on material selection, pricing, and subcontractor selection, creating a highly efficient design and construction process. This method, however, eliminates direct competition between general contractors. Although contractors may compete early in the process, final pricing is provided by one contractor. Therefore, it’s important to partner with somebody you can trust.