Traditional Procurement Vs. Design & Build: Which One Should You Choose?

Selecting the right procurement method is pivotal to help achieve better end results matching the organization’s goals and project vision. Before beginning the fit-out project, one ought to consider the main difference between traditional procurement and design & build. You might be wondering: which one is better for my business? Here’s your answer!

Traditional Procurement:

This method involves planning and appointing a professional team including a project manager to lead the project team, an interior designer or architect to create the designs, a quantity surveyor to manage costs, a mechanical and electrical consultant to oversee services, and planning consultants and engineers might also need to be included for some projects.

The design consultancy would then request bids from contractors to deliver the project. Once the contractor is appointed, its responsibility will lie solely within the construction activities, including the management of all works, suppliers, and subcontractors.

The benefits you gain from this method are that you can have total control over the design for the duration of the whole project however it restricts the ability to adjust and amend the design at any given time which could potentially give rise to variations and uplift the agreed contract sum. Traditional procurement gives you flexibility when it comes to changing needs as the project evolves, but it has a longer delivery timeline due to separate tender processes for design and construction and a longer pre-construction phase which is may prove expensive for smaller projects. Projects with established brand standards are best suited to this form of procurement.

Design & Build:

This method has become popular for building new workplaces and redesigning existing ones, as it offers a scalable solution in terms of design, consultancy, project management, and construction services, amongst many others. Also known as D&B, this method is more cost-efficient and less time-consuming and helps the client to make relocation and overall refurbishment program faster. The client hires only one company backed by a talented and diverse workforce, with creative designers, skilled builders, and workplace engagement specialists to perform all the assigned roles under one single contract, which helps in receiving a complete service in one full swoop, and streamlining the process from the outset.

This modern and advanced method of procurement helps project owners receive high quality with quick and efficient delivery. It also benefits landlords by enabling them to capitalize on a strong market and meet demands quickly in a fast-track environment since an average D&B project takes around 5-12 weeks of work and execution (depending in the size of the project and final finishes). Moreover, it helps in de-risking the procurement process at a time when financial caution is crucial and delivers certainty by creating a single point of contact and accountability making the contractor responsible for the whole project.

Both methods have different outcomes for different types of businesses and projects. When selecting the right method for the project, it’s imperative to evaluate the key attributes of each in terms of time, cost, quality and desired outcomes, whilst assessing which procurement strategy is most applicable.