Building a body of knowledge in construction project delivery procurement and contracting

In-depth knowledge on project delivery, procurement, and contracting is critical for any project manager to effectively perform during the preplanning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance phases of any type of facilities.

Building a body of knowledge in construction project delivery procurement and contracting intends to consolidate, structure, and articulate collective knowledge on construction project delivery, procurement, and contracting, to initiate building a body of knowledge in this domain.

Early on, to successfully complete any building or infrastructure project, the owner’s project manager needs to select an appropriate delivery method, which “defines the relationships, roles, and responsibilities of project team members and the sequence of activities required to complete a project” (Gibson and Walewski, 2001, p. 1).

This selection is usually based on the characteristics and risks inherent to the project and the desired owner’s control over design and construction, while in public works, it is also more constrained by what is allowed by relevant legislation and regulations.

The chosen delivery method influences the procurement methods used to purchase external services and materials necessary to deliver the project.

Building a body of knowledge in construction project delivery procurement and contracting involves identifying and selecting designers or builders, so that the project can be successfully designed, built, operated, and maintained.

During the selection of the designer or builder, it is paramount to select an appropriate contracting process for establishing a contractual relationship for services and/or materials through the development of a written agreement, expressing the expectations, rights, responsibilities, and protections of each party.