General Contracting
General contracting is the build segment of the traditional design/bid/build approach. A designer, working with the owner, produces drawings and specifications of the proposed building. Daoust Construction does an in-depth analysis of these documents and submits a lump-sum bid to perform the work.
General contracting is a relatively straightforward process with generally predictable results. Advantages include the following:
•The general contracting procedures are well established and broadly documented
•It is the system best understood by most owners
•Public owners can follow carefully crafted legal and procedural guidelines
•Owners have a good idea of the final cost of the project prior to construction
But there are a few critical concerns:
•The design/bid/build sequence may require a great deal of time
•The increasing complexity of building construction, intensified regulation and, on occasion, inadequate fees for designers now make it more difficult to prepare a final set of contract documents before starting the project
•All bids may exceed the designer’s estimate of cost, which can lead to delays, possible redesign or even cancellation of the project
•Adversarial relationships can develop because the three principal parties have very different financial goals
