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>> Pushing 2004 National Priorities
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Pushing 2004 National Priorities

DBIA's continuing mission is to expand the opportunities for owners to use design-build project delivery and integrated services in an ever-increasing range of markets. During the past few years, the industry has witnessed an impressive rise in the number and dollar value of alternate delivery projects as well as increased owner receptivity to integrated project delivery. DBIA will build on these achievements in 2004.

One key strategy is to reduce legislative and institutional barriers to the use of design-build delivery at the national, regional and local levels. Currently, 43 states have some kind of legislation that allows the use of design-build, although there often are restrictions. DBIA will focus on reducing legal restrictions in the remaining seven states that have no provision for design-build delivery, as well as broadening opportunities in those states and jurisdictions that have limited experience with it.

A second important goal will be to increase the focus on qualifications-based selection (QBS) as a viable alternate procurement approach. DBIA believes that owners should have a full range of procurement options, including best value and QBS. QBS recognizes that design-builders are providers of professional services and not a commodity.

DBIA will promote these two strategies through increased collaboration with key industry associations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Associated General Contractors (AGC), American Council of Engineering Cos. (ACEC) and Construction Management Association of America (CMAA). The increased importance and visibility of DBIA's 16 local chapters will provide opportunities to concentrate on eliminating specific legislative barriers and passing enabling legislation, as well as providing local owners with useful examples of successful design-build project delivery.

Upcoming Owner-Driven Transportation Conference

DBIA and its co-sponsors, the Federal Highway Administration (FHwA), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA), and DBIA National Capital Chapter invite you to attend the sixth Design-Build for Transportation Conference, Creating Success Through Design-Build-Integrating People and Process, on April 21-23, 2004 at the Marriott Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore.

As an owner-driven event, this conference will explore the practical "how-to" side of design-build. Given current budget pressures on state DOTs to stretch limited funds while pushing increasingly complex projects, this is a timely educational and networking opportunity. The conference will include more than 10 breakout sessions including specific design-build experience from six state DOTs. Among the presentation topics are the following:

• Design-Build-A Designer's Perspective: a discussion of some of the unique features that collaborative project delivery offers to the design community. It will draw on several key projects such as I-15 in Salt Lake City and the Kap Shui Mun cable-stayed bridge in Hong Kong.

• Western Design-Build Projects-Alaska and Oregon Case Study and Lessons Learned: a case study analysis of Alaska DOT's Glenn-Parks Interchange project and a discussion of the evolution of Oregon DOT's design-build programs.

• Transportation Design-Build at the Pentagon-Improving Infrastructure and Enhancing Security: a discussion of security and transportation concerns faced in three projects at the Pentagon- the Pentagon Metro Entrance Facility, Pentagon Secure Bypass and Pentagon Remote Delivery Facility Secure Access Lane.

• It Pays to Accelerate Proj-ects: a look at successful process changes that resulted in measurable success on a wide range of Arizona projects.
  The 2004 Conference Program also has assembled a number of exciting keynote speakers, including Robert Flanagan, secretary of transportation, Maryland DOT; D.J. Gribbin, chief general counsel, Federal Highway Administration; Pierce Homer, deputy secretary of transportation, Virginia DOT; and Takis Salpeas, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

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