Is your project delivery method helping your team adapt—or holding you back? Choosing the right delivery method sets the tone for how teams communicate, make decisions, manage risks, and respond as a project takes shape.
In traditional hard-bid projects, scope is typically defined early, contractors are selected later primarily based on the lowest bid, and most of the risk or reward is pushed onto the contractor, resulting in varying levels of contingency. That approach reflects only what’s shown in the drawings and specifications, leaving little room to address unknowns. As those unknowns emerge, change orders and disputes can negatively affect relationships, quality, and schedules.
Collaborative delivery methods, such as construction management at-risk (CMAR) and progressive design-build (PDB), offer a different approach. The contractor becomes involved in the project early in design to identify risks, evaluate design options, and provide input on constructability. This engagement allows for pricing to develop as the design is refined, supported by contingencies and a guaranteed maximum price (GMP). The result is clearer expectations, fewer disputes, and trusted decisions that have the owner’s best interest in mind.
Collaborative Delivery Promotes Transparency From the Start
A critical success factor of collaborative delivery is transparency. It’s often an open-book process where the contractor’s overhead and profit are agreed upon upfront, and the owner can see the actual costs from vendors and subcontractors. That visibility gives owners greater confidence and input, allows engineers to spend less time overspecifying every detail, and helps contractors reduce the risk of underpricing.
On a recent CMAR project, three pump supplier proposals were received with varying prices, lead times, and exceptions to the engineers’ specifications. By openly discussing cost, mechanical features, spec exceptions, operations familiarity, and maintenance considerations, the project team (owner, engineer, and contractor) selected the second-lowest price as the best overall value for the owner. In a hard-bid scenario, the lowest price would likely have been chosen by the contractor without discussion. Collaborative delivery led to a more beneficial outcome for the owner.
Builds Trust That Fosters Teamwork and Productivity
When costs are hidden or unclear, doubt can creep in. This is especially true when pricing or project decisions don’t look or feel right. In hard-bid delivery, owners and engineers have limited insight into pricing and must often rely on the contractor’s word. Collaborative delivery approaches can change that dynamic.
In the CMAR model, contractors share cost details openly, allowing the team to understand what motivates decisions and drives pricing. That transparency builds trust and encourages collaboration around the best solution for the owner, not just the cheapest one. With everyone aligned, decisions can strike a balance between quality, cost, and schedule. The payoff is improved productivity, fewer disputes, less second-guessing, and faster resolution of challenges through open, constructive dialogue.
Allows for Flexibility to Pivot When Needed
Trust also makes it easier to adapt if conditions change. When teams are aligned and confident in the process, they can act quickly without fear of cost disputes or blame. Collaborative delivery supports faster decision-making and creative problem-solving without contractual friction. Take the following CMAR project, for example.
Equipment had been purchased for six new treatment trains when a sinkhole damaged one of the completed trains, which could have caused major schedule delays. The project team quickly gathered to determine the path forward. The collaborative decision-making process gave the contractor flexibility to implement mitigation strategies to address the geotechnical issue. At the same time, the team ordered replacement equipment and planned to use the on-hand equipment to replace the damaged train. With quick alignment, the construction sequence stayed on track, and schedule impacts were minimized, averting what could have become a major disruption to the project.
Supports a Balanced Approach for Better Outcomes
Collaborative delivery approaches are especially effective for projects with complex sequencing, modifications to existing facilities, or a high level of unknowns. When the path forward isn’t clear, bringing the contractor into the process early helps teams make better decisions and reduce surprises. Over the long term, owners gain greater clarity and control, contractors can better manage risk, and engineers can focus their efforts where they add the most value. The result is a more balanced approach to delivery—one that lowers overall project risk and better positions teams for success.