Design–Build with a Development Phase: An Initiation and the First Trials

Design–build (DB) is a much-used project delivery system with operational variations for different needs and situations. Yet, novel applications have to be strived for as all current applications have some drawbacks. Accordingly, by means of a constructive research approach, this study focuses on a DB procedure that exploits the parties’ collaboration in order to improve the economic efficiency of construction projects. It is called “design–build with a development phase” (DBd). In the procedure, the owner and the selected contractor continue the development of the project solution in co-operation, adhering to the principle of benefit sharing, which is enabled by pre-agreed rules and the benchmark solution, formed as a result of price-inclusive contractor selection. More precisely, this paper presents the DBd procedure and how it was initially constructed and eventually applied in some road infrastructure projects. The paper also reports the related experiences, which were positive based on the improved value for money in the trial projects. Thus, the paper offers a novel option for the industry to improve its performance and contributes by disproving the dominant view, which has been guiding the formulation and use of the current project delivery practices, that price-inclusive competition and collaborative development thereafter could not be matched successfully.