Which delivery method allows the CM to join before construction, guarantees a maximum price, and manages trade partners?

Which delivery method allows the CM to join before construction, guarantees a maximum price, and manages trade partners?

• A. Design-Build
• B. Design-Bid-Build
• C. Integrated Project Delivery
• D. CM at-risk

Answer: (D)

Early involvement of a Construction Manager who then takes on cost certainty and overall trade coordination defines this delivery method. In this approach, the construction manager is brought on during the design phase to advise on constructability, budgeting, and scheduling with the owner and design team. After the design is sufficiently developed, the CM commits to a Guaranteed Maximum Price for the construction work. That price cap gives the owner cost protection and shifts the risk of overruns to the CM. With the GMP in place, the CM then takes responsibility for hiring and managing trade contractors, coordinating procurement, sequencing, and field coordination to deliver the project within the agreed ceiling. This combination—being involved before construction, offering a maximum price, and centralizing the management of subcontractors—fits CM at-risk precisely. Other delivery methods lack this combination. Design-Bid-Build typically separates design and construction with bids after design, offering no preconstruction CM involvement or GMP guarantee. Design-Build blends design and construction under one contract but doesn’t inherently involve a CM taking on a GMP and separate trade coordination role. Integrated Project Delivery emphasizes broad collaboration and shared risk, but the explicit GMP and the CM’s single point of responsibility for trade partners are distinct features of the CM at-risk approach.

Early involvement of a Construction Manager who then takes on cost certainty and overall trade coordination defines this delivery method. In this approach, the construction manager is brought on during the design phase to advise on constructability, budgeting, and scheduling with the owner and design team. After the design is sufficiently developed, the CM commits to a Guaranteed Maximum Price for the construction work. That price cap gives the owner cost protection and shifts the risk of overruns to the CM. With the GMP in place, the CM then takes responsibility for hiring and managing trade contractors, coordinating procurement, sequencing, and field coordination to deliver the project within the agreed ceiling. This combination—being involved before construction, offering a maximum price, and centralizing the management of subcontractors—fits CM at-risk precisely.

Other delivery methods lack this combination. Design-Bid-Build typically separates design and construction with bids after design, offering no preconstruction CM involvement or GMP guarantee. Design-Build blends design and construction under one contract but doesn’t inherently involve a CM taking on a GMP and separate trade coordination role. Integrated Project Delivery emphasizes broad collaboration and shared risk, but the explicit GMP and the CM’s single point of responsibility for trade partners are distinct features of the CM at-risk approach.