Degrees of freedom and innovations in construction contracts: Fid-Bau Portal

Degrees of freedom and innovations in construction contracts

Nyström, Johan / Nilsson, Jan-Eric / Lind, Hans

Abstract DB (Design and build) and DBB (Design-bid-build) represent two different contracting forms in construction. The first provides the contractor degrees of freedom in design, which enables innovation. DBB is the safe and traditional contracting form, where the client is responsible for the design and the contractor builds accordingly. Using a case study approach of five Swedish road construction projects, the present paper compares these contracting forms in terms of innovation. In this, the client's labelling of a contract being DB or DBB is taken at face value. It is established that the actual degrees of freedom for the contractors are highly restricted and that no important difference can be seen between the contracting forms regarding innovation. This implies that it is no reason to expect more innovation simply by labelling contracts as DB. Rational explanations for the usage of DB-contracts with bounds on the degrees of freedom are also suggested. Policy implications for promoting innovation in infrastructure contracting finalise the study.

Highlights • No differences in degrees of freedom can be found between DB- and DBB-contracts. • More innovation is not to be expected from DB contracts. • Suggestions for systematic testing of new approaches include. • Try some projects as textbook examples of DB-contracting. • Share risk between parties regarding new and risky solutions. • Involve the contractor early in the project preparation process. • Tender alternative technical solutions using DBB contracts.