Design-bid-build (DBB)

EstablishedDBB

Also: Traditional delivery, Stipulated price tender

The traditional delivery method in which the owner first has the design completed by consultants, then invites contractors to bid on it, then awards a separate construction contract — usually for a stipulated price.

Explanation

DBB creates two separate contracts for the owner: one with the design consultant (in Canada often CCDC 31 or an association form) and one with the General contractor (commonly CCDC 2, stipulated price). The owner effectively warrants the design to the contractor, so design errors surface as RFIs and change orders. Competitive tendering gives price transparency, which is why DBB remains the default for many public owners.

Practical example

A township tenders a community library on complete construction documents. Eight general contractors bid; the lowest compliant bid is accepted and a CCDC 2 contract is signed.

Why it matters

DBB offers clear roles and competitive prices but little contractor input during design and a longer overall timeline, because construction cannot start until design is complete.

Common confusion

See Design-build and Construction management for the main alternatives; the delivery methods comparison sets them side by side.

Standards and references

  1. Compare and Contract: CCDC 2 and CCDC 5A. Ontario Bar Association, 2023.Widely accepted professional interpretation
    Supports: Under CCDC 2 the owner, working with an architect, prepares a design and hires a general contractor to build it

VDC Stack.io writes its own explanations and does not reproduce copyrighted standards text. Consult the cited standard for normative wording.

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VDC Stack.io. (2026). Design-bid-build (DBB). In VDC Stack.io Knowledge Dictionary. Retrieved from https://vdcstack.io/dictionary/design-bid-build/