Alternative Delivery Approaches for Military Medical Construction Projects

Military medical construction projects take more than 10 years to complete, from the time the need for a new facility is identified until the building actually opens for occupancy. This time is often extended even further due to complications during the design and construction process. Furthermore, these projects often are completed well over their original budget. Although there are many reasons for this exorbitant amount of time and many causes for the budgetary problems, one of the major factors is the reliance on the traditional methods of a lump-sum contract and the design/bid/build project delivery approach. The writers illustrate how the use of alternative project delivery methods (specifically construction management and design/build) can reduce the amount of time it takes to design and build a new military medical facility, as well as reduce the overall cost of the project. The advantages offered by these alternative delivery methods are set forth, and their applicability within the federal procurement process is discussed. Several recommendations are then given for using these methods for the design and construction of military medical facilities.