On April 20, 2010, Ron Wright – Administrator of the Construction Division for the Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) – participated in a panel discussion at a DBIA chapter meeting in a Chicago.  He discussed the CDB’s design-build qualification and selection processes and its plans for upcoming design-build projects.  Here are four lessons - taken from the presentation – to consider before participating in a CDB design-build competition:

1.  Assemble the Best Team.  One of the first things CDB asks of potential design-builders is to identify “the contractual relationship, name, full mailing address, and a brief description of the role of each” member of the proposed team.  See the CDB’s Design-Build Entity Qualification Statement.  http://www.cdb.state.il.us/CDBWEB.nsf/forms?OpenForm

2.  Think Local.  The winning team on the CDB’s first project (headed by the Korte Company) consisted of multiple local contractors with experience with CDB’s end-user – the Univeristy of Illinois.  Future teams should remember this.

3.  Leverage Prior Experience.  Qualifications are obviously based on the ability to perform the given task.  The best way to demonstrate this is with a track record of similar and successful projects.  If you don’t have public design-build experience, then find partners who do.

4.  Check Your References.  Make sure you have strong owner references.  The CDB will ask for references and contact them.  So cultivate relationships with prior and existing clients.