Which contract delivery method is characterized by separate contracts for design and construction?

The Design-Bid-Build delivery method is defined by the use of separate contracts for the design and construction phases of a project. In this traditional approach, a client first hires a design professional to create the project’s specifications and blueprints. After the design is completed, the client then seeks bids from general contractors to undertake the construction based on those completed designs.

This separation of roles means that the designer and the builder are not working as a unified team during the project's early stages, which can lead to a clearer delineation of responsibilities. This method allows for a competitive bidding process, potentially leading to cost savings for the owner. The distinct contracts can also provide the owner with greater control over the design, as they retain the ability to select their contractor based on the completed designs rather than on a combined team.

In contrast, the other options involve different levels of integration between the design and construction phases. Design-Build, for example, consolidates these roles into a single entity, which can streamline communication and decision-making but differs from the separate contract structure mandated by Design-Bid-Build.