DBIA PRACTICE TEST 2025/2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
1. Project Delivery System:How team members are organized, establishes when
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
parties engage, determines roles of parties, and determines sequence of design,
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
procurement, and construction (db, cmar, dbb)
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
2. Procurement Method:how team members are selected (QBS, best value, low X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
price, sole source)
X5 X5 X5
3. contracting approach: how team members are paid (fp, gmp, cost reimburse-
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
ment, target price, unit price)
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
4. Design-Bid-Build (DBB): linear, sequential process, A/E selected on qualifi- X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
cations, GC selected on low price, design is fully completed without input from
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
GC, A/E acting in owner's interests, with a historically strong bond, process is
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
well-established and understood
X5 X5 X5
5. construction manager at risk: similar org structure to DBB, construction man-
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
ager selected by QBS or best value, contractor provides precon services, negotiated
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
gmp contracting approach, open book estimating process, potential to fast track
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
project, construction cost determined before design completed, potential issues over
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
what is reasonably inferable from gmp design documents
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
1/
X5g X5g
18
,6. Design-Build: The owner contracts with one entity (a person or firm) to provide X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
both design and construction services, designer and contractor have a direct con-
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
tractual relationship, selected by QBS or best value, wide spectrum of contracting
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
approaches and organizational structures, single point responsibility, owner does
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
not manage designer, owner exposure to claims is significantly reduced
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
7. engineer procure construct (epc): similar to design build, in industrial and
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
power generation sectors, systems and performance testing are central to scope,
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
contractor will typically perform engineering with its in-house staff, owner has need
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
for single point responsibility, contracts include plant and process performance
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
guarantees, contract items include performance and schedule liquidated damages
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
and limitations of liability
X5 X5 X5 X5
8. Multiple Prime Contracting: owner contracts with multiple trade contractors,
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
attributes are typically similar to dbb, owner's ability to schedule and coordinate the
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
work
X5
9. Integrated Project Delivery (IPD): multi-party agreement - all parties equal, QBS X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
procurement and target pricing contract approach, private sector use (limited at this
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
time), key: owner's ability to accept risk
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
10. public-private partnership (p3): Instead of government building and main- X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
taining major infrastructure (such as highway, water treatment plant), build and
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
maintenance is outsourced to a private company.Opposed by public sector unions. this
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X
5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
is not considered a delivery system but its underlying approaches are delivery
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
systems and typically use DB. multiple procurement and contracting approaches
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
2/
X5g X5g
18
, 11. shift left: intense efforts to establish scope early in the process; drives early
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
team formation to include key trade subcontractors; can enable big decisions to be
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
made early, affect project outcomes at lowest cost, establish a need for co-location
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
and collaboration, and compress time during concurrent design and construction
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
12. traditional design build: typicallytwo-phase bestvalueprocurementwith lump X
5g X5g X5g Xg
5 X5
g X5
g X
5g X5g Xg
5
sum contract; owner defines project requirements and scope of prescriptive work;
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
use of performance-based technical requirements with limited prescriptive specifi-
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
cations
X5g
13. progressive design build: design and price are progressively developed after X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
the design-builder is under contract; final project cost and schedule commitment is
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
not established as part of the selection process; two phases: preliminary services
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
and final design and construction services
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
14. criteria documents: describe the end result X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
15. bridging documents: prescribes how to achieve the end result X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
16. design bid build paradigm: prior to bidding, owner undertakes a process to X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
design the project and all of its details to 100% complete plans and specs. the
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
owner is therefore responsible for success or failure of details of the design, and
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
warrantsthesufficiencyofdesigntothecontractor.theowneristhereforeliabletothe
X5g X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
5
g X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5
contractor foranygapsbetween plansand specifications and owner's requirements for
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
project performance
X5g X5g
17. design details responsibility: the owner should define its performance re- X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
quirements and award the contract on the basis of preliminary design; this makes
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
the design-builder responsible for completing the design in accordance with the
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
owner's performance requirements.that also causes the design-builder to warrant
X5g X5g X5g X
5
g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
the sufficiency of the design to meet the owner's criteria and the sufficiency of the
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
design to subcontractors/suppliers that have no design responsibility
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
18. uniformat: subdivides project by functional elements, focuses on systems and X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
assemblies, useful for preliminary information and early design phases, aligns with
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
BIM models and conceptual estimating
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
19. masterformat: subdivides work by results/trades, focuses on building materials, X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
products, and activities, useful for detailed information during final design and
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
construction phases, and aligns with detailed estimating
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
3/ X5g X5g
18
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
1. Project Delivery System:How team members are organized, establishes when
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
parties engage, determines roles of parties, and determines sequence of design,
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
procurement, and construction (db, cmar, dbb)
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
2. Procurement Method:how team members are selected (QBS, best value, low X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
price, sole source)
X5 X5 X5
3. contracting approach: how team members are paid (fp, gmp, cost reimburse-
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
ment, target price, unit price)
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
4. Design-Bid-Build (DBB): linear, sequential process, A/E selected on qualifi- X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
cations, GC selected on low price, design is fully completed without input from
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
GC, A/E acting in owner's interests, with a historically strong bond, process is
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
well-established and understood
X5 X5 X5
5. construction manager at risk: similar org structure to DBB, construction man-
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
ager selected by QBS or best value, contractor provides precon services, negotiated
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
gmp contracting approach, open book estimating process, potential to fast track
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
project, construction cost determined before design completed, potential issues over
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
what is reasonably inferable from gmp design documents
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
1/
X5g X5g
18
,6. Design-Build: The owner contracts with one entity (a person or firm) to provide X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
both design and construction services, designer and contractor have a direct con-
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
tractual relationship, selected by QBS or best value, wide spectrum of contracting
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
approaches and organizational structures, single point responsibility, owner does
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
not manage designer, owner exposure to claims is significantly reduced
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
7. engineer procure construct (epc): similar to design build, in industrial and
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
power generation sectors, systems and performance testing are central to scope,
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
contractor will typically perform engineering with its in-house staff, owner has need
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
for single point responsibility, contracts include plant and process performance
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
guarantees, contract items include performance and schedule liquidated damages
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
and limitations of liability
X5 X5 X5 X5
8. Multiple Prime Contracting: owner contracts with multiple trade contractors,
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
attributes are typically similar to dbb, owner's ability to schedule and coordinate the
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
work
X5
9. Integrated Project Delivery (IPD): multi-party agreement - all parties equal, QBS X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
procurement and target pricing contract approach, private sector use (limited at this
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
time), key: owner's ability to accept risk
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
10. public-private partnership (p3): Instead of government building and main- X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
taining major infrastructure (such as highway, water treatment plant), build and
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
maintenance is outsourced to a private company.Opposed by public sector unions. this
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X
5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
is not considered a delivery system but its underlying approaches are delivery
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
systems and typically use DB. multiple procurement and contracting approaches
X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5 X5
2/
X5g X5g
18
, 11. shift left: intense efforts to establish scope early in the process; drives early
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
team formation to include key trade subcontractors; can enable big decisions to be
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
made early, affect project outcomes at lowest cost, establish a need for co-location
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
and collaboration, and compress time during concurrent design and construction
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
12. traditional design build: typicallytwo-phase bestvalueprocurementwith lump X
5g X5g X5g Xg
5 X5
g X5
g X
5g X5g Xg
5
sum contract; owner defines project requirements and scope of prescriptive work;
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
use of performance-based technical requirements with limited prescriptive specifi-
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
cations
X5g
13. progressive design build: design and price are progressively developed after X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
the design-builder is under contract; final project cost and schedule commitment is
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
not established as part of the selection process; two phases: preliminary services
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
and final design and construction services
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
14. criteria documents: describe the end result X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
15. bridging documents: prescribes how to achieve the end result X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
16. design bid build paradigm: prior to bidding, owner undertakes a process to X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
design the project and all of its details to 100% complete plans and specs. the
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
owner is therefore responsible for success or failure of details of the design, and
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
warrantsthesufficiencyofdesigntothecontractor.theowneristhereforeliabletothe
X5g X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
5
g X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5 X
g
5
contractor foranygapsbetween plansand specifications and owner's requirements for
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
project performance
X5g X5g
17. design details responsibility: the owner should define its performance re- X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
quirements and award the contract on the basis of preliminary design; this makes
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
the design-builder responsible for completing the design in accordance with the
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
owner's performance requirements.that also causes the design-builder to warrant
X5g X5g X5g X
5
g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
the sufficiency of the design to meet the owner's criteria and the sufficiency of the
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
design to subcontractors/suppliers that have no design responsibility
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
18. uniformat: subdivides project by functional elements, focuses on systems and X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
assemblies, useful for preliminary information and early design phases, aligns with
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
BIM models and conceptual estimating
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
19. masterformat: subdivides work by results/trades, focuses on building materials, X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
products, and activities, useful for detailed information during final design and
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
construction phases, and aligns with detailed estimating
X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g X5g
3/ X5g X5g
18