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DBIA EXAM 3 NEWEST VERSION 2026 ACTUAL EXAM
COMPLETE 140 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+ |
WITH A STUDY GUIDE
1.
Design-build delivery is often selected to improve schedule
performance and single-point responsibility.
Which of the following best describes the primary contractual
advantage of design-build?
A) Owner retains separate contracts for design and construction
B) It reduces the owner’s single point of contact for project issues
C) It places design and construction liability with one entity
D) It always lowers project cost compared to other methods
Answer: C — Design-build consolidates responsibility for both
design and construction with one contract entity, simplifying
liability and coordination.
2.
In a progressive design-build procurement, the owner typically:
A) Awards a lump-sum turnkey contract based on 100% design
documents
B) Selects a design-builder early and negotiates the final price as
design progresses
C) Separately bids the design and construction packages
D) Uses a low-bid only selection criterion
Answer: B — Progressive design-build selects a team early and
negotiates GMP/price as design advances, promoting
collaboration.
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3.
Which commercial contract clause most directly allocates delay
risk to the contractor?
A) Force majeure clause
B) Liquidated damages for late completion
C) Payment terms clause
D) Warranty clause
Answer: B — Liquidated damages impose a pre-agreed cost for
late completion, assigning delay risk to the contractor.
4.
An owner wants to encourage innovation while maintaining fair
competition in qualifications-based selection.
Which procurement approach best balances those goals?
A) Lowest responsive bid after full design
B) Qualifications-based selection with a negotiated fee and
performance incentives
C) Single-source award without competition
D) Sealed bid lump sum without prequalification
Answer: B — QBS with negotiated fee and incentives rewards
innovation and selects on qualifications rather than only price.
5.
During early teaming, what is the most important document to
define governance, roles, IP, and confidentiality between potential
partners?
A) Final design contract
B) Teaming agreement (or non-binding teaming letter)
C) Owner’s RFP
D) Building permit application
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Answer: B — A teaming agreement clarifies roles, IP,
confidentiality, and responsibilities during proposal development.
6.
Which risk is typically least transferable to a design-builder in a
standard design-build agreement?
A) Risk of means/methods used by the contractor
B) Risk of design errors created by the design-builder
C) Risk of changes in law that affect project requirements
D) Risk of contractor’s performance default
Answer: C — Risks arising from changes in law are often retained
by the owner or negotiated as exceptions; they are harder to fully
transfer.
7.
A design-builder discovers a subsurface condition materially
different from the contract’s geotechnical report. Best first step:
A) Proceed as if nothing changed and absorb costs
B) Immediately stop work and await written direction from the
owner/CM
C) Document the condition, notify the owner per contract notice
requirements, and propose options
D) Continue and file a claim after project completion
Answer: C — Timely documentation and prompt notice per
contract are essential to preserve entitlement and propose
corrective options.
8.
Which incentive structure aligns contractor behavior with owner
schedule goals most directly?
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A) Cost-plus fee without incentives
B) Lump-sum fixed price only
C) GMP with schedule-based bonuses and liquidated damages
D) Time and materials billing
Answer: C — Combining GMP with schedule bonuses and
liquidated damages creates both carrot and stick alignment for
schedule performance.
9.
Under a single-point design-build contract, who typically holds
professional liability for design defects?
A) Owner only
B) Design subcontractor only
C) The design-builder (as the contracted entity), with possible
flow-down to design consultants
D) Construction subcontractor only
Answer: C — The design-builder assumes professional liability to
the owner, often flowing obligations to design subconsultants.
10.
Which best practice improves cost certainty in the DB
procurement phase?
A) Avoiding any third-party reviews
B) Using independent cost estimating and validating risk
contingencies before price agreement
C) Relying solely on contractor’s unverified pricing
D) Eliminating design milestones from the procurement timeline
Answer: B — Independent estimates and validated risk
contingencies increase cost transparency and certainty.
DBIA EXAM 3 NEWEST VERSION 2026 ACTUAL EXAM
COMPLETE 140 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+ |
WITH A STUDY GUIDE
1.
Design-build delivery is often selected to improve schedule
performance and single-point responsibility.
Which of the following best describes the primary contractual
advantage of design-build?
A) Owner retains separate contracts for design and construction
B) It reduces the owner’s single point of contact for project issues
C) It places design and construction liability with one entity
D) It always lowers project cost compared to other methods
Answer: C — Design-build consolidates responsibility for both
design and construction with one contract entity, simplifying
liability and coordination.
2.
In a progressive design-build procurement, the owner typically:
A) Awards a lump-sum turnkey contract based on 100% design
documents
B) Selects a design-builder early and negotiates the final price as
design progresses
C) Separately bids the design and construction packages
D) Uses a low-bid only selection criterion
Answer: B — Progressive design-build selects a team early and
negotiates GMP/price as design advances, promoting
collaboration.
,2 | Page
3.
Which commercial contract clause most directly allocates delay
risk to the contractor?
A) Force majeure clause
B) Liquidated damages for late completion
C) Payment terms clause
D) Warranty clause
Answer: B — Liquidated damages impose a pre-agreed cost for
late completion, assigning delay risk to the contractor.
4.
An owner wants to encourage innovation while maintaining fair
competition in qualifications-based selection.
Which procurement approach best balances those goals?
A) Lowest responsive bid after full design
B) Qualifications-based selection with a negotiated fee and
performance incentives
C) Single-source award without competition
D) Sealed bid lump sum without prequalification
Answer: B — QBS with negotiated fee and incentives rewards
innovation and selects on qualifications rather than only price.
5.
During early teaming, what is the most important document to
define governance, roles, IP, and confidentiality between potential
partners?
A) Final design contract
B) Teaming agreement (or non-binding teaming letter)
C) Owner’s RFP
D) Building permit application
,3 | Page
Answer: B — A teaming agreement clarifies roles, IP,
confidentiality, and responsibilities during proposal development.
6.
Which risk is typically least transferable to a design-builder in a
standard design-build agreement?
A) Risk of means/methods used by the contractor
B) Risk of design errors created by the design-builder
C) Risk of changes in law that affect project requirements
D) Risk of contractor’s performance default
Answer: C — Risks arising from changes in law are often retained
by the owner or negotiated as exceptions; they are harder to fully
transfer.
7.
A design-builder discovers a subsurface condition materially
different from the contract’s geotechnical report. Best first step:
A) Proceed as if nothing changed and absorb costs
B) Immediately stop work and await written direction from the
owner/CM
C) Document the condition, notify the owner per contract notice
requirements, and propose options
D) Continue and file a claim after project completion
Answer: C — Timely documentation and prompt notice per
contract are essential to preserve entitlement and propose
corrective options.
8.
Which incentive structure aligns contractor behavior with owner
schedule goals most directly?
, 4 | Page
A) Cost-plus fee without incentives
B) Lump-sum fixed price only
C) GMP with schedule-based bonuses and liquidated damages
D) Time and materials billing
Answer: C — Combining GMP with schedule bonuses and
liquidated damages creates both carrot and stick alignment for
schedule performance.
9.
Under a single-point design-build contract, who typically holds
professional liability for design defects?
A) Owner only
B) Design subcontractor only
C) The design-builder (as the contracted entity), with possible
flow-down to design consultants
D) Construction subcontractor only
Answer: C — The design-builder assumes professional liability to
the owner, often flowing obligations to design subconsultants.
10.
Which best practice improves cost certainty in the DB
procurement phase?
A) Avoiding any third-party reviews
B) Using independent cost estimating and validating risk
contingencies before price agreement
C) Relying solely on contractor’s unverified pricing
D) Eliminating design milestones from the procurement timeline
Answer: B — Independent estimates and validated risk
contingencies increase cost transparency and certainty.
