Construction Management at Risk (CMAR)
- Three linear phases: design, bid, build, or may be fast-tracked.
- Three prime players: owner, designer, and CM-constructor.
- Two separate contracts: owner to CM-constructor and owner to designer.
- Owner warrants the sufficiency of the plans and specs to the CM-Constructor:
- Owner is responsible for the “details” of design.
- Owner is liable for any “gaps” between the plans and specs and the owner’s requirements for performance.
Key Considerations:
- Designer works directly for owner.
- The owner gains the benefit of having the opportunity into incorporate a contractor’s perspective and input to planning and design decisions:
- More professional relationships with contractors.
- Earlier knowledge of costs.
- Earlier involvement of constructor expertise.
- Project delivery typically faster than traditional design-bid-build.
- A primary disadvantage in CMR delivery involves the lack of direct contractual relationship between the contractor and designer, placing the owner between those entities for the resolution of project issues:
- Disagreements regarding construction quality, the completeness of the design, and impacts on schedule and budget may arise.
- As with the design-bid-build system, adversarial relationships may result.