What Does Design and Construct Mean in Australia?

Design and construct (D&C) is a way to procure a project under a single contract with a contractor responsible for both the design and the construction. In Australia it is also called design and build. The client states what the asset must achieve; the contractor engages designers and develops the information needed to deliver it.

The client may already have a concept design or preliminary documentation when tendering. The exact design responsibility and approval process must be read in the particular contract and project requirements. D&C is a procurement approach, not a promise that one standard contract or programme suits every project.

What does the client give the tenderer?

Usually a project brief, site information and performance and quality requirements. Depending on the project, this may include layout requirements, finishes, durability, building services, approvals, operations, asset data and design review points. NSW Government guidance says the contractor may complete a concept design, develop the design and prepare construction documentation.

What does the contractor do?

The contractor prices the agreed requirements, manages its designers, coordinates the design with buildability and procurement, and constructs the works. It may also have an agreed role in obtaining approvals. Variation entitlements, latent conditions and design liability depend on the contract; do not assume the name “D&C” settles them all.

What should the owner still manage?

The owner must decide what it needs. If the brief leaves a quality standard or operational requirement open, tenderers can price different outcomes. A client-side team can coordinate stakeholder input, assess proposals against the brief, review design submissions and maintain a decision record.

D&C can allow design and construction activities to overlap. It can also reduce the owner’s direct control of design decisions if requirements and review rights are weak. The Australian Institute of Architects and government procurement guidance both describe those trade-offs. See how a design and build project works for the full client journey.

Sources and further reading

• Australian Institute of Architects — design and construct
• NSW Government — construction procurement contract systems