Which contract type historically served as the default option in professional practice guidelines unless otherwise specified?

• A. Design-Build
• B. Design-Bid-Build
• C. Integrated Project Delivery
• D. Bridged Design-Build

Answer: (B)

The traditional procurement approach in professional practice guidelines is Design-Bid-Build. In this method, the owner hires design professionals to create complete design documents, then contractors bid to build based on those documents. It clearly separates design and construction responsibilities, enabling competitive bidding for the construction work and reliance on well-established contract forms. This separation has a long history of use and stability, which is why it was the default unless guidelines specify otherwise. The other options—Design-Build, Integrated Project Delivery, and Bridged Design-Build—combine design and construction or emphasize early collaboration, which is why they aren’t the historical default.