Page 1 of 133
Design-Build Project Delivery Certification
Exam (DBIA) High-Yield Questions
&Answers Rationales Instant Download
Pdf
Q1. The core principle of the design-build delivery method is:
A) Design and construction are performed by separate entities
under different contracts
B) A single entity is responsible for both design and construction
under one contract
C) The owner retains all design responsibility
D) Construction begins only after design completion
Answer: B
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Rationale: Design-build integrates design and construction under
one contract with one point of responsibility, reducing
fragmentation and improving collaboration .
Q2. The Spearin Doctrine establishes that under Design-Bid-
Build:
A) The contractor is responsible for all design errors
B) The owner is responsible for increased costs due to defective
plans and specifications
C) The architect bears sole liability for construction defects
D) The government is immune from design liability
Answer: B
Rationale: The Spearin Doctrine, established by the U.S. Supreme
Court, holds that when an owner provides prescriptive
specifications, they impliedly warrant their adequacy. The
contractor is not liable for costs resulting from defective plans .
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Q3. The Brooks Act (1972) requires which procurement
approach for design professionals?
A) Low-bid selection
B) Best-value selection
C) Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS)
D) Sole-source selection
Answer: C
Rationale: The Brooks Act mandates that architect/engineer
services be procured based on qualifications rather than price.
This applies to federal A/E procurement .
Q4. The Clinger-Cohen Act (1996) / Defense Procurement
Reform Act:
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A) Eliminated design-build for federal projects
B) Authorized all federal agencies to utilize design-build project
delivery
C) Required low-bid procurement for all federal construction
D) Established the DBIA certification program
Answer: B
Rationale: The Clinger-Cohen Act authorized federal agencies to
use design-build project delivery. Prior to this legislation, no
enabling authority existed for design-build at the federal level .
Q5. The Miller Act of 1935 requires which of the following for
federal public works projects?
A) Design-build delivery method
B) Payment and performance bonds
C) Qualifications-based selection
D) Competitive bidding only
Design-Build Project Delivery Certification
Exam (DBIA) High-Yield Questions
&Answers Rationales Instant Download
Q1. The core principle of the design-build delivery method is:
A) Design and construction are performed by separate entities
under different contracts
B) A single entity is responsible for both design and construction
under one contract
C) The owner retains all design responsibility
D) Construction begins only after design completion
Answer: B
,Page 2 of 133
Rationale: Design-build integrates design and construction under
one contract with one point of responsibility, reducing
fragmentation and improving collaboration .
Q2. The Spearin Doctrine establishes that under Design-Bid-
Build:
A) The contractor is responsible for all design errors
B) The owner is responsible for increased costs due to defective
plans and specifications
C) The architect bears sole liability for construction defects
D) The government is immune from design liability
Answer: B
Rationale: The Spearin Doctrine, established by the U.S. Supreme
Court, holds that when an owner provides prescriptive
specifications, they impliedly warrant their adequacy. The
contractor is not liable for costs resulting from defective plans .
,Page 3 of 133
Q3. The Brooks Act (1972) requires which procurement
approach for design professionals?
A) Low-bid selection
B) Best-value selection
C) Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS)
D) Sole-source selection
Answer: C
Rationale: The Brooks Act mandates that architect/engineer
services be procured based on qualifications rather than price.
This applies to federal A/E procurement .
Q4. The Clinger-Cohen Act (1996) / Defense Procurement
Reform Act:
, Page 4 of 133
A) Eliminated design-build for federal projects
B) Authorized all federal agencies to utilize design-build project
delivery
C) Required low-bid procurement for all federal construction
D) Established the DBIA certification program
Answer: B
Rationale: The Clinger-Cohen Act authorized federal agencies to
use design-build project delivery. Prior to this legislation, no
enabling authority existed for design-build at the federal level .
Q5. The Miller Act of 1935 requires which of the following for
federal public works projects?
A) Design-build delivery method
B) Payment and performance bonds
C) Qualifications-based selection
D) Competitive bidding only
