Created:  17 May 2013
Modified:  11 June 2026
Approved: 14 October 2026

Procurement of Construction:

Construction Management Methods

Common Construction Management Methods—

1. Single Prime (General) Contractor. The single prime contractor method is typified by one business, acting as a general contractor, contracting with the District to timely complete an entire construction project in accordance with drawings and specifications provided by the District. Generally, the drawings and specifications are prepared by an architectural or engineering firm under contract with the District. Further, while the general contractor may take responsibility for successful completion of the project, much of the work may be performed by specialty contractors with whom the prime contractor has entered into subcontracts.
2. Multiple Prime Contractors. Under the multiple prime contractor method, the District contracts directly with a number of general contractors or specialty contractors to complete portions of the project in accordance with the District’s drawings and specifications. The District may have primary responsibility for successful completion of the entire project, or the contracts may provide that one or more of the multiple prime contractors has this responsibility.
3. Design-Build. In a design-build project, an entity, often a team of a general contractor and a designer, contract directly with the District to meet the District’s requirements as described in a set of performance specifications and/or a program. Design responsibility and construction responsibility both rest with the design-build contractor. This method can include instances where the design-build contractor supplies the site as part of the package.
4. Construction Manager Not at Risk. A construction manager is a person experienced in construction that has the ability to evaluate and to implement drawings and specifications as they affect time, cost, and quality of construction and the ability to coordinate the construction of the project, including the administration of change orders as well as other responsibilities as described in the contract.
5. Construction Manager or General Contractor (Construction Manager at Risk). The District may contract with the construction manager early in a project to assist in the development of a cost-effective design. In a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) method, the CM/GC becomes the general contractor and is at risk for the responsibilities of a general contractor for the project, including meeting the specifications, complying with applicable laws, rules and regulations, that the project will be completed on time and will not exceed a specified maximum price.

Utah Admin. Rules R33-113-203(4) (October 22, 2024)

Selection of Construction Management Methods—

For public school construction projects under $3,000,000, the District will use the design-bid-build method unless the Division of Facilities Construction and Management approves an alternative delivery method.

Utah Code § 63A-5b-1203(4) (2026)

For public school construction exceeding $3,000,000, the District will use one of the following methods:

1. Design-bid-build;
2. Design-build; or
3. A construction manager general contractor.

However, to use a construction manager general contractor, the District must employ or contract with qualified construction management staff with demonstrated construction manager general contractor experience, must submit and obtain approval of a detailed project management plan from the Division, and must demonstrate to the Division that doing so is appropriate considering:

1. when the project must be ready to be occupied;
2. the type of project;
3. the extent to which the requirements of the District and the way they are to be met are known;
4. the location of the project;
5. the size, scope, complexity, and economics of the project;
6. the source of funding and any resulting constraints necessitated by the funding source;
7. the availability, qualification, and experience of District personnel to be assigned to the project and the amount of time that the District personnel can devote to the project; and
8. the availability, qualifications, and experience of outside consultants and contractors to complete the project under the various methods being considered.

Utah Code § 63A-5b-1203(1), (2)(a) (2026)

Utah Code § 63G-6a-1302(3) (2026)

Construction Manager General Contractor Selection—

If the District uses a construction manager or general contractor, the construction manager general contractor shall be selected using a standard procurement process or a valid exception to a standard process. In addition, when entering into a subcontract that was not specifically included in the construction manager general contractor’s cost proposal, the construction manager general contractor shall procure the subcontractor by using a standard procurement process or a valid exception to a standard process in the same manner as if the subcontract work was procured directly by the District. A construction manager or general contractor contract may include provision by the contractor of operations, maintenance, or financing.

Utah Code § 63A-5b-1203(5) (2026)

Utah Code § 63G-6a-1302(4), (5), (8) (2026)

Utah Admin. Rules R33-113-205(1), (2) (October 22, 2024)

Design-Build Contract Provisions—

A design-build contract may include a provision for obtaining the site for the construction project. A design-build contract may include provision by the contractor of operations, maintenance, or financing.

Utah Code § 63A-5b-1203(1) (2026)

Utah Code § 63G-6a-1302(6), (7) (2026)