Endorsed by OAA Council in September 2024, the refreshed Practice Tip PT.25 provides a template for amendments to the OAA 600-2021 Contract when a Design-Builder is the client. It offers an alternative to CCDC 15, 2013 Design Services Contract Between Design-Builder and Consultant.

Given the considerable structural and format changes between the OAA 600-2013 and the OAA 600-2021 contract versions, Practice Tip PT.25 needed updates related to its formatting, payment, dispute resolution, licence for instruments of service, and coordination responsibilities.

Overview of the Process

This updated resource was developed by starting with the previous version of PT.25, then making adjustments to reflect the OAA 600-2021 organization and content. Input was provided from practitioners with design-build projects, external legal counsel, Pro-Demnity Insurance Company, and the OAA Practice Resource Committee.

Note that PT.25 Design-Build: OAA 600-2013 has now been withdrawn.

Highlights: What has changed?

In addition to extensive formatting changes and new attachments that work with OAA 600-2021, highlights include:

• a new Guide to Apply PT.25 Design-Build to OAA 600-2021 and MS Word templates
• context about the contractual differences between Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build;
• other changes to reflect that the prime contract is the Design-Build contract, not the architectural services contract, as it relates to the Construction Act.
• the definition of Functional Program is amended to reflect that the client is not the owner;
• a new General Condition is added to establish a standard of care for the design-builder, paralleling the standard of care in the architectural services contract; and
• Appendix A, regarding copyright, is amended to include the possibility for a sub-licence to the Owner, subject to the conditions of the architectural services contract.

Other Updates & Resources on the OAA Website

Over the next couple of months, other peripheral resources located in the OAA’s Practice Advisory Knowledge Base may be updated to align with PT.25 Design-Build: Using 600-2021. Stay tuned for future updates in the OAA Practice Advisory newsletter or on the OAA Website.

For additional information, consult the Index to OAA Contracts and Guides and the Contracts for Professional Services page.