A project delivery method where one contractor handles both engineering design and construction under a single contract. As a subcontractor, you may be brought in mid-scope with limited drawing sets, requiring flexibility. Scope creep risk is higher since designs are still evolving while field work begins.
Design-Build
Related Terms
Transmission Tie-in
IndustryA connection point where a new pipeline is joined to an existing high-pressure transmission system. Subcontractors typically handle welding, purging, and pressure testing during a planned outage window. Tie-in scopes often require strict scheduling coordination and certified welding procedures.
CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage)
IndustryA process that captures CO₂ emissions from industrial sources and injects them underground for permanent storage. For subcontractors, CCS projects create demand for pipeline welding, compression equipment installation, and wellsite services. Familiarity with emissions-related scopes can open access to a growing segment of energy infrastructure work.
Crown Land Sale
IndustryA government auction where energy companies bid on licences to explore or develop publicly owned land. Winning bids signal upcoming drilling and field activity in that area. Subcontractors watch these sales to anticipate new work and mobilise resources early.
Sequencing (construction)
IndustryThe planned order in which construction tasks must be completed before the next trade can begin work. Subcontractors depend on accurate sequencing to schedule crews and avoid costly downtime. Delays in one phase can push back your mobilisation and affect your invoicing schedule.
EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery)
IndustryA set of advanced extraction techniques—such as steam injection, chemical flooding, or CO2 injection—used to pull additional crude from mature or low-yield reservoirs, which drives demand for specialised field service crews, equipment operators, and maintenance contractors on long-term site assignments.
Drillship
IndustryA self-propelled vessel equipped with a drilling rig used for offshore exploration and production in deepwater locations, which subcontractors may be mobilised to for specialised services such as equipment maintenance, inspection, or crew support under strict offshore safety and logistical requirements.
Latest Industry News
Capital-CMT Team Selected for $471M Missouri I-44 Design-Build Freight Corridor Project
Missouri has picked the Capital-CMT Team as best-value proposer for the $471 million Forward 44 Southwest I-44 Improvements Project, a major design-build effort covering interchange reconstruction, bridge work, and pavement upgrades across southwest Missouri.
4 days ago IndustrySkanska-Traylor-Walsh JV Wins $1B Design-Build Contract for Second Avenue Subway Phase II Station
A joint venture of Skanska, Traylor Bros., and Walsh Construction has been awarded a $1.02-billion design-build contract to build the 106th Street station shell for New York's Second Avenue Subway Phase II expansion. Subcontractors in structural, MEP, and civil trades should be tracking this $7.7-billion project now.
7 days ago IndustryXylem Lands Design-Build-Operate Water Contract at Dow's Fort Saskatchewan Path2Zero Complex
Xylem Inc. has secured a landmark agreement with Dow to design, build, and operate integrated water treatment systems at the Path2Zero industrial complex in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, with operations targeted for August 2028.
21 hours ago IndustryFerrovial Wins $1.5B Design-Build Contract for 15-Mile Houston Grand Parkway Segment
TxDOT has awarded Spain-based Ferrovial a $1.5 billion contract to design, build, and maintain the next segment of the 184-mile Grand Parkway loop southeast of Houston, with completion expected in 2032.
19 days agoRelated Guides
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Industry GuideHow Rig Count Trends Affect Subcontractor Demand and What to Do About It
Rig counts are the earliest signal of where field service work is heading. Learn how to read drilling activity trends, anticipate demand shifts, and position your crew before the phone stops ringing.
Industry GuideWhat Is an AFE in Oil and Gas and How Does It Affect Subcontractor Payments?
An AFE (Authorization for Expenditure) controls every dollar spent on an oilfield project. Learn how it affects your billing, change orders, and cash flow as a subcontractor.
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