Alternative project delivery systems for transport infrastructure in Germany

Transport infrastructure projects are important for the development of the economy, industry and mobility. Such projects are long-lasting and have huge budgets. In addition, they are affected by the needs of the public owner, and usually involve many stakeholders. The current project delivery system in Germany is characterised by its traditional nature, in which the processes of design and construction are sequential. The owner contracts separately with the designer and the contractor. This separation hinders the collaboration and communication between the designer and constructor. Furthermore, the traditional procurement method based on the lowest price aligns with diverse challenges which often results in cost or time overruns, as well as in adversarial relationships amongst the involved parties. This fragmented structure of the construction industry is dissatisfying for the project participants. This paper examines the actual situation of project delivery and its shortcomings and it therefore investigates the reasons behind the problems of project delivery such as poor planning, scope changes or inappropriate risk allocation. In the 80s and 90s, the Anglo-American construction industry suffered from similar problems. This situation has been analysed by many reports, where suggestions for changes were made and solutions to overcome the adversarial situation of the industry were offered. Consequently, new delivery systems were developed. This paper provides an overview of the problems and obstacles associated with implementing alternative systems regarding the procurement law of public projects in Germany.