Contract Considerations for Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)

In every country there are specific standard contracts that are commonly used to establish the governance of
construction projects. For example, historically, many stakeholders in the American construction industry have
relied upon the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Associated General Contractors of America
(AGC) to provide them with contract templates. As you now know, there are many stakeholders involved in the
construction process and thus, industry contracts have evolved over time to better address the needs of
varying stakeholders. As you consider the evolution of these contract templates, think about the current
obstacles that these templates present to stakeholders who would like to use integrated project delivery for a
construction project.
For this Discussion, you will be thinking about the American market as you address the use of contracts
through the lens of the IPD system. As you prepare for this Discussion, think about the key differences among
the contracts provided by the AIA and AGC, including AGC’s ConsensusDocs. Keep these thoughts in mind as
you respond to the following:
In your opinion, what are the two main obstacles in the way that American contracts are currently written that
need to be overcome in order for IPD to become widely used? To illustrate your position, cite specific contracts
when appropriate