services

Branch & Associates, Inc. performs under a variety of contractual arrangements and project delivery methods for public and private sector clients. The contractual agreements are generally based on one of three arrangements:

• Fixed Price Agreements

• Fixed Fee Agreement

• Cost-Plus Agreements

Branch is accustomed to working under any of these contractual arrangements according to our clients' preferences. Many of our projects feature some blending of the different contract types. An often-used example is a GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price) contract, where our project management fee is fixed and costs are reimbursed up to a predetermined maximum amount.

Because of the varying needs of our clients, Branch has also developed strong capabilities to work under three different types of project delivery methods. These methods represent distinct approaches to allocating risk, defining the project team relationships, and the respective roles of Branch, our Client, and design consultants. These three delivery methods are:

General Contractor
In this method most often referred to as design-bid-build, Branch is engaged by the client to construct the project to the requirements of the contract normally on a lump sum basis.  The work is typically procured by competitive bid.  Design-bid-build still represents the most widely used method of procurement. 

Construction Manager
Construction management including construction management at risk (CM at Risk) has become the delivery method of choice for many of our clients, both public and private.  As the construction manager, Branch becomes part of the client's team along with the architect.  This collaborative arrangement creates unlimited possibilities for the project including early starts, fast tracking, value analysis and constructability reviews.  The client is protected because the construction manager’s fee is fixed 

Design Build
In this method Branch includes direct responsibility for design and construction services to meet the project program as defined by the client, often under compressed schedule requirements. Under Design-Build, Branch's team works very closely with the to assure that the project incorporates all of the client's program. This turnkey process enables Branch to provide our clients with a single point of responsibility.