Expanding Access to Design-Build in Texas: DBIA-SW and WCDA Partner to Empower Small Communities

Oct 7
2 min read

The Design-Build Institute of America Southwest Region (DBIA-SW) has joined forces with the Water Collaborative Delivery Association (WCDA) to expand access to design-build and collaborative delivery methods for small and mid-sized municipalities across Texas.

Together, we’re advocating for legislative changes that would allow more communities to take advantage of these proven, cost-effective, and resilient delivery models for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

The Challenge

Under current law—Texas Government Code 2269—communities with fewer than 100,000 residents are prohibited from using design-build for water, wastewater, and other infrastructure projects. That means only 43 of more than 1,200 Texas municipalities can currently access this proven delivery method.

This limitation leaves smaller cities, rural providers, and utility districts struggling to meet the demands of aging infrastructure, compliance mandates, workforce shortages, and limited funding—often forcing them into slower, less efficient design-bid-build processes.

The Opportunity

Collaborative delivery, including design-build, engages owners, engineers, and contractors early in the process, enabling better risk management, cost predictability, and faster project delivery. These methods have been shown to deliver fewer disputes, higher owner satisfaction, and lower total project costs.

Across the U.S., communities of all sizes are benefiting from design-build’s streamlined approach. In Midland, Texas, for example, design-build secured a reliable water supply in just 12 months—demonstrating how powerful these methods can be when barriers are removed.

How You Can Help

The DBIA Southwest Region and WCDA are preparing for the 2027 Texas Legislative Session with a unified goal: to expand design-build access to all Texas communities.

You can help by:

Sharing this message with city officials, utility leaders, and industry partners.
Contacting your state senator or representative to advocate for change.
Educating local leaders on the benefits of design-build.