Federal agencies are under growing pressure to deliver projects faster, manage risk more effectively and do more with constrained resources. Procurement expectations and delivery approaches are also evolving across the federal market.
A notable recent development came through the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which explicitly authorized the use of Progressive Design-Build (PDB) for military construction projects.
For many federal agencies and industry teams, the focus is now moving from delivery authority to implementation, including acquisition strategy, organizational readiness and project execution.
That conversation will take center stage at DBIA’s 2026 Federal Design-Build Symposium, Aug. 11-12 at the Hyatt Regency Reston in Reston, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C.
This year’s Symposium theme, “From Authorization to Implementation,” focuses on the practical realities federal agencies and industry teams are now navigating as collaborative delivery expands across the sector.
Sessions throughout the program focus on issues federal Owners and industry teams are actively addressing, including:
- Implementing PDB where permitted.
- Advancing collaborative delivery within existing FAR and Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) frameworks.
- Improving Owner readiness and acquisition strategies.
- Managing risk, schedule pressures and project complexity.
- Building stronger alignment between agencies and industry teams.
The Symposium’s general sessions are designed to build on one another throughout the event.
The opening session, “The Federal Imperative for Design-Build: Are We Ready?” examines the pressures driving change across the federal sector. Federal agency leaders will discuss what’s working, what still needs to change and what it will take for agencies to successfully implement collaborative delivery at scale.
The following morning’s general session, “Design-Build: The Next Frontier,” focuses on the realities federal agencies are now confronting as collaborative delivery expands across the sector. The session explores how agencies can move forward regardless of framework, including how to optimize Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) and existing FAR processes to support stronger collaboration and better project outcomes.
The Symposium concludes with “The Time is Now: Answers, Results, Tools,” an interactive capstone discussion centered on practical next steps, lessons learned and the tools agencies and industry teams need to move collaborative delivery forward successfully.
The Symposium also features two educational tracks focused on different aspects of collaborative delivery.
Track 1, Progressive Design-Build, explores topics including Owner readiness, Validation, off-ramp strategies and federal acquisition considerations tied to implementing PDB in federal environments.
Track 2, Design-Build Done Right®, highlights real-world federal projects and delivery strategies, including mission-critical biosecurity infrastructure and advanced federal training facilities delivered under demanding conditions.
Attendees will also hear from keynote speaker Kim Becking, an internationally recognized speaker and resilience expert, who will discuss leadership, adaptability and navigating change in complex environments.
The Symposium also includes Industry Day Agency Sessions, where attendees can hear directly from federal agencies about upcoming capital project portfolios, procurement timelines, performance expectations and future design-build opportunities.
The program also makes space for candid discussion around both opportunities and challenges facing the federal market.
Federal agencies are not all operating under the same authorities or constraints. While the NDAA expanded opportunities for military construction, civilian agencies continue working within different procurement realities. The Symposium’s sessions are designed to reflect those distinctions while focusing on practical strategies that can improve outcomes regardless of delivery framework.
The Symposium will also include networking receptions, industry discussions and an Aug. 10 preconference Collaborative Delivery Leadership Academy course, “Leadership: Building a Strong Foundation,” focused on leadership skills for collaborative delivery environments.
Registration for the 2026 Federal Design-Build Symposium is now open.
