Abstract
A competent contractor can be regarded as a catalyst to deliver truly sustainable building and hence, able to contribute to mitigate detrimental impacts of the built environment. Prequalification phase provides confidence to the owner to achieve project’s sustainability requirements, aiding to complete mutual relationship with the selected contractor. This study proposes a decision framework for green building (GB) prequalification, which aims to improve the owner/contractor relationship. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the prequalification factors. To draw attention to GB projects and trust-based prequalification factors, a focus group discussion was performed with GB experts. A decision framework consisting of 12 relationship-based factors was then subjected to fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (F-DEMATEL) method. The followed methodology aided the determination of the relationship-based prequalification factors, specification of the importance of factor degrees, illustration of interrelationship among factors and consequently revelation of the most causal factors that might contribute significantly to the improvement of owner and contractor (O&C) relationship in GB projects. Results pointed out the importance of financial factors, while the same factors were found to be the driving force behind the improved relationship between O&C. Pertinent literature on prequalification in GB projects are limited, and no prior in-depth study has investigated prequalification phase based on trust and mutual relationship between O&C. Highlighting the gap in the literature about trust-based contractor selection models, the proposed study can be useful to minimize conflicts and claims between the O&C, which could confidently direct owners to consider GB projects.