Contract Management of BIM-Based Projects in the Brazilian Public Sector: Contractors’ and Owners’ Perspectives

Building information modeling (BIM) is currently a prevalent approach for a new way of managing the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of a project. In this context this study investigates how contract management can be better aligned with BIM-based public construction projects in Brazil, emphasizing the potential of agile-inspired mechanisms to address the limitations of traditional contractual frameworks. A qualitative approach was adopted, using semistructured interviews with public-sector professionals and private contractors to examine BIM applications, organizational practices, and the integration of BIM into contract management. The findings reveal persistent gaps, including vague contractual clauses, fragmented responsibilities, limited use of common data environments (CDEs), and insufficient institutional capacity. Based on these insights, the study proposes the following practical recommendations for public-sector contract managers: embedding explicit BIM clauses, mandating CDE use, clarifying roles and approval workflows, adopting modular contracting where feasible, investing in training, and pursuing regulatory adjustments. A three-layer conceptual framework is developed, linking BIM functionalities, contract management activities, and agile-oriented recommendations, highlighting how digital processes reshape contractual requirements and how adaptive strategies can enhance efficiency, transparency, and collaboration. The research offers both theoretical and practical contributions. Theoretically, by connecting BIM and agile concepts to contract management, and practically, by providing guidance for more integrated and adaptive public procurement practices.