ID most certainly does start with "facts." It begins with the fact that particle matter, as well as most observable phenomena, demonstrate patterns, consistentcies, predictability, and much that intelligent design entails. You can make "ID is not science" your personal mantra if you wish, but that does not negate the fact that ID begins with the assumption that intelligibility, intelligence, and design are closely related, and that the universe presents overwhelming evidence of the same.
It starts with a particular explanation, which it would be unwilling to change no matter what facts may be put forth.
Atheistic science is just as culpable in this regard, for there is nothing in the universe that cannot be explained as "natural." And you are quite wrong in asserting that faith and science are mutually exclusive. Any time science makes inferences based upon indirect observation it is indulging faith to some degree.