Construction Documents & Services

Front 1

An engineer or other specialist retained by the architect to provide specified professional services to the architect which the architect is required to provide to the owner under the owner-architect agreement.

Back 1

Consultant

Front 2

A contractor's written request for payment of the amount due on account of work completed and/or materials suitably stored on site. Also called application for payment.

Back 2

Payment Request

Front 3

Instructions in the bidding documents for preparing and submitting bids for a project. Also called instructions to bidders.

Back 3

Notice to Bidders

Front 4

A specification which calls for desired materials, products, systems and equipment by their trade names and model numbers.

Back 4

Proprietary Specification

Front 5

Fire and property damage insurance for a project during construction, usually purchased by the owner. Also called property insurance.

Back 5

Builder's Risk Insurance

Front 6

A term used to describe poor air qualitym which can lead to discomfort and possibly disease.

Back 6

Sick Building Syndrome

Front 7

A forecast of probable costs, as opposed to a firm bid.

Back 7

Estimate

Front 8

Instructions in the bidding documents for preparing and submitting bids for a project. Also called notice to bidders.

Back 8

Instructions to Bidders

Front 9

An amount established in an agreement between an owner and a contractor as the maximum cost of performign specified work. Also called the upset price.

Back 9

Guaranteed Maximum Cost

Front 10

A statement furnished to the architect by the contractor reflecting the amounts to be allotted for the principal divisions of the work. It serves as a guide for reviewing the contractor's periodic applications for payment.

Back 10

Schedule of Values

Front 11

A memorandum which outlines the types and limits of the insurance coverages carried by the contractor for a project.

Back 11

Certificate of Insurance

Front 12

An invitation to a selected list of contractors soliciting bids for a project.

Back 12

Invitation to Bid

Front 13

A shop drawing, project data, or sample submitted by the contractor to the architect for review prior to incorporation in the work.

Back 13

Submittal

Front 14

Coverage by contract (insurance policy), whereby one party (the insurance company) agrees to indemnify or reimburse another (the insured) against loss from a specified hazard.

Back 14

Insurance

Front 15

An agreement under which one party (the surety or bonding company) guarantees to make good to another party (the obligee or owner) the debt, default, or failure to perform of a third party (the principal of contractor). Also called a bond.

Back 15

Surety Bond

Front 16

A bond obtained by the contractor or owner, which guarantees that the project will be completed free of liens.

Back 16

Completion Bond

Front 17

An amount not included in the contract sum to cover the cost of certain items not specified in detail. Hardware and other finish items are often handled in this manner.

Back 17

Cash Allowance

Front 18

Failure to meet the ordinary standard of care expected of an architect or other professional in a specified circumstance.

Back 18

Negligence

Front 19

Indirect expense, that is, expenses indirectly incurred and not chargeable to a specified project. Also called an indirect expense.

Back 19

Overhead Expense

Front 20

A proprietary specification which requires a particular brand or trade name and does not permit any substitution.

Back 20

Closed Proprietary Specification

Front 21

A proposal by a bidder for an amount to be subtracted from or added to the base bid if the corresponding change in the work is accepted. This may be either a deductive or additive alternate.

Back 21

Alternate Bid

Front 22

Abbreviation for not-in-contract, referring to items neither furnished nor installed by the contractor.

Back 22

NIC

Front 23

The sum established by the owner as available for construction of the project.

Back 23

Construction Budget

Front 24

Insurance which financially protects an architect against claims for damages resulting from professional negligence. Also called errors and omissions insurance.

Back 24

Professional Liability Insurance

Front 25

Working drawings and specifications.

Back 25

Construction Documents

Front 26

The invitation to bid, instructions to bidders, bid form, and the contract documents.

Back 26

Bidding Documents

Front 27

Expense items directly incurred by or attributable to a specified project.

Back 27

Direct Expense

Front 28

An alternative to litigating a dispute, in which one or more arbitrators hears the evidence and renders a decision.

Back 28

Arbitration

Front 29

Direction of the work by the contractor's personnel. Supervision is not the responsibility of the architect.

Back 29

Supervision

Front 30

The sum of money stated in the bid for which the bidder offers to do the work, not including any alternate bids.

Back 30

Base Bid

Front 31

A document issued by the governing authority stating that a building complies with applicable laws and permitting occupancy for its designated use.

Back 31

Certificate of Occupancy

Front 32

An ordinance which specifies the period of time within which legal action must be brought to obtain legal relief for damage or injury.

Back 32

Statue of Limitations

Front 33

The part of the contract documents which states the rights, responsibilites, and relationships of the parties involved, usually by means of standard documents by the American Institute of Architects.

Back 33

General Conditions

Front 34

A proposal by a contractor to do the work required by the contract documents for a stipulated sum of money.

Back 34

Bid

Front 35

Any contractor on a project who has a contract directly with the owner.

Back 35

Prime Contractor

Front 36

The architect's representative at the site, who assists in the general administration of the construction contract for a project.

Back 36

Project Representative

Front 37

Payments made to the contractor during progress of the work on account of work completed and/or materials suitably stored.

Back 37

Progress Payments

Front 38

The period of time within which the work must be completed, as established in the contract documents.

Back 38

Contract Time

Front 39

A sum chargable against the contractor as reimbursement for damages suffered by the owner because of the contractor's failure to complete the work within a specified time.

Back 39

Liquidated Damages

Front 40

Statements or drawings which modify the basic contract documents after the latter have been issued to the bidders, but prior to taking of bids.

Back 40

Addenda

Front 41

A written order to the contractor, prepared by the architect and signed by the owner, contractor, and architect, which authorizes a change in the work, the contract sum, or the contract time.

Back 41

Change Order

Front 42

Management services performed by the architect or others, over and above normal architectural services, that contribute to the control of time and cost in the construction project.

Back 42

Construction Management (CM)

Front 43

A legally enforceable promise made by the warrantor.

Back 43

Express Warranty

Front 44

All materials and/or labor required for a project.

Back 44

Work

Front 45

The manual prepared by the architect for a project, including the technical specifications, bidding instructions and forms, general conditions, supplementary conditions, special conditions, and other legal and administrative documents.

Back 45

Project Manual

Front 46

An agreement under which the contractor, or the architect, is reimbursed for his or her costs, and, in addition, is paid a fee for his or her services.

Back 46

Cost-Plus-Fee Contract

Front 47

A contractual obligation whereby one party agrees to guarantee another party against loss or damage from specified liabilities. Also called indemnification.

Back 47

Hold Harmless Clause

Front 48

The architect's basic services expanded to include certain additional services, such as programming, land use studies, and so on.

Back 48

Comprehensive Services

Front 49

The General Requirements Division of the specifications which establishes the administrative and procedural duties of the contractor, architect, and owner during construction.

Back 49

Division One

Front 50

A bond which guarantees to the owner that the contractor will perform the work in accordance with the contract documents.

Back 50

Performance Bond

Front 51

A bond guaranteeing to the owner that the contractor will pay for all labor and materials used for the project.

Back 51

Labor and Material Payment Bond

Front 52

A system of planning and scheduling construction operations which analyzes sequences and durations of time using network diagrams.

Back 52

Critical Path Method (CPM)

Front 53

An amount added to the contract sum either by an accepted additive alternate or by a change order.

Back 53

Addition (to the contract sum)

Front 54

A contractual obligation whereby one party agrees to guarantee another party against loss or damage from specified liabilities. Also called the hold harmless clause.

Back 54

Indemnification

Front 55

Drawings prepared by the contractor, subcontractor, manufacturer, or supplier, showing how specified portions of the work shall be fabricated and/or installed.

Back 55

Shop Drawings

Front 56

A small-scale plan of a building or complex of buildings.

Back 56

Key Plan

Front 57

Insurance which covers workers' job-related injuries, usually required by law.

Back 57

Workers' Compensation Insurance

Front 58

The owner's job site representative.

Back 58

Clerk of the Works

Front 59

A provision in the construction contract for payment of a bonus to the contractor for completing the project prior to a specified date, and for a charge (penalty) against the contractor for failing to complete the project by that date.

Back 59

Bonus and Penalty Clause

Front 60

The total amount payable by the owner to the contractor, as stated in the owner-contractor agreement, for performing the work under the contract documents.

Back 60

Contract Sum

Front 61

Part of the contract documents, comprising written descriptions of materials, construction systems, and workmanship.

Back 61

Specifications

Front 62

A statement by the architect informing the owner of the amount due the contractor on account of work completed and/or materials suitably stored.

Back 62

Certificate for Payment

Front 63

A proposal by a bidder for an amount to be subtracted from the base bid if the corresponding change in the work is accepted.

Back 63

Deductive Alternate

Front 64

A clause in a cost plus fee contract between the owner and contractor in which the savings between the guaranteed maximum cost and the actual project costs are proportionally shared.

Back 64

Incentive Clause

Front 65

A list of items to be corrected or completed, which is provided by the contractor and usually expanded by the architect based on a detailed inspection of the work prior to substantial completion.

Back 65

Punch List

Front 66

Regulations which provide for accessibility to buildings and sites for persons with disabilities.

Back 66

Barrier-Free Provisions

Front 67

A charge against the contractor for failing to complete the project by a specified date.

Back 67

Penalty

Front 68

A term sometimes erroneously used to describe drawings revised to show changes made during construction. The correct term is record drawings.

Back 68

As-Built Drawings

Front 69

An agreement under which one party (the surety or bonding company) guarantees to make good to another party (the obligee or owner) the debt, default, or failure to perform of a thirdy party (the principal or contractor). Also called a surety bond.

Back 69

Bond

Front 70

An amount withheld from each payment to the contractor in accordance with the terms of the owner-contractor agreement.

Back 70

Retainage

Front 71

One of several owner-contractor agreements for a project, each of which provided for constructing a major portion of the work (general construction, electrical, mechanical, etc) by a different contract.

Back 71

Separate Prime Contract

Front 72

The requirement that a professional exercise reasonable ability and judgment in a specific circumstance, the absence of which constitutes negligence. Also called due care.

Back 72

Standard of Care

Front 73

The completion of all work in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract documents.

Back 73

Final Completion

Front 74

The extra time available for a construction activity above its estimated time duration, without causing any delay of project completion.

Back 74

Float

Front 75

A contractor's written request for payment of the amount due on account of work completed and/or materials suitably stored on site. Also called a payment request.

Back 75

Application for Payment

Front 76

A proposal by a bidder for an amount to be added to the base bid if the corresponding change in the work is accepted.

Back 76

Additive Alternate

Front 77

An agreement providing for payment for professional services based upon the direct personnel expense multiplied by an agreed factor.

Back 77

Multiple of Direct Personnel Expense Agreement

Front 78

The date, certified by the architect, when the construction is sufficiently completed, in accordance with the contract documents, so that the owner can occupy the project for the intended use.

Back 78

Date of Substantial Completion

Front 79

An agreement under which the architect or contractor is paid a specific amount as the total fee for services performed. Also known as a lump sum contract.

Back 79

Stipulated Sum Contract

Front 80

The part of the contract documents, prepared by the architect, which graphically illustrates the construction required for the project.

Back 80

Working Drawings

Front 81

One who acts on behalf of another.

Back 81

Agent

Front 82

The difference between the list price and the actual price paid.

Back 82

Trade Discount

Front 83

Describing a construction procedure in which construction on each phase of a project is begun when its design is completed, without waiting for overall project design completion.

Back 83

Fast-track

Front 84

A material or assembly submitted for the architect's approval prior to manufacture or delivery to the project.

Back 84

Sample

Front 85

A legally enforceable assurance of the quality of materials and labor furnished for a project, or of the length of time that a project or a part thereof will perform satisfactorily. Also called a guarantee.

Back 85

Warranty

Front 86

Part of the contract documents, other than the general and supplementary conditions, describing unique conditions of a project.

Back 86

Special Conditions

Front 87

The architectural services normally required for a building project, usually consisting of schematic design, design development, construction documents, bidding or negotiation, and construction contract administration.

Back 87

Basic Services

Front 88

An individual or company that guarantees to make good to another party the debt, default, or failure to perform of a third party.

Back 88

Surety

Front 89

The contractor's representative at the site.

Back 89

Superintendent

Front 90

A legally enforceable assurance of the quality of materials and labor furnished for a project, or of the length of time that a project or a part thereof will perform satisfactorily. Also called a warranty.

Back 90

Guarantee

Front 91

An amount included in a construction budget, normally 5 to 10 percent, to provide for unforseen or unpredictable costs.

Back 91

Contingency Allowance

Front 92

Federal legislation that requires the Department of Labor to set prevailing wages for government financed construction projects.

Back 92

Davis-Bacon Act

Front 93

The exclusion from insurance coverage for liability arising out of (X) explosion or blasting, (C) collapse of or structural damage to a building, and (U) underground damaged caused by mechanical equipment.

Back 93

XCU

Front 94

Salaries and wages attributable to a specific project, plus benefits such as employment taxes, insurance, sick leave, holidays, vacations, pensions, and similar contributions and benefits.

Back 94

Direct Personnel Expense (DPE)

Front 95

Working drawings, specifications, addenda, general conditions of the contract, supplementary conditions, and the owner-contractor agreement.

Back 95

Contract Documents

Front 96

An approach to the delivery of goods or services in which quality is determined by customer satisfaction and conformance to requirements.

Back 96

Total Quality Management (TQM)

Front 97

A document prepared by the architect stating that the work is substantially complete, thereby establishing the date of substantial completion. It generally fixes the time within which the contractor must complete the unfinished work listed.

Back 97

Certificate of Substantial Completion

Front 98

The lowest bid which complies with all the stipulated requirements.

Back 98

Lowest Acceptable Bona Fide Bid

Front 99

The sum established by the owner as available for the entire project, including the construction budget, land cost, equipment cost, financing cost, cost of professional services, and contingency allowances.

Back 99

Project Budget

Front 100

Federal civil rights legislation which establishes the right of persons with disabilities to equal access to sites and buildings and sets design guidelines for its implementation.

Back 100

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Front 101

A legal document signed by a supplier of material or labor for a project, which releases his or her mechanic's lien against the property.

Back 101

Release of Lien

Front 102

Published public notice soliciting proposals for a construction project.

Back 102

Advertisement for Bids

Front 103

The maximum allowable cost of the construction work, as established in the owner-architect agreement.

Back 103

Fixed Limit of Construction Cost

Front 104

Part of the contract documents, prepared by the architect, which may modify provisions of the general conditions of the contract.

Back 104

Supplementary Conditions

Front 105

A deposit of money required for each bidder as security for the bidding documents, to ensure the return of the documents by unsuccessful bidders.

Back 105

Deposit for Bidding Documents

Front 106

The substitution of one entity for another with regard to legal rights.

Back 106

Subrogation

Front 107

A proprietary specification which names several acceptable materials, products, or systems, any of which may be used by the contractor.

Back 107

Open Proprietary Specification

Front 108

Professional services rendered by the architect, upon the owner's request, in addition to the basic servcies identified in the owner architect agreement. Also called extra services.

Back 108

Additional Services (of the architect)

Front 109

A choice given to the contractor to provide specified alternates without prior approval of the architect.

Back 109

Option

Front 110

A specification which describes all product components, arrangements, assembly methods, properties, and other details and requirements.

Back 110

Descriptive Specification

Front 111

On-site examination of the contractor's work by the architect to determine in general if it is proceeding in accordance with the contract documents.

Back 111

Observation

Front 112

Acronym for project evaluation review technique. A form of network analysis developed for military work and similar to the critical path method.

Back 112

PERT

Front 113

An owner-architect agreement under which the professional fee is based upon a percentage of the construction cost of the project.

Back 113

Percentage Agreement

Front 114

Insurance which financially protects an architect against claims for damages resulting from professional negligence. Also called professional liability insurance.

Back 114

Errors and Omissions Insurance

Front 115

An amount established in an agreement between an owner and a contractor as the maximum cost of performing specified work. Also called the guaranteed maximum cost.

Back 115

Upset Price

Front 116

Overhead expense, that is, expenses indirectly incurred and not chargeable to a specified project. Also called overhead expense.

Back 116

Indirect Expense

Front 117

A specification which refers to quality standards established by recognized testing authorities or by the federal government.

Back 117

Reference Specification

Front 118

A term sometimes erroneously used to describe drawings revised to show changes made during construction. Sometimes erroneously called as-built drawings.

Back 118

Record Drawings

Front 119

A contract for building construction under which one prime contractor is responsible for the entire project, in contrast to having separate contracts.

Back 119

Single Prime Contract

Front 120

The agreement between the owner and the contractor for the construction of a project.

Back 120

General Contract

Front 121

An amount, stated in dollars per unit, provided by the contractor with his or her bid for adding or deleting specific portions of the work.

Back 121

Unit Price

Front 122

A surety bond guaranteeing that the bidder will sign a contract, if offered, in accordance with his or her proposal.

Back 122

Bid Bond

Front 123

The requirement that a professional exercise reasonable ability and judgment in a specific circumstance, the absence of which constitutes negligence. Also called standard of care.

Back 123

Due Care

Front 124

A document by which one relinquishes the right of a mechanic's lien against the property of another.

Back 124

Waiver of Lien

Front 125

One who has a contract with a prime contractor to perform a portion of the work.

Back 125

Subcontractor

Front 126

Fire and property damage insurance for a project during construction, usually purchased by the owner. Also called builder's risk insurance.

Back 126

Property Insurance

Front 127

An item of work involving additional cost.

Back 127

Extra

Front 128

A written statement of the owner's conditions and requirements for the project.

Back 128

Program

Front 129

Professional services rendered by the architect, upon the owner's request, in addition to the basic services identified in the owner-architect agreement. Also called additional services (of the architect).

Back 129

Extra Services

Front 130

A document signed by the owner and the architect, which authorizes a change in the work, the contract sum, or the contract time. It is used when there is not complete agreement on the terms of a change order.

Back 130

Construction Change Directive

Front 131

A systematic listing of construction trades, materials, systems, and administrative requirements published by the Construction Specifications Institutue (CSI) for the purpose of organizing construction specifications.

Back 131

CSI MasterFormat

Front 132

The elements which comprise an exit to the outside, including aisles, corridors, doors, and stairways.

Back 132

Means of Egress

Front 133

Insurance which financially protects the insured against liability on account of bodily injury or property damage sustained by another.

Back 133

Liability Insurance

Front 134

An agreement under which the architect or contractor is paid a specific amount as the total fee for services performed. Also called a stipulate sum contract.

Back 134

Lump Sum Contract

Front 135

A letter signifying intention to enter into a formal agreement and setting forth the general terms thereof.

Back 135

Letter of Intent

Front 136

Additional services rendered to the owner by the architect following actual completion of the project.

Back 136

Post-Completion Services

Front 137

A material, system, or product proposed by a contractor as being equivalent to that required by the contract documents.

Back 137

Substitution

Front 138

A specification which defines products or systems by describing end results.

Back 138

Performance Specification

Front 139

As defined in the AIA General Conditions, completion of a project to the point where the owner can occupy all or designated portions of the work for the purpose for which it is intended.

Back 139

Substantial Completion

Front 140

A claim on property by those who furnish material or labor for the construction of a building. Clear title to the property cannot be obtained until the claim is settled.

Back 140

Mechanic's Lien

Front 141

A material or method that is approved by the architect as being equivalent to what was originally specified.

Back 141

Approved Equal