Division 6: Construction & Evaluation

Question 1

What are the five major types of project delivery systems?

Answer 1

Design-bid-build
Construction manager as adviser
Construction manager as constructor
Design-build
Integrated project delivery

Question 2

Regardless of the project delivery system, the architect’s duties will include assisting in the selection of a contractor and in controlling costs. True or false?

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Which is the traditional method of delivery for completing a project?

Answer 3

Design-bid-build

Question 4

What are the architect’s responsibilities in a design-bid-build project?

Answer 4

Designing the project
Completing construction drawings
Writing specifications
Estimating costs
Assisting in the bidding process

Question 5

Competitive bidding usually results in the lowest construction cost. True or false?

Answer 5

True

Question 6

In competitive bidding, what do clearly defined guidelines protect the owner from?

Answer 6

Disreputable contractors and unethical bidding practices

Question 7

What factors determine a bidder’s prequalification?

Answer 7

Financial qualifications
Personnel
Experience
References
Size of firm
Bonding capability
Special qualities that make them particularly suited for the project

Question 8

When a project is open for bidding with no prequalification requirements, how are bidders notified?

Answer 8

An advertisement for bids is published in newspapers, trade journals, or online publications.

Question 9

When a project is open for bidding with prequalification requirements, how are bidders notified?

Answer 9

The owner sends an invitation to bid to each prequalified bidder.

Question 10

Who usually writes the advertisement for bids?

Answer 10

Architect

Question 11

What should an advertisement for bids include?

Answer 11

The fact that a call for bids is being made
Project name and location
Names and addresses of the owner and architect
Project description
When and where bids are due
How and where bidding documents can be obtained, if any
How and where a deposit is required, if any
Type and amount of bid bonds required
Procedures for submitting bids
Whether or not the bids will be opened publicly
The owner’s right to waive irregularities of the bidding process, if needed
The owner’s right to accept bids other than the lowest, if needed

Question 12

Advertising for bids if usually not required for public work. True or false?

Answer 12

False

Question 13

What is an addendum?

Answer 13

A written or graphic document, issued by the architect during the bid period prior to the execution of the contract, that modifies or interprets the bidding documents by addition, deletion, clarification, or correction.

Question 14

By when are addenda required to be communicated?

Answer 14

No more than 4 or 5 days before receipt of bids, to give the bidders ample opportunity to study them and modify proposals accordingly.

Question 15

What is a pre-bid conference?

Answer 15

A meeting during which the bidders can ask questions and the architect and owner can emphasize important conditions of the project

Question 16

After a pre-bid conference, answers to significant questions received during the conference should be formalized in an addendum. True or false?

Answer 16

True

Question 17

What is AIA Document A701?

Answer 17

Instructions to Bidders

Question 18

What is a bid opening?

Answer 18

A formal gathering, conducted by the architect with the owner and bidders present, where the received bids are opened and read aloud.

Question 19

What is a bid log?

Answer 19

A document prepared by the architect for noting pertinent information from a bid opening. This information includes the presence or absence of any required supporting documentation, the base bid amount, the amounts of alternatives (if any), and whether receipt of addenda was acknowledged.

Question 20

To whom should bid logs be made available to?

Answer 20

Bidders in both open and private biddings.

Question 21

The architect typically announces the apparent lowest bid at the bid opening. True or false?

Answer 21

False

Question 22

After a bid opening, how long does it usually take to evaluate the bids then make a decision of award?

Answer 22

7 to 10 days

Question 23

What are some criteria the architect and owner might use when evaluating opened bids?

Answer 23

Complete documentation
Insurance
Prices for alternates
Proposed subcontractors
Qualification statements
Bid bonds

Question 24

When a decision of award is made, it should be sent to all of the bidders who submitted bids. True or false?

Answer 24

True

Question 25

If the owner-architect agreement fixes a limit on construction, what are the owner’s options if all bids exceed the project budget?

Answer 25

The owner may rebid the project, which requires the architect to assist in the process a second time with no additional compensation.
The owner may authorize an increase in the construction cost and proceed with the project.
The owner may work with the architect in revising the scope of the project to reduce costs, which requires the architect to redesign, revise, and rebid with no additional compensation.
The owner may abandon the project.

Question 26

What do the bidding documents usually include?

Answer 26

Advertisement to bid
Instructions to bidders
Supplementary instructions to bidders (if any)
Bid forms
Bid security information
Performance bond (if required)
Labor and material payment bond (if required)
Qualifications forms
Proposed subcontractor list form
Certificates of insurance
Certificates of compliance with applicable laws and regulations
Geotechnical data

Question 27

Apart from the bidding documents, what else might the bidding package include?

Answer 27

Drawings
Specifications
General and supplementary conditions of the contract
Special conditions (if any)
Addenda
Form of agreement between owner and contractor

Question 28

What is included in the instructions to bidders?

Answer 28

Procedures and requirements that bidders must follow in submitting bids
How bids will be considered
Submittals required of the successful bidder

Question 29

What articles are included in the instructions to bidders, and what do they entail?

Answer 29

Bidder’s representations: the bidder represents that the documents have been read and understood, plans and specifications have been reviewed, and the site has been visited
Bidding documents: where the documents may be obtained, how many sets the bidders may have, and the deposit amount (if any)
Interpretation or correction of biding documents: the contractor is required to carefully study the documents and site conditions and to report any errors discovered to the architect