Flash Cards - CDS - Glossary by Definition
Statements or drawings that modify the basic contract documents after the latter have been issued to the bidders, but prior to taking of bids.
Addenda
An amount added to the contract sum either by an accepted additive alternate or by change order.
Addition (to the contract sum)
Published public notice soliciting proposals for a construction project.
Advertisement for Bids
One who acts on behalf of another.
Agent
Proposal by bidder for amount to be subtracted from or added to the base bid if the corresponding change in the work is accepted.
Alternate Bid
Federal civil rights legislation that establishes the right of persons with disabilities to equal access to sites and buildings and sets design guidelines for its implementation.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Contractor’s written request for payment of amount due on account of work completed and or materials suitably stored on the site. Also called Payment Request.
Application for Payment
Material or method that is approved by the architect as being equivalent to what was originally specified.
Approved Equal
An alternative to litigating a dispute, in which one or more arbitrators hears the evidence and renders a decision.
Arbitration
See Record Drawings. (Drawings revised to show changes made during construction. Sometimes erroneously called As Built Drawings.)
As Built Drawings
Regulations that provide for accessibility to buildings and sites for persons with disabilities.
Barrier free Provisions
The sum of money stated in the bid for which the bidder offers to do the work, not including any alternate bids.
Base Bid
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.
Basic Services
A proposal by a contractor to do the work required by the contract documents for a stipulated sum of money.
Bid
A surety bond guaranteeing that the bidder will sign a contract, if offered, in accordance with his or her proposal.
Bid Bond
The invitation to bid, instructions to bidders, bid form, and the contract documents.
Bidding Documents
See Surety Bond. (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 or contractor). See Bid Bond, Labor and Material Payment Bond, and Performance Bond.)
Bond
A provision in the construction contract for payment of a bonus to the contractor for completing the project prior to a specific date, and for a charge (penalty) against the contractor for failing to complete the project by that date.
Bonus and Penalty Clause
An amount 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.
Cash Allowance
A statement by the architect informing the owner of the amount due the contractor on account of work completed and or materials suitably stored.
Certificate for Payment
A document issued by the governing authority stating that a building complies with applicable laws and permitting occupancy for its designated use.
Certificate of Occupancy
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.
Certificate of Substantial Completion
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 Extra Services.
Change in Services (of the architect)
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.
Change Order
The owner’s job site representative.
Clerk of the Works
A bond obtained by the contractor or owner, which guarantees that the project will be completed free of liens.
Completion Bond
The architect’s basic services expanded to include certain additional services, such as programming, land use studies, etc.
Comprehensive Services
The sum established by the owner as available for construction of the project. See Project Budget.
Construction Budget
A document, signed by the owner and the architect, which authorizes a change in the work, the contract sum, or the contract time. Used when there is not complete agreement on the terms of a change order. See Change Order.
Construction Change Directive
Working drawings and specifications.
Construction Documents
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 of a project.
Construction Management (CM)
An engineer or other specialist retained by the architect to provide specified professional services to the architect that the architect is required to provide to the owner under the owner architect agreement.
Consultant
An amount of money set aside in a budget to cover unanticipated expenses.
Contingency
Working drawings, specifications, addenda, general conditions of the contract, supplementary conditions, and the owner contractor agreement.
Contract Documents
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.
Contract Sum
The period of time within which the work must be completed, as established in the contract documents.
Contract Time
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.
Cost Plus Fee Contract
A project management procedure in which all events and operations are charted in a way that establishes the optimum sequence and duration of operations.
Critical Path Method (CPM)
A systematic listing of construction trades, materials, systems, and administrative requirements published by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) for the purpose of organizing construction specifications.
CSI MasterFormat
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 or specified area of the project for the intended use.
Date of Substantial Completion
A federal law that requires the Department of Labor to set prevailing wages for government financed construction projects.
Davis Bacon Act
A deposit of money required of each bidder as security for the bidding documents, to ensure the return of the documents by unsuccessful bidders.
Deposit for Bidding Documents
Expense items directly incurred by or attributable to a specific project.
Direct Expense
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.
Direct Personnel Expense (DPE)
The General Requirements Division of the specifications that establishes the administrative and procedural duties of the contractor, architect, and owner during construction.
Division One
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.
Due Care
See Professional Liability Insurance. (Insurance that financially protects an architect against claims for damages resulting from professional negligence. Also called Errors and Omissions Insurance.)
Errors and Omissions Insurance
A forecast of probable costs, as opposed to a firm bid.
Estimate
A legally enforceable promise made by the warrantor.
Express Warranty
An item of work involving additional cost. See Addition (to the contract sum).
Extra
See Change in Services (of the architect). (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 Extra Services.)
Extra Services
A construction technique by which construction on each element of a project is begun as soon as the design for that element is completed, without waiting for completion of the design for the entire project. Its principal objective is to shorten the overall construction time.
Fast Track Construction
The completion of all work in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract documents.
Final Completion
The extra time available for a construction activity above its estimated time duration, without causing any delay of project completion.
Float
The part of the contract documents that states the rights, responsibilities, and relationships of the parties involved, usually by means of a standard document published by the American Institute of Architects.
General Conditions
The agreement between the owner and the contractor for the construction of a project.
General Contract
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 Warranty.
Guarantee
The amount established by agreement between owner and contractor as the maximum cost of performing specified work. Also called Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP). See Upset Price.
Guaranteed Maximum Cost
See Indemnification. (A contractual obligation whereby one party agrees to guarantee another party against loss or damage from specified liabilities. Also called Hold Harmless Clause.)
Hold Harmless Clause
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 cost are proportionally shared.
Incentive Clause
A contractual obligation whereby one party agrees to guarantee another party against loss or damage from specified liabilities. Also called Hold Harmless Clause.
Indemnification
Overhead expense, that is, expenses indirectly incurred and not chargeable to a specific project.
Indirect Expense
Instructions in the bidding documents for preparing and submitting bids for a project. Also called Notice to Bidders.
Instructions to Bidders
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. See Liability Insurance and Professional Liability Insurance.
Insurance
An invitation to a selected list of contractors soliciting bids for a project.
Invitation to Bid
A bond guaranteeing to the owner that the contractor will pay for all labor and materials used for the project.
Labor and Material Payment Bond
A letter signifying intention to enter into a formal agreement and setting forth the general terms thereof.
Letter of Intent
Insurance that financially protects the insured against liability on account of bodily injury or property damage sustained by another.
Liability Insurance
A sum chargeable 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.
Liquidated Damages
The lowest bid that complies with all the stipulated requirements.
Lowest Acceptable Bona Fide Bid
See Stipulated Sum Contract.
Lump Sum Contract
The elements that comprise an exit to the outside, including aisles, corridors, doors, and stairways.
Means of Egress
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.
Mechanic’s Lien
An agreement providing for payment for professional services based upon the direct personnel expense multiplied by an agreed factor.
Multiple of Direct Personnel Expense Agreement
See Instructions to Bidders. (Instructions in the bidding documents for preparing and submitting bids for a project. Also called Notice to Bidders.)
Notice to Bidders
A term sometimes used for 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.
Observation
A choice given to the contractor to provide specified alternates without prior approval of the architect.
Option
See Indirect Expense. (Overhead expense, that is, expenses indirectly incurred and not chargeable to a specific project.)
Overhead Expense
See Application for Payment. (Contractor’s written request for payment of amount due on account of work completed and or materials suitably stored on the site. Also called Payment Request.)
Payment Request
See Bonus and Penalty Clause. (A provision in the construction contract for payment of a bonus to the contractor for completing the project prior to a specific date, and for a charge (penalty) against the contractor for failing to complete the project by that date.)
Penalty
An owner architect agreement under which the professional fee is based upon a percentage of the construction cost of the project.
Percentage Agreement
A bond that guarantees to the owner that the contractor will perform the work in accordance with the contract documents.
Performance Bond
Additional services rendered to the owner by the architect following actual completion of the project.
Post Completion Services
Any contractor on a project who has a contract directly with the owner.
Prime Contractor
Insurance that financially protects an architect against claims for damages resulting from professional negligence. Also called Errors and Omissions Insurance.
Professional Liability Insurance
A written statement of the owner’s conditions and requirements for the project.
Program
Payments made to the contractor during progress of the work on account of work completed and or materials suitably stored.
Progress Payments
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. See Construction Budget.
Project Budget
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.
Project Manual
The architect’s representative at the site, who assists in the general administration of the construction contract for a project.
Project Representative
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.
Punch List
Drawings revised to show changes made during construction. Sometimes erroneously called As Built Drawings.
Record Drawings
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. See Mechanic’s Lien.
Release of Lien
An amount withheld from each payment to the contractor in accordance with the terms of the owner contractor agreement.
Retainage
Material or assembly submitted for the architect’s approval prior to manufacture or delivery to the project.
Sample
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.
Schedule of Values
One of several owner contractor agreements for a project, each of which provides for constructing a major portion of the work (general construction, electrical, mechanical, etc.) by a different contractor.
Separate Prime Contract
Drawings prepared by contractor, subcontractor, manufacturer, or supplier, showing how specific portions of the work shall be fabricated and or installed.
Shop Drawings
A term used to describe poor indoor air quality, which can lead to discomfort and possibly disease.
Sick Building Syndrome
A contract for building construction under which one prime contractor is responsible for the entire project, in contrast to having separate contracts. See Separate Prime Contract.
Single Prime Contract
Part of the contract documents, other than general and supplementary conditions, describing unique conditions of a project.
Special Conditions
Part of the contract documents, comprising written descriptions of materials, construction systems, and workmanship.
Specifications
See Due Care. (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.)
Standard of Care
An ordinance that specifies the period of time within which legal action must be brought in order to obtain legal relief for damage or injury.
Statute of Limitations
An agreement under which the architect or contractor is paid a specific amount as the total fee for services performed. Also known as Lump Sum Contract.
Stipulated Sum Contract
One who has a contract with a prime contractor to perform a portion of the work.
Subcontractor
A shop drawing, project data, or sample submitted by the contractor to the architect for review prior to incorporation in the work.
Submittal
The substitution of one entity for another with regard to legal rights.
Subrogation
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.
Substantial Completion
The contractor’s representative at the site.
Superintendent
Direction of the work by the contractor’s personnel. Supervision is not the responsibility of the architect.
Supervision
Part of the contract documents, prepared by the architect, which may modify provisions of the general conditions of the contract.
Supplementary Conditions
An individual or company that guarantees to make good to another party the debt, default, or failure to perform of a third party.
Surety
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 or contractor). See Bid Bond, Labor and Material Payment Bond, and Performance Bond.
Surety Bond
An approach to the delivery of goods or services in which quality is determined by customer satisfaction and conformance to requirements.
Total Quality Management (TQM)
The difference between the list price and the actual price paid.
Trade Discount
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.
Unit Price
Same as Guaranteed Maximum Cost. (The amount established by agreement between owner and contractor as the maximum cost of performing specified work. Also called Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP). See Upset Price.)
Upset Price
A membrane that prevents the passage of water vapor through a wall or roof.
Vapor Barrier
A document by which one relinquishes the right of mechanic’s lien against the property of another. See Mechanic’s Lien and Release of Lien.
Waiver of Lien
See Guarantee. (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 Warranty.)
Warranty
Materials and or labor required for a project.
Work All
The part of the contract documents, prepared by the architect, that graphically illustrates the construction required for the project.
Working Drawings
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 damage caused by mechanical equipment.
XCU
