SPECIFICATIONS

Question 1

A type of contract with which the design firm invoices on a cost basis up to a stipulated maximum dollar amount that cannot be exceeded.

Answer 1

Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP)

Question 2

A unit price bid that accurately reflects the actual anticipated price of each item of work to be performed.

Answer 2

Balanced bid

Question 3

A surety instrument that guarantees to the owner that the bearer, if awarded the contract, will enter into a binding contract and provide all required bonds.

Answer 3

Bid Bond

Question 4

A specification that is expressly restrictive in stating that only one or two products will satisfy the quality requirements, or is implied when performance is so narrowly prescribed that only one or two products will satisfy the requirement.

Answer 4

Closed Specification

Question 5

A bid that is not prepared in earnest, but is presented to appear to be a serious bid. Such bids are usually generated through collaborative efforts with another bidder who does submit a serious bid.

Answer 5

Complimentary Bid

Question 6

AKA Boilerplate: outlines the roles of the parties to a construction agreement and provide guidance concerning procedures to follow under varying circumstances.

Answer 6

General Conditions

Question 7

A common procedure in which the owner of a project contracts with a single firm, often called a prime contractor, for its construction. This firm may contract with speciality contractors for portions of the work

Answer 7

General Contract Method

Question 8

Guidelines or rules enumerated for bidders on a project concerning proper procedures for bid submittal and relevant project information

Answer 8

Instructions to Bidders

Question 9

A means of notifying the contractor about the decision to award the contract and of specifying when the contract time will start.

Answer 9

Notice to proceed

Question 10

An open or nonrestrictive specification in which a wide variety (three or more) of products are considered suitable.

Answer 10

Open specification

Question 11

A surety instrument in which the faithful performance of a contractor is guaranteed up to the face value of the bond.

Answer 11

Performance bond

Question 12

A descriptive requirement that states the results or the performance of the finished product rather than the specific methods and means used to construct the product.

Answer 12

Performance specification

Question 13

A meeting between the owner, the general contractor, and the major subcontractors that takes place after the contract is awarded but before construction begins. This conference addresses various matters deemed to be of importance to the project.

Answer 13

Preconstruction conference

Question 14

A closed specification that names a project made by a particular manufacturer.

Answer 14

Proprietary specification

Question 15

A performance specification that defines the acceptable product in terms of its ability to satisfy a standard developed by one of several standards organizations.

Answer 15

Reference specification

Question 16

A bid that conforms to the standards outlined in the instruction to bidders. Only such bids can be considered on public works projects to assure all bidders of fair and equal treatment.

Answer 16

Regular bid

Question 17

A compilation of general conditions, technical specifications, and other requirements that an agency uses on numerous construction projects. Such documents are prepared by state departments of transportation and many major municipalities.

Answer 17

Standard Specifications

Question 18

A document that provides the qualitative requirements for a project in terms of materials, equipment, work performed, and so forth.

Answer 18

Technical Specifications

Question 19

A unit price bind in which the pricing of the various items of work does not reflect the actual anticipated costs, but redistributes those costs to serve a specific objective of the bidder.

Answer 19

Unbalanced Bid

Question 20

A contract in which payment is based on a contractor’s quoted price per unit of work performed and the owner’s measurement of the total number of such units installed.

Answer 20

Unit Price Contract

Question 21

A contract in which the contractor is reimbursed for specified incurred costs, with an additional allowance provided for overhead and profit

Answer 21

Cost-Plus Contract

Question 22

A contract in which the contractor agrees to construct a project for a specified sum of money.

Answer 22

Fixed-Price Contract / Lump Sum Contract

Question 23

1. Agreement
2. Conditions
3. Drawings
4. Specifications
5. Adenda
6. Misc. documents associated w/ the contract bw the owner and contractor

Answer 23

Elements of the Contract Documents (according to AIA 201-207)
(6)

Question 24

In the event of conflicting information between specifications and drawings…

Answer 24

Specifications supersede drawings

CLARB / LARE answer

Question 25

Components of a three-part specification

Answer 25

Part 1: General Part 2: Product / Materials Part 3: Execution

Question 26

Tech Spec Section | PART 1: General

Answer 26

Defines the scope and the ground rules for work to be performed Lists reference specs (ASTM, etc) May list related work, required submittal requirements, quality control or quality assurance requirements, warranty, manuals, product handling requirements

Question 27

Tech Spec Section | PART 2: Product / Materials

Answer 27

The specific materials and products to be used May outline the performance requirements of each product or manufacturing / fabrication processes to be used in production Any products specified should be accompanied with an “approved equal” or similar language to keep the spec “open”

Question 28

Tech Spec Section | PART 3: Execution

Answer 28

Describes the actual means of preparing, installing, or constructing the item in question, as well as any quality or performance requirements (testing) expected

Question 29

3 Primary Specification Types

Answer 29

Performance Prescriptive Proprietary

Question 30

Specifies the operational requirements of a component or installation; contractor is not instructed on how to accomplish the task, only how the component must function / perform

Answer 30

Performance Specification

Question 31

Details materials to be used and means of installation Shifts more design control to the LA / designer and away from the contractor by establishing a set of rules that is to be followed for each project component Provides more certainly regarding the final product composition than a performance specification Typically follows the CSI 3-part specification format

Answer 31

Prescriptive Specification

Question 32

A type of “closed” specification; requires the use of a single approved product or system type for installation without alternates. Typically would list the approved manufacturer and model number Typically not used / or prohibited in public work Can increase project costs / prohibits competitive bidding

Answer 32

Proprietary Specification

Question 33

Often developed by industry professionals and associations. Considered well vetted. Refer to pre-existing standards. Help to reduce the length of project specifications.

Answer 33

Reference Specifications | examples: ANSI, ASTM, AASHTO, etc

Question 34

Implies less than 100% complete but considered open for use by owner / public. Typically there are minor corrections that remain from punch list which the contractor must address. Final payments are made during this phase to contractor excluding a 5-10% retainage

Answer 34

Substantial completion | part of project closeout

Question 35

3 Primary Documents used in solicitation of bids

Answer 35

1. Invitation to Bid 2. Instructions to Bidders 3. Bid Form

Question 36

Construction Contract Method Type Owner will enter into 2 contracts: w/ design firm & w/ contractor. GC hires subcontractors Design, bid, and building phases do not overlap

Answer 36

General Contract Method

Question 37

A guarantee provided by a firm that states that the contractor will fulfill the terms of the contract; if the contractor defaults, the surety will be obligated to satisfy the terms of the contract More typically used in General Contract types

Answer 37

Surety Bonds

Question 38

Protects the owner if subcontractors and suppliers are not paid by the prime contractor; surety will pay the sub / suppliers if the prime fails to pay Typically required on public projects

Answer 38

Payment Bonds

Question 39

Advertises or otherwise notifies bidders of the proposed project

Answer 39

Invitation to Bid ``` Typically includes: Nature of project and location Type of contract Bonding requirements Dates in which to perform work Terms of payment Estimated construction costs (sometimes) Time, manner, and place to submit bids Location to obtain bid documents Deposit required on bid documents Owners right to reject bids Requirements regarding prevailing wage rates ```

Question 40

Outlines the requirements to prepare and submit a bid properly Includes detailed guidance to bidders, including the process of award and rejection of bids

Answer 40

Instructions to Bidders Typically includes: Procedures / instructions for writing and submitting the bid Qualifications A list of all the bid documents Construction timeframe Identify responsible parties for testing and site visits Requirements of a bid guarantee Insurance to be provided by the contractor Bonding requirements Conditions for handling bid irregularities Bid delivery instructions Indicates if the bid opening will be closed or public Describes pre-bid conference (if any)

Question 41

Provides the template for how the required information is to be conveyed to the owner; standardizes all bids submitted so that they can be compared accurately to one another

Answer 41

Bid Form Typically includes: GCs bid price(s) (lump-sum or unit price) Time of completion Bid surety Agreement to provide contract surety Acknowledgement of having reviewed addenda List of subcontractors Experience record, financial statement, plant and equipment inventory Statement regarding site examination Signature

Question 42

Corrections to the bid documents made to correct errors caught by owner or designer OR to provide additional clarification for the contractor. Must be communicated formally to all bidders Issued by owner (or owner's rep)

Answer 42

Addenda

Question 43

Responsible Bidder

Answer 43

Contractor that is qualified to perform the work / execute project

Question 44

Regular Bid

Answer 44

A bid that complies with bid instructions | e.g. fails to acknowledge addenda, excludes bid security, late, missing info, etc

Question 45

Contains schedule of prices that will be incorporated into the Agreement Used in unit price bids in particular

Answer 45

Bid Schedule

Question 46

A single book or set of documents that contain all of the relevant project documents in one place. Includes: Bidding and Contract Requirements Contract Forms (agreement, bonds, certificates) Conditions of the Contract (General and Supplementary conditions) Technical specifications

Answer 46

Project Manual

Question 47

``` Agreement Conditions Drawings Specifications Addenda Misc. documents associated w/ the contract bw owner and contractor ``` Effectively the Project Manual plus the Contract Drawings and minus the Bidding Requirements

Answer 47

The Contract Documents

Question 48

Bid Solicitation Instructions to Bidders Information Available to Bidders Bid Forms & Supplements

Answer 48

Bidding Requirements

Question 49

Boilerplate language that outlines the rules under which the project will be built; establishes the rights of the contracting parties

Answer 49

General Conditions

Question 50

Language that amends or augments the general conditions and is more specific to the project being constructed

Answer 50

Supplementary Conditions

Question 51

A construction contract is fully executed when

Answer 51

Work is completed and the owner has made final payment

Question 52

If the contractor defaults on a public project the responsbility is assumed by

Answer 52

The surety company

Question 53

Bidding of a public project generally requires (4)

Answer 53

1. Public advertisement 2. Bid bond 3. Payment of prevailing wage rates 4. Insurance covering liability and property