Black Spactacles - Session 001

Question 1

Addenda

Answer 1

Issued during bidding by the architect to clarify or modify the bidding documents. They are written
documents sent to all bidders that become part of the contract documents.

Question 2

RFI

Answer 2

Request for information: a standard form for contractors to ask for more information from an architect.
RFIs are used to resolve gaps, conflicts, and ambiguities in the drawings and specifications. They are a
fundamental part of a smooth project delivery.

Question 3

Bidding documents

Answer 3

Documents that include the bidding requirements, any supplements to bid forms, contract forms and
conditions, specification, drawings, and any addenda issued by the architect during the bid period.

Question 4

A201

Answer 4

An AIA document dealing with general conditions for the construction contract. The document sets forth
the rights, responsibilities, and relationships between owner, architect, and contractor.

Question 5

Supplemental conditions

Answer 5

Special provisions in a contract that modify or qualify the general conditions. These can include additions, subtractions, local requirements, etc., to A201.

Question 6

What are the owner’s responsibilities during the design and construction process?

Answer 6

The owner’s primary responsibility is to make payments to those that are contracted directly to the owner. The owner is also responsible for providing necessary site documentation (soils report, survey, etc.).

Question 7

Pre-bid conference

Answer 7

A conference that is held to help clarify any concerns bidders may have about the construction documents, scope of work, and other details of the project.

Question 8

GC

Answer 8

General contractor: the entity that enters into a contract with the owner for the work and coordinates subcontractors to complete the work.

Question 9

Prime contractor

Answer 9

Contractor responsible for completion of the work. There can be more than one prime contractor on a project, depending on the scope and timing.

Question 10

Joint venture

Answer 10

Two or more contractors may create a new entity for the sole purpose of bidding on a job together. This new entity, the joint venture , will be the prime contractor. This can occur when GCs want to bid on a project but don’t have the capacity in-house for the project or when there are MBE/WBE requirements for the prime contractor, among other situations.

Question 11

Name the series/types of AIA contract documents

Answer 11

A-series: contracts between owner and contractor.
B-series; Contracts between owner and architect.
C series: contracts between architect and consultants.
D-series: architect industry documents.
E-series: exhibits.
G-series: administration documents.

Question 12

Project manual

Answer 12

A document containing information required for bidders to review, including bid requirements, drawing list, contract conditions, contract forms, and specifications.

Question 13

Bid requirements

Answer 13

Documents listing the requirements for the contractor to bid, including the invitation to bid, list of information available to bidders, instructions to bidders, bid forms, and bid supplements.

Question 14

A701

Answer 14

Instructions to bidders. Used to provide instructions to bidders on procedures including bonding requirements and instructions for bidders to follow in preparing and submitting their bids.

Question 15

Bid date

Answer 15

Date by which all bids need to be received. In general, bidders are given 2–6 weeks to prepare bids and ask for clarifications and substitutions.

Question 16

Bid form

Answer 16

A document that assists the bidding process by providing a standardized form for all bidders to submit their bids. It includes a breakdown of all the material and labor costs associated with the job.

Question 17

Schedule of values

Answer 17

Breaks down, line by line, each portion/trade involved in the work, assigning it a monetary value.

Question 18

Qualifications

Answer 18

Modifications by the contractor to drawings and specifications. These can modify the products used, remove scope from the contractor’s portion of the work, and modify specifications. They are reviewed by the architect and owner before becoming an exhibit in the contract.

Question 19

Alternate

Answer 19

A proposal by the bidder to add or deduct from the base bid. This could include alternates for additional scope as required by the owner/architect over the base bid, deducts for removal of scope or substitution of materials, etc. They are provided as separate line items so that the base bid provides the price of the work for equal scope from all bidders.

Question 20

Allowance

Answer 20

Line item provided in the contractor’s schedule of values for scope of work that is not provided in detail

Question 21

How is the low bidder determined?

Answer 21

The low bid is determined by adding the sum of the base bid and the cost of additive alternates, and subtracting the cost of deductive alternates. Unit cost estimating cannot be used to determine the low bidder.

Question 22

Bid bond

Answer 22

A guarantee by the contractor to the project owner that the winning bidder will take on the project under the terms at which they bid.

Question 23

Performance bond

Answer 23

A surety bond issued to guarantee satisfactory completion of a project by the contractor.

Question 24

Payment bond

Answer 24

A surety bond posted by the general contractor to guarantee that subcontractors and material suppliers on the project will be paid.

Question 25

MBE/WBE

Answer 25

Minority Business Enterprise/Women’s Business Enterprise. Many publicly funded projects will require a percentage of subcontracts to go to MBE and WBE subcontractors, which can have an impact on the value of the bid/contract.

Question 26

What insurance and bond types is the contractor required to purchase per A201?

Answer 26

1. Workers compensation insurance
2. Liability insurance
3. Personal injury insurance
4. Property damage insurance
5. Automobile liability insurance
6. Contractual liability insurance
7. Performance, labor, and material payment bond

Question 27

Bid tab

Answer 27

A line-item record and analysis of each bidder’s proposal.

Question 28

Addendum

Answer 28

Modification to the procurement documents issued for bid or negotiation. Addenda can be issued at any time before the owner-contractor agreement is executed but are typically issued by a predetermined time before bid opening.

Question 29

Bid alternate

Answer 29

Portion of the work defined in the procurement documents for which separate pricing will be identified.

Question 30

Base bid

Answer 30

Construction cost proposed by a contractor for the full scope of the work, without any bid alternate pricing.

Question 31

Privately funded project

Answer 31

A project in which none of the funding is provided by a public agency.

Question 32

Project delivery method

Answer 32

Manner in which the owner contracts for design and construction services.

Question 33

Publicly funded project

Answer 33

A project in which a portion of the funding is provided by a public entity, such as the federal, state, or local government.

Question 34

Qualification-based selection

Answer 34

Owner selects a contractor based solely on the contractor’s qualifications.

Question 35

Responsible bidder

Answer 35

One who demonstrates the financial capacity to perform contracted work.

Question 36

Responsive bid

Answer 36

One in which all bidding requirements, including all elements of the bid form, have been satisfactorily completed.

Question 37

Value-based selection

Answer 37

The owner selects a contractor based on the weighted values of multiple criteria, including construction cost or fee and proposed schedule, as well as qualifications-based criteria such as experience on similar projects and proposed personnel.

Question 38

Two reasons owners select design-build

Answer 38

1. Reduced risk of schedule and cost overruns

2. Only one design and construction contract to execute

Question 39

Bridging

Answer 39

A variation of design-build in which the owner engages an architect to prepare design documents. These documents are used by design-build teams to prepare their proposals for completing the design and constructing the project.

Question 40

Integrated project delivery

Answer 40

Delivery method that promotes the greatest level of team integration.

Question 41

Project manual

Answer 41

Contains procurement requirements and text-based contract documents.

Question 42

Instruction to bidders

Answer 42

Tells bidders what constitutes a responsive bid.

Question 43

Supplementary conditions to the contract

Answer 43

Provides project-specific modifications to the general conditions.

Question 44

Costs of work

Answer 44

Costs incurred by the contractor to build the project, including labor costs for contractor’s supervision and contractor-purchased products such as transportation and storage.

Question 45

Five occurrences of contingencies

Answer 45

1. Incomplete documents, particularly for GMP contracts.
2. Errors made in the contractor’s pricing due to a large amount of information in drawings and little time to prepare bids.
3. Anticipated costs that may be related to dispute resolution, legal fees, and claims against client or subcontractors.
4. Default or failure of a subcontractor or supplier to perform their portion of the work.
5. Contractor errors during construction.

Question 46

Typical requirements of federal, state, and local procurement laws

Answer 46

Competitively bid.

Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder is selected.

Question 47

Common ways to distribute documents and information to all bidders

Answer 47

• Providing documents and information at the client’s or architect’s office.
• if bidders are known through invitation or prequalification, sending documents directly to the prospective bidders.
• making documents available for purchase by prospective bidders at a printing company, builders exchange, or distribution point.
• Allowing bidders to acquire electronic versions of documents through project websites.

Question 48

Substitution requests

Answer 48

During procurement, bidding contractors are typically allowed to propose alternatives to specified products, suppliers, or systems.

Question 49

Substitution requests should include:

Answer 49

• Substitution Request form.
• Documentation that demonstrates compliance with performance criteria and design intent.
• a list of similar installations completed in projects.
• material test reports from a qualified testing agency.
• Research reports showing compliance with applicable Building codes.
• Detailed comparison of proposed and specified products.
• Letter from manufacturer stating Lack of availability, or delays in specified product and why it can’t be used.
• Contractor’s certification that proposed Substitution complies with the requirements in the contract documents.
• Contractor’s waiver of rights to additional payment or time.

Question 50

Suppliers

Answer 50

Entities that provide manufactured products or systems to subcontractors and, in some cases, the contractor. They do not typically provide the labor required to install products or build the project.

Question 51

The bid tabulation form should identify:

Answer 51

• Bidder’s name.
• Address and phone number.
• Contract being bid.
• Form of bid security provided.
• Base bid.
• Unit prices.
• Alternates.

Question 52

Subcontractors

Answer 52

Companies that do a specialized portion of the overall work for a contractor.