Preconstruction

Question 1

Start of Preconstruction

Answer 1

Preconstruction begins when the contractor receives an executed agreement or notice to proceed. Before starting, the contractor should review the contract conditions and Division 01 to align project management procedures with requirements for communication, submittals, sustainability, modifications, payments, and closeout.

Question 2

Estimating Pass-Off

Answer 2

Triggered by the Notice to Proceed. The estimator hands off the project to the construction team, explains key details, and identifies major subcontractors and suppliers. The PM then develops the original construction budget, which serves as the benchmark for the project.

Question 3

Buyout Process

Answer 3

A critical preconstruction activity where the contractor issues subcontracts, purchase orders, and supply contracts, and finalizes negotiations with subs and suppliers. A well-organized buyout reduces conflicts later and ensures subcontract terms align with contract documents.

Question 4

Bid Shopping

Answer 4

The sharing of subcontractor bid information to leverage better pricing. It can be initiated by either party and may lead to trust issues, ethical concerns, and legal complications.

Question 5

Key Negotiation Factors with Subs/Suppliers

Answer 5

Include shipping responsibilities, submittals at no extra charge, price escalation for long projects, ability to meet schedule, and clear contractual terms.

Question 6

Award of Subcontracts

Answer 6

Subcontracts may be standard (AIA, EJCDC, ConsensusDocs) or custom. They must include flow-down clauses to ensure that subcontractor responsibilities are aligned with the main contract. Payment procedures (Pay-when-paid vs. Pay-if-paid) must be clearly defined.

Question 7

Subcontract Requirements

Answer 7

May include payment and performance bonds, insurance, certified payroll, submittals, warranties, and record documents. Any modifications to standard contracts should be legally reviewed.

Question 8

Purchase Orders (POs)

Answer 8

Contracts for materials. Supplier quotes are solicitations; the PO is the offer and the supplier’s signature or performance is acceptance. POs should align with specifications, delivery schedules, cost, and contract terms.

Question 9

PO Requirements

Answer 9

May include shop drawings, samples, certifications, testing requirements, and compliance with contract documents.

Question 10

Notice to Proceed (NTP)

Answer 10

Official document establishing the project start date and duration. Issued after insurance, bonds, and other documents are accepted. Common in public and private projects, especially those with liquidated damages clauses.

Question 11

Construction Contract Documents

Answer 11

Include Owner–A/E and Owner–Contractor agreements, conditions of contract, specs, drawings, bid forms, addenda, NTP, and modifications. Contractors must ensure subs and suppliers work from complete document sets.

Question 12

Owner–A/E Agreement (AIA B101, EJCDC E-500)

Answer 12

Defines A/E basic services including advising, consulting, interpreting documents, observing work, reviewing payments and submittals, and inspections. May include additional services like record documents or coordinating separate work.

Question 13

Owner–Contractor Agreement (AIA A101/A102, EJCDC C-520/C-525)

Answer 13

Specifies contract documents, time, price, and payment procedures. Varies depending on delivery method and payment structure.

Question 14

Conditions of the Contract

Answer 14

Establish rights, responsibilities, and relationships of all parties. Typically include general and supplementary conditions. Widely used: AIA A201 & EJCDC C-700.

Question 15

Common Topics in Conditions of Contract

Answer 15

General provisions, responsibilities of each party, subcontracting, changes in work, time, payment, insurance, safety, claims, dispute resolution, and termination procedures.

Question 16

Supplementary Conditions

Answer 16

Modify general conditions to address project-specific issues such as insurance, wage requirements, and equal employment obligations.

Question 17

Specifications (Div. 02–49)

Answer 17

Provide detailed technical requirements for materials, systems, and execution. Organized into three parts: General, Products, and Execution. Define QA/QC, submittal requirements, handling, installation, sequencing, warranties, and scheduling.

Question 18

Contract Drawings and 3D Models

Answer 18

Must be coordinated with specifications and other contract components to avoid conflicts.

Question 19

Addenda and Modifications

Answer 19

Pre-contract revisions (addenda) and post-contract modifications are essential to maintain document accuracy.

Question 20

Obtaining and Distributing Contract Documents

Answer 20

Procurement outlines where to obtain documents. Team leaders distribute them to relevant parties (A/E to consultants & AHJ, Owner to reps, Contractor to subs & suppliers).

Question 21

Using Complete Document Sets

Answer 21

Subs and suppliers must coordinate their scope with full project documents to avoid conflicts and ensure integration with other trades.

Question 22

Posting Addenda

Answer 22

Addenda must be permanently incorporated into the site documents.

Question 23

Referenced Standards

Answer 23

Specifications often reference external standards (e.g., ASTM, AASHTO). Contractors must have access to these for compliance.

Question 24

Preconstruction Submittals

Answer 24

No work can begin until all required preconstruction submittals are submitted by the contractor and reviewed by the A/E and Owner. These are triggered by the Notice to Proceed and typically include insurance certificates, bonds, sub lists, schedules, and control plans.

Question 25

Examples of Preconstruction Submittals

Answer 25

1) Certificate of Insurance & Workers Comp 2) Payment & performance bonds 3) Proposed subs & product list 4) Preliminary construction & submittal schedules 5) Erosion, pollution, and traffic control plans.

Question 26

Certificates of Insurance

Answer 26

Established by Owner with legal and insurance advisers. Must comply with general & supplementary conditions. Both parties exchange certificates through the A/E before work begins. The A/E reviews for compliance, Owner approves.

Question 27

Performance & Payment Bonds

Answer 27

Protect subs and suppliers from non-payment and Owner from mechanic’s liens. Required at contract execution. Must meet jurisdictional filing requirements in some areas.

Question 28

Other Bond Types

Answer 28

Maintenance bonds (ongoing maintenance), lien bonds (indemnify Owner), retainage bonds (replace retainage), and license & permit bonds (required by AHJ).

Question 29

Subcontractor Lists

Answer 29

Required under standard conditions. Contractor submits list to A/E for review and Owner for approval. Contractor cannot be forced to use a subcontractor it objects to.

Question 30

Product Lists

Answer 30

Help verify product compliance with specifications. Must not be used to propose substitutions. Critical products must be clearly identified.

Question 31

Schedule of Values (SOV)

Answer 31

Breaks the work into measurable portions to track progress and calculate payments. Must specify if overhead and profit are included and identify allowance items separately.

Question 32

SOV Review

Answer 32

Draft submitted by contractor for A/E approval. Must contain sufficient detail. A/E reviews before the first pay app. Front-loading (inflating early costs) is prohibited.

Question 33

Schedule of Inspections & Testing

Answer 33

Provides detail for inspections and tests, identifies prerequisites, and supports coordination with AHJ.

Question 34

Submittal Schedule

Answer 34

Prepared by contractor with subs and suppliers. Should account for submittal preparation, review, and fabrication lead times. Materials cannot be ordered until A/E approval.

Question 35

Construction Progress Schedule

Answer 35

Shows start and completion dates for major activities. Reviewed by A/E and Owner. Must be updated regularly (typically monthly). Bar charts and CPM are most common.

Question 36

Schedule Components

Answer 36

Includes contract time, milestones, submittal dates, coordination requirements, lead times, activity durations, manpower, and cost loading.

Question 37

Short-term vs Overall Schedule

Answer 37

Overall schedule covers the entire project; short-term (often 4 weeks) provides detailed planning for immediate tasks.

Question 38

Critical Path

Answer 38

Identifies the longest sequence of activities that determines project duration. Used to evaluate delays, float, and recovery options.

Question 39

Float and Milestones

Answer 39

Schedules should include early/late start and finish dates, float times, milestones, and interdependencies.

Question 40

OFCI Items & NIC

Answer 40

Owner-Furnished Contractor-Installed items, separate contracts, and NIC items must be integrated into the schedule with appropriate delivery and installation timelines.

Question 41

Liquidated Damages

Answer 41

Time is of the essence. Damages represent the Owner’s loss for delayed substantial completion and are assessed per day.

Question 42

Permits & Regulatory Issues

Answer 42

Begin with submission of documents to AHJ. Permits must be posted and protected on-site. Regulatory issues should be resolved early and inspections incorporated into the schedule.

Question 43

Preconstruction Meetings

Answer 43

Establish communication protocols and administrative procedures.

Question 44

Site Conditions Documentation

Answer 44

Photograph existing site conditions with date and location to avoid disputes over preexisting damage.

Question 45

Mobilization

Answer 45

First activity after NTP and preconstruction meeting. Covers site use, access, security, temporary facilities, utilities, controls, equipment, environmental protection, safety, and utility locations.

Question 46

Temporary Facilities and Utilities

Answer 46

Includes site offices, storage, water hookups, toilets, electricity, and telecommunication. Temporary controls include pest and erosion control measures.

Question 47

Site Security

Answer 47

May involve fencing, locks, lighting, cameras, alarms, and guards to prevent vandalism.

Question 48

Importance of Scheduling & Time Management

Answer 48

Scheduling allows realistic planning, ensures time for critical tasks, adds contingency for delays, prevents overload, and maintains work-life balance. Time is non-renewable, so efficient scheduling is essential for project success.