3-1 Preconstruction Activities

Using a design-bid-build delivery method, an owner hires an architect for the design a two-story mixed-use historic building located over a train station. After completing the design, the architect is now organizing the contract documents on which invited contractors will base their bids. 

Which of the following documents should the architect include? Check the three that apply.

• Cost estimate

• Preservation assessment

• Shop drawings

• Specifications

• Addenda

A mixed-use commercial project has entered the bid phase. A bidder contacts the owner and architect to propose a cost-saving substitution to the mechanical equipment, stating that they have a strong relationship with a particular manufacturer and can apply a specialty cost savings opportunity to the owner for alternate condensing units. The mechanical engineer has no issue with the performance of the alternate equipment. The owner is interested in the potential cost savings but is concerned about unfairly favoring a bidder.

What action should the architect recommend? 

• Reject the substitution request as unethical.

• Establish an allowance for all condensing units in the project.

• Issue an addendum to identify an additional approved manufacturer.

During the bidding phase of a public project, an architect notices that the flooring material selected by the owner is missing from the bidding documents.  

How should the architect address the missing information?

• Recommend that the owner hold an allowance for the material. 

• Distribute a change order that adds the cost of flooring to the project. 

• 
  Issue an addendum to all bidders that includes the missing information. 

• Ask the flooring contractors who are bidding on the project to include the floor. 

Two days prior to the bid due date, a major conflict is discovered in the bid documents between the architectural and structural drawings. The conflict will require extensive reworking of the drawings and additional structural steel.

What should the architect issue to bidders?

• Architect's supplemental instruction with drawing revisions and a revised bid date.

• Addendum that defines the changes and extends the bid due date.

• Change order that defines the changes and extends the time of completion.

• Construction change directive with a revised substantial completion date.

Refer to the exhibit. 

Using standard AIA contracts, a school district receives competitive bids for the renovation and addition of a school building. The school district cannot go over their budget of $2,500,000 and would like to maximize the work that can be completed at the lowest cost. The architect determines all three bidders are qualified.

Which contractor should the architect recommend?  

• ABC Contractor

• Good Contractor

• Quality Contractor

An architect submits a drawing set for a large mixed-use project to the AHJ for building permit plan check. The AHJ is experiencing delays and estimates building permit approval will take 10 months. To make up for the delay, the owner distributes the same drawing set for competitive bidding and provides a 90-day review period for submissions.

The architect is concerned about the potential for plan review comments that may result in design changes and increased construction costs. 

How should the architect address this concern?

• Provide a contingency for additional architecture design fees in the bidding forms.

• Include an allowance for future plan check revisions in the Division 01 specifications and allowance form.

• Advise the owner to extend the open bid review timeline to match the estimated building permit approval date.

Following a feasibility study with an architect, the owner of a vehicle maintenance facility wants to construct a 10,000-square-foot addition. The owner does not have any construction experience, wants a guaranteed price, and does not want to manage multiple contracts or disputes.

Which project delivery method should the architect recommend?

• Design-bid-build

• Integrated project delivery

• Design-build

An architect is hired for a 50-year-old industrial building renovation project, which will be delivered through the design-bid-build method. The building has a plywood roof deck, and an unknown quantity of deteriorated plywood decking will be exposed during the renovation, requiring removal and replacement.

Which one of the following should the architect require from bidders?

• Allowance for decking replacement

• Estimated quantity of decking to replace

• Unit cost per square foot to replace decking