Construction Engineering 221
Drawings and Specifications
RPQs
1. Architects and engineers encourage their clients
to use competitive bidding and price competition
in the selection process for design services.
A = True B = False
2. One good aspect of the traditional or linear
construction process is that there is usually
extensive contractor input into the design process.
A = True B = False
3. The purpose of the “retainage” is to hold the
contractor accountable to complete the project in
accordance with the design.
A = True B = False
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RPQ Answers
1.Architects and engineers encourage their
clients to use competitive bidding and price
competition in the selection process for
design services.
A = True B = False
The correct answer is B. False
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RPQ Answers
2.One good aspect of the traditional or linear
construction process is that there is usually
extensive contractor input into the design
process.
A = True B = False
The correct answer is B. False
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RPQ Answers
3.The purpose of the “retainage” is to hold the
contractor accountable to complete the
project in accordance with the design.
A = True B = False
The correct answer is A. True
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Architect-Engineer (AE)
 Term is used to designate the organization,
person, firm or team that performs the
project design, whether it be architectural,
engineering, or a combination of both in
makeup.



Usually not one in the same except in large
architectural firms
In-House, Owner-Client, Design-Construct,
CM, and Design-Manage
AIA, NSPE and ACEC
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AE Selections
 Selection Process – Three options
 Professional qualifications alone
 Professional qualifications plus fee evaluation
 Fee evaluation only
 What set of circumstances would tend to push an
owner to one of these options?
 NSPE ethical ban on competitive bidding – not
permissible by U.S. Supreme Court in 1978 under
the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890.
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AE Scope of Service
 Prebid Services





Needs and desires of the owner
Develop the design
Preparing documents for bidding or
negotiation and contract purposes
Aid in selection of contractor
Estimate of construction cost


Conceptual cost estimate
Use ASPE standards manual
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AE Scope of Service
 Postbid Services
 Project inspection
 Checking of shop drawings
 Approval of periodic payments to contractor
 Certificate of completion (warranty)
 Processing of change orders
 AE will normally have authority from owner
to decide contract interpretation questions,
judge performance, condemn defective work
and stop field operations under certain
circumstances.
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AE Design Services Fees
 Percentage of construction cost
 Multiple of salary cost
 Multiple of salary cost plus nonsalary
expense
 Fixed lump-sum fee.
 Total expense plus professional fee
 Hourly or per diem charge
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AE Liability
 To the owner
 To third parties
 Exculpatory clauses
 Statutes of limitations
 Product liability or strict liability
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Design Drawings
 Three important functions
 Basis for competitive bidding or negotiations
 Contract administration during construction
 Basis for settlement of claims and disputes
 Also, with modification serve as “as builts”
 Ownership of design
 Public – ownership is the public agency
 Private – Architect (most protect with
“copyright ©”unless contract says otherwise
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Design Drawings
 Why is complete, intelligible, accurate, detailed
and well correlated important?
 Typical subgroups in a set of drawings






Site plan
Structural
Architectural
Plumbing
Mechanical
Electrical
 Standardized drawing details (typically engineering
details for site and civil work-roads, utilities)
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Specifications
 Written instructions concerning project
requirements
 Bidding and contract documents with
technical specifications
 Often master specifications are used – be
careful
 Residential and Building – use CSI 16 Division
format (see Appendix B, pages 449-450
 Engineering – use AASHTO (pages 451-452)
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Specifications
 General Conditions (AIA Document A201)

(see Appendix C, pages 453-476)
 Supplementary (Special) Conditions

Project specific Requirements

“MUST” Read for Bidding and Building
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Specifications
 Technical Specifications

Most combine Performance and Design
requirements
 Performance
 Design
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CLOSED Specifications
 One brand ONLY – Proprietary product
 Very non-competitive, therefore higher costs
 Not allowed in public projects
 Not recommended for any project, although
allowed by private owners
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OPEN Specifications
 Allow competition between manufacturers
 Sets standards for material quality
 MAY list several manufacturers and their
brand name of product
 Allow “OR APPROVED EQUAL” substitutions
 Substitutions are at the contractor’s risk,
subject to the architect’s review and
approval
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STANDARD Specifications
 Most common for roads, utilities
 Not issued as part of the specifications book for the
specific project
 Issued as a separate specifications book by many
state Departments of Transportation, Cities and
Towns
 Cover standard materials used in most projects



Concrete mix designs
Fire Hydrants
Manhole structures
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QUIZ #1
 Tomorrow at the beginning of class
 Covers chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 and material
covered in class
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