LARE LARE Bidding and Contract Administration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A landscape architect discovers a significant discrepancy in the bid documents after bids have been submitted but before award. What is the correct course of action?
- Award the contract and issue a change order later
- Reject all bids and re-advertise with corrected documents
- Issue an addendum and request revised bids from all bidders (Correct answer)
- Award to the lowest bidder and negotiate the discrepancy
Correct answer: Issue an addendum and request revised bids from all bidders
When a discrepancy is found after submission but before award, an addendum should be issued and all bidders given the opportunity to revise their bids.
Question 2: Which contract provision typically addresses the contractor's obligation to maintain a safe work environment on a landscape construction site?
- Liquidated damages clause
- Differing site conditions clause
- Safety and protection clause (Correct answer)
- Substantial completion clause
Correct answer: Safety and protection clause
The safety and protection clause outlines the contractor's responsibility to maintain safe working conditions and protect workers, the public, and adjacent properties.
Question 3: During construction, the contractor encounters underground utilities not shown on the contract drawings. Under AIA documents, this situation is most likely covered by which clause?
- Force majeure
- Differing site conditions (Correct answer)
- Contractor's risk provision
- Owner-furnished information disclaimer
Correct answer: Differing site conditions
The differing site conditions clause protects contractors who encounter concealed physical conditions materially different from those indicated in the contract.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a performance bond in a landscape construction contract?
- To ensure the contractor pays subcontractors and suppliers
- To guarantee the contractor will complete the project per contract terms (Correct answer)
- To protect the owner from design errors
- To cover warranty repairs after project completion
Correct answer: To guarantee the contractor will complete the project per contract terms
A performance bond guarantees that the bonding company will ensure contract completion if the contractor defaults.
Question 5: A landscape contractor submits a schedule of values at the project's start. What is the primary purpose of this document?
- To establish the project timeline for each task
- To allocate the contract sum among work components for progress payments (Correct answer)
- To document material costs for the owner's records
- To set the contractor's profit margin for each phase
Correct answer: To allocate the contract sum among work components for progress payments
The schedule of values breaks down the contract sum into individual work items, forming the basis for evaluating and processing progress payment applications.
Question 6: When reviewing a contractor's application for payment, the landscape architect should verify which of the following before certifying payment?
- That the contractor has received payment from the owner on prior applications
- That work claimed as completed has actually been installed per contract documents (Correct answer)
- That all project closeout documents have been submitted
- That the contractor's insurance premiums are current
Correct answer: That work claimed as completed has actually been installed per contract documents
The landscape architect must visit the site and verify that the percentage of completion claimed accurately reflects work actually incorporated into the project.
Question 7: An owner asks the landscape architect to add decorative boulders to the project without a formal change order. The landscape architect should:
- Add the boulders as a professional courtesy to the client
- Direct the contractor verbally and document the conversation
- Refuse and insist on a properly executed change order (Correct answer)
- Issue a field order and notify the owner of the cost later
Correct answer: Refuse and insist on a properly executed change order
All changes to the contract scope must be formalized through a written change order to protect all parties and maintain contract integrity.
LARE LARE Bidding and Contract Administration 2
A landscape architect discovers a significant discrepancy in the bid documents after bids have been submitted but before award.
What is the correct course of action?