What is it
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CONSTRUCTION Terminology
A/E Architect/Engineer; the design professional
hired to provide design and design-related services.
Amendment Written information adding to,
clarifying or modifying the solicitation documents.
As-Built Drawings Drawings made during
construction, that record the locations, sizes, and nature of
concealed items such as structural elements, accessories, equipment,
devices, plumbing lines, valves, mechanical equipment, and the
like. These records (with dimensions) form a permanent record
for future reference.
Bid Bond A form of security executed by
the bidder or principal in conjunction with a surety to guarantee
that the bidder will enter into a contract within a specified
period of time and will furnish the required bonds for performance
and labor and materials payment. Liquidated damages payable to
the extent of the difference between the bonded contractor bid
and the next highest bidder but not to exceed the face value of
the bond.
Bonding Company An individual or company
that provides a bond or pledge to guarantee that another individual
or company will perform in accordance with the terms of an agreement
or contract.
Change Order Authorization provided to
a contractor approving a change from the original plans, specifications,
or other contract documents.
Contract Documents All solicitation documents,
drawings, specifications and amendments associated with a specific
project.
Contracting Officer A person with the authority
to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts and make
related determinations and findings. The term includes certain
authorized representatives of the Contracting Officer acting within
the limits of their authority as delegated by the Contracting
Officer. A single Contracting Officer may be responsible for duties
in any or all of these areas..
Critical Path Method (C.P.M.) A system
of construction management that involves the complete planning
and scheduling of a project, and the development of an arrow diagram
showing each activity, its appropriate place in the timetable,
and its importance relative to other tasks, and the complete project.
Davis-Bacon Act Provides that contracts
in excess of $2,000 to which the United States is a party for
construction, alteration, or repair (including painting and decorating)
of public buildings or public works within the United States,
must contain a clause that no laborer or mechanic employed directly
upon the site of the work must receive less than the prevailing
wage rates as determined by the Secretary of Labor.
Design/Build Combining design and construction
in a single contract with one contractor.
Gantt Chart The schedule of activities
for a project. A Gantt Chart shows start and finish dates, critical
and non-critical activities, slack time, and predecessor relationships.
And predecessor activities that must be completed before another
activity can begin.
Liquidated Damages A stipulation in a
contract on monetary amount that must be paid by the contractor
if the contractor fails complete the work as specified in the
contract or any modification. Payments are in lieu of actual damages
related to the failure. The rate (e.g., dollars per day of delay)
is fixed in the contract and must be reasonable considering probable
actual damages related to any failure in contract performance.
Miller Act A federal labor law that requires
general contractors working on federally funded construction projects
to obtain performance bonds and labor and material payment bonds
to protect the interests of subcontractors and suppliers. The
Miller Act applies to all United States government construction
contracts valued at more than $25,000.
Performance and Payment Bonds Written
form of security from a surety (bonding) company guaranteeing
payment in the event the contractor fails to pay for all labor,
materials, equipment, or services in accordance with the contract
PERT Schedule Pert is an abbreviation
for Program Evaluating and Review Technique. (Critical Path Method)
A diagram that illustrates, charts and reports a projects estimated
start and completion times; and work in progress.
Plan Holders List of Prime Contractors,
Subcontractors, Suppliers who have formally registered an interest
in a project.
Prime Contract A contract or contractual
action entered into by the United States for the purpose of obtaining
supplies, materials, equipment, or services of any kind.
Prime Contractor The main contractor who
oversees and is responsible for all the work performed on the
site, and to whom any subcontractors on the same job are responsible.
Progress Payment A payment determined
by calculating the difference between the completed work and materials
stored and a predetermined schedule of values.
Progress Schedule A line diagram showing proposed
and actual starting and completion times the respective project
activities.
Punch List The final list of items of work
to be completed or corrected by the contractor.
Quality Control Conformance to the technical
specifications during construction.
Subcontract A written form of agreement
between the prime or main contractor and another contractor or
supplier for the satisfactory performance of services or delivery
or material as set forth in the plans and specifications for a
specific project.
Subcontractor A qualified subordinate
contractor to the prime or main contractor. One under contract
to a prime contractor by subcontract for completion of a portion
of the work for which the prime contractor is responsible.
Subcontractor Bond A written document
from a subcontractor given to the prime or main contractor by
the subcontractor guaranteeing performance of his/her contract
and payment of all labor, materials, equipment and service bills
associated with the subcontract agreement.
Submittals Various documents submitted
by the contractor to the owner or architect, such as shop drawings,
material samples, subcontractor list, and insurance certificates.
Supplier An individual or firm who supplies
and/or fabricates materials or equipment for a specific portion
of a construction project but does not perform any labor on the
project. ( see Vendor)
Surety (see Bonding Company)
VECP Value Engineering Change Proposals.
Within the DoD, a VECP is a proposal submitted by a contractor
to the Government in accordance with the VE provisions of the
contract. It proposes a change (which if accepted and implemented)
provides an eventual, overall cost savings to the Government.
To name but a few examples, a VECP may be a change which updates
an existing design to the current state-of-the-art, simplifies
complex material by modifying/eliminating components, or updates
specifications/drawings providing improved data for future procurements.
The VECP provisions in a contract prescribe that the contractor
shares substantially in the savings which accrue from implementing
the change.
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