CLARB - Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards Project Management and Bidding Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During the bidding phase for a public park project, a landscape architect issues an addendum. What is the primary purpose of this document?
- To negotiate the final contract price with the selected bidder.
- To formally award the construction contract to the lowest responsible bidder.
- To modify or clarify the bidding documents before the bid submission deadline. (Correct answer)
- To approve a contractor's substitution request after the contract has been signed.
Correct answer: To modify or clarify the bidding documents before the bid submission deadline.
Addenda are written or graphic instruments issued by the design professional prior to the execution of the contract which modify or interpret the bidding documents by additions, deletions, clarifications, or corrections. Their purpose is to ensure all bidders are basing their price on the same information.
Question 2: A landscape architect is preparing construction documents for a project with a well-defined scope and a tight budget. The client desires cost certainty before construction begins. Which type of construction contract would be most appropriate for this situation?
- Cost-Plus Contract
- Unit Price Contract
- Time and Materials Contract
- Lump Sum (Stipulated Sum) Contract (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Lump Sum (Stipulated Sum) Contract
A Lump Sum (or Stipulated Sum/Fixed Price) contract is most appropriate for projects with a clearly defined scope. The contractor agrees to complete the project for a single, predetermined price, which provides the owner with cost certainty before work commences.
Question 3: A client wants to include a decorative water feature in their project, but is unsure if the budget will allow for it. To manage costs effectively during bidding, the landscape architect should specify the water feature as a(n):
- Allowance
- Change Order
- Alternate (Correct answer)
- Contingency
Correct answer: Alternate
An alternate is a defined portion of the work that is priced separately by the bidders. This allows the owner to decide whether to include that portion of the work in the final contract based on the bids received and the overall budget, making it ideal for optional or 'wish list' items.
Question 4: Which of the following is a common cause for a contractor's bid to be deemed non-responsive and rejected during a formal bidding process?
- The bid price is significantly lower than all other bids.
- The contractor attended the optional pre-bid meeting.
- The contractor included a list of qualified subcontractors.
- The bid form was submitted after the specified deadline. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The bid form was submitted after the specified deadline.
Bidding documents clearly state the deadline for bid submission. Failure to submit the bid by the specified date and time is a material irregularity and a primary reason for a bid to be rejected as non-responsive, regardless of its price or other merits.
Question 5: A landscape architect includes a cash allowance in the specifications for site furnishings. How should the contractor's bid address this allowance?
- Estimate the cost of the furnishings and include it in the base bid.
- Exclude the cost from the bid, as the owner will purchase the items directly.
- Include the specified allowance amount in the base bid, with costs for labor, overhead, and profit handled as specified in the contract documents. (Correct answer)
- Provide a separate price for the furnishings that can be accepted or rejected by the owner.
Correct answer: Include the specified allowance amount in the base bid, with costs for labor, overhead, and profit handled as specified in the contract documents.
An allowance is a fixed sum of money included in the contract documents to cover the cost of a specific item whose exact details are not yet determined. Bidders must include this exact sum in their bid. The contract documents will specify how the contractor's costs for handling, installation, overhead, and profit on the allowance item are to be addressed.
Question 6: During the preparation of a bid for a complex landscape construction project, a contractor notices a significant discrepancy between the grading plan and the planting plan. What is the most appropriate first step for the contractor to take?
- Make an assumption about the landscape architect's intent and adjust the bid price accordingly.
- Submit the bid based only on the grading plan and plan to issue a change order later.
- Formally submit a Request for Information (RFI) to the landscape architect for clarification. (Correct answer)
- Withdraw from the bidding process to avoid the potential risk.
Correct answer: Formally submit a Request for Information (RFI) to the landscape architect for clarification.
When a contractor discovers a conflict or ambiguity in the bidding documents, the proper procedure is to submit a formal Request for Information (RFI) or a question to the design professional. This allows the landscape architect to issue a clarification or an addendum to all bidders, ensuring that all bids are based on the same, corrected information.
CLARB - Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards Project Management and Bidding Questions and Answers
During the bidding phase for a public park project, a landscape architect issues an addendum.
What is the primary purpose of this document?