Contract Administration Essentials for Architects:
Mastering Key Forms & Processes
Effective contract administration is the cornerstone of a successful architectural project. This one-hour course, “Contract Administration Essentials for Architects: Mastering Key Forms & Processes,” focuses on empowering architects with a deep understanding of the construction phase’s essential forms. Through exploring the relationships between these forms, participants will gain the knowledge and confidence to navigate change orders, directives, allowances, schedules of values, and certificates for payment, ultimately mitigating risks and ensuring a smoother, more predictable project journey.
Continuing Education Credits: This course can be self-reported for 1 continuing education credit or structured learning hour. A Certificate of Completion will be sent to the attendee. While we cannot guarantee that it will be accepted by your association, the following associations have pre-approved the course.
Course Duration: 1 hour (45 minutes instruction, 15 minutes Q&A)
Target Audience: Architects, Intern Architects, Architectural Technologist, Architectural Project Managers, Contractor Project Managers, Consultants, Contract Managers, and Contract Administrators.
Learning Objectives – Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify the essential forms used in construction contract administration (CCA) and their purpose.
- Utilize the Schedule of Values to monitor project costs and prepare accurate Certificates for Payment.
- Understand the process of creating, submitting, and approving change orders and change directives.
- Effectively manage cash allowances and track their utilization.
- Implement a submittal logging system and streamline the submittal review process.
Course Outline:
- Introduction to Contract Administration (5 minutes):
- Overview of the architect’s role during the construction phase
- Importance of effective CCA in project success
- Key Forms in Contract Administration (20 minutes):
- Certificates for Payment: Preparation, content, architect’s role in review and approval
- Schedule of Values: Purpose, creation, updates, relation to payment applications
- Change Orders: Purpose, content, approval process, best practices
- Change Directives: When to use, differences from change orders
- Cash Allowances: Definition, documentation, tracking, closeout procedures
- Submittal Logging and Reviews (15 minutes):
- Importance of a submittal log
- Setting up a logging system (manual or digital)
- Tracking deadlines and ensuring timely reviews
- Architect’s role in submittal review: What to look for, common issues
- Q&A Session (15 minutes):
- Open forum for questions and discussion
The essence of Contract Administration in the construction realm is processes that ensure our environment’s success and structural integrity. The role of contract administration is the stability of the entire project. Architects are pivotal in bridging the gap between vision and reality within this intricate process. Their role extends far beyond the drafting table; they are the sentinels of contract administration, tasked with many responsibilities. Despite their expertise, architects often encounter challenges such as keeping up with the ceaseless flow of submittals, change orders, and the rigorous demands of document control. These challenges can be daunting, leading to potential delays and increased costs.
RForm is designed to streamline and standardize contract administration, transforming it from a maze of paperwork into a seamless, automated process. RForm alleviates the burdens of manual tracking, allowing architects to focus on the artistry and execution of their design. The software system simplifies the administration of vital construction documents, from change orders to payment certifications. The centralization of project documents within the system enhances collaboration among all stakeholders and mitigates risks by providing a singular, up-to-date repository for all contractual information. Contract administration is more than a convenience; it is a strategic advantage in the highly competitive construction field.
Helping You Organize & Standardize Contract Administration Online
RForm contract administration software streamlines contract administration and increases efficiency by providing a centralized platform for all project-related documents, communications, and contract administration. Stay organized and on top of your projects, reducing the risk of errors and delays.
Submittals
Losing track of submittals on a project?
Use RForm to organize submittal logging, reviewing and tracking.
Project Files
Is there a better way than always emailing project documents to your team?
RForm provides online file storage, accessible by anyone on your project team, anytime & from anywhere.
Changes & Payments
Sometimes COs, RFIs and Progress Claims take too much of your time.
Create, distribute, log, and approve these and other forms with a single mouse click.
Easy to learn & use
Worried about the time it takes to learn new software?
RForm’s quickstart video can have teams up and running in 5 minutes.
RForm is the only software specifically designed for the Prime consultant on a construction project to manage the contract administration and is consistent with the AIA best practices and standards for Contract Administration.
“RForm has made our Construction Administration activities much easier. All communications are digitally bundled with sketches and relevant information is available to all parties over the web. Sorting and searching is built in, so tracking RFIs, SIs, PCOs, Transmittals, Submittals, Schedule of Values and payment certification has never been easier. Well done RForm!”
Keith Tufts, Principal, Lydon Lynch Architects
“Both the client and the contractor on this project were impressed with the transparency and record keeping abilities of RForm. The contract administration process was accessible to both the team on this project and our client’s who were able to log on to RForm and determine the exact cost of the project at any given time.”
Philip Hastings, OAA, MRAIC, LEED AP, Gow Hastings Architects Inc.
“Because RForm keeps all information together and readily accessible, issues are dealt with immediately, creating a very narrow margin of error in the construction phase – a part of the business in which the architect often struggles for a measure of control.”
Percy Poplak, M.E.P., B. Arch., OAA, MRAIC, RIBA, Senior Associate, WGD Architects Inc.
Discover RForm – The Ultimate Contract Administration Software
No limits on project size, number of project team members or data storage.