CSI CCCA cheat sheet

QA = process-oriented (procedures, submittals, testing plans); QC = product-oriented (inspection, sampling, testing to verify compliance). CSI defines QA as actions by the owner/designer and QC as contractor actions.

Three-point control: preparatory (before work), initial (first work in place), and follow-up (ongoing) phases; each phase includes a meeting, a checklist, and documented sign-off.

Testing frequency is governed by the specification's sampling rate (e.g., one test per 500 sq ft or per lot); failed tests trigger retesting at contractor cost unless the specification states otherwise.

Statistical acceptance uses a defined lot, sample size, and acceptance number; a lot is accepted when the number of defects is at or below the acceptance number.

Total Quality Management (TQM) principles: customer focus, continuous improvement (Plan-Do-Check-Act), fact-based decisions, and workforce involvement.

A nonconformance report (NCR) records the deficiency, location, specification reference, disposition (rework, repair, use-as-is, reject), and closure verification.

A root cause analysis tool: 5 Whys and fishbone (Ishikawa) diagrams separate cause categories into man, machine, material, method, measurement, and environment.

Quality costs: prevention + appraisal = cost of conformance; internal + external failure = cost of nonconformance. Prevention spending typically yields the highest return.

Bid opening: bids are publicly opened and read aloud at the time and place stated in the advertisement; late bids are returned unopened. Bid security is checked for form and amount at opening.

Competitive sealed bidding requires adequate competition, a firm fixed price basis, and award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder without negotiation.

Responsiveness = compliance with material solicitation requirements (bid form, security, addenda acknowledgment). Responsibility = capacity, integrity, and past performance.

Negotiated procurement is used when sealed bidding is impractical: sole source, urgency, or when price and technical factors must be traded off. Discussions must be held with all competitive range offerors.

Bid shopping and bid peddling are prohibited; disclosure of one bidder's price to another to obtain a lower price is an ethics violation.

Addenda: issued to all plan holders in writing; bidders must acknowledge each addendum on the bid form. An addendum that materially changes scope may extend the bid period.

Two-envelope (technical/price) evaluation separates technical qualification from price; technical envelopes are scored before price envelopes are opened.

Bid protest grounds commonly include defective specifications, improper evaluation, and failure to follow stated award criteria; deadlines are short and strictly enforced.

Observation is passive watching for conformance; inspection is an active, documented verification against a specified criterion. Neither transfers responsibility for means and methods from the contractor.

Inspection levels: 100% inspection, sampling inspection, and first-article inspection. Sampling risk is covered by the operating characteristic (OC) curve.

The contractor's quality control plan defines hold points (work cannot proceed without inspector sign-off) and witness points (notification required, work may proceed).

A punch list (deficiency list) is issued at substantial completion; items are corrected before final completion and final payment. Substantial completion starts warranty and time-related provisions.

Documentation elements: date, time, location, personnel present, work observed, specification reference, and photographic record. Notes are contemporaneous and factual, not conclusory.

The three phases of field inspection: preparatory meeting and submittal review, initial inspection of first work, and follow-up inspections at defined frequency.

Testing must be performed by an approved independent agency when specified; the contractor typically schedules and pays for testing but the owner may retain the agency directly.

Defective work discovered after acceptance does not relieve the contractor of latent defect liability; the warranty or correction period governs the remedy.

Division 01 governs the administrative and procedural requirements for all technical sections; where Division 01 conflicts with a technical section, the more stringent or specific requirement governs as stated in the supplementary conditions.

Submittal types: shop drawings, product data, samples, mockups, and sustainable design reports. Each is marked approved, approved as noted, revise and resubmit, or rejected.

Submittal review is for conformance with the design concept only; contractor remains responsible for dimensions, quantities, and field fit. A 'no exception taken' action does not waive contract requirements.

Unit prices and alternates: alternates are accepted in the order listed in the bid form; unit prices apply to changes in quantity and are priced at the bid unit price.

Substitution requests must be submitted within the time stated (often 10 days after award) with data showing equivalence; the designer's decision is final and does not create a basis for claim.

Closeout submittals: record documents (as-builts), warranty and O&M manuals, attic stock, spare parts, and final cleaning; final payment is contingent on their acceptance.

Construction schedules: baseline schedule is submitted for approval within a stated period after notice to proceed; time extensions require written notice within the contract notice period.

Allowances and contingency: cash allowances are part of the contract sum and adjusted by change order; owner contingency is not part of the contract sum.

Order of precedence (typical AIA A201): agreement, general conditions, supplementary conditions, drawings, specifications, addenda, then other documents. Modifications take precedence over the original documents.

Differing site conditions: Type I (subsurface or latent physical conditions materially different from those indicated) and Type II (unknown physical conditions of an unusual nature). Notice is required before disturbing the condition.

Suspension and time extensions: contractor is entitled to an extension of time, not additional cost, for excusable but non-compensable delays (weather, owner-caused without cost).

Owner's right to stop work and to correct defective work: the owner may withhold payment for deficient work and may perform correction after notice if the contractor fails to act.

Claims and disputes: initial decision by the architect/owner, mediation, then arbitration or litigation per the dispute resolution clause; notice of claim deadlines are conditions precedent.

Indemnification and insurance: contractor indemnifies for its negligence; additional insured status and waiver of subrogation are common requirements. Limits are stated in the supplementary conditions.

Retainage: a percentage (commonly 5-10%) withheld from each payment; many jurisdictions require reduction to a lower rate at substantial completion.

Hazardous materials discovered on site are typically the owner's responsibility; contractor must stop work in the affected area and notify the owner in writing.

AIA A101 (fixed price), A102 (cost plus), A103 (cost plus with GMP), B101 (owner-architect), A201 (general conditions), A701 (instructions to bidders), and A305 (contractor qualification statement) are the core document family.

Contract types: lump sum (fixed price), unit price (measured quantities), cost plus fixed fee, cost plus percentage (discouraged), and GMP with shared savings.

A GMP contract sets a guaranteed maximum price; savings below GMP are shared per a stated ratio; costs above GMP are the contractor's risk unless caused by owner changes.

Change order (CO) modifies the contract sum or time and is signed by owner and contractor; a construction change directive (CCD) directs work before price agreement and is later converted to a CO.

The agreement states the contract sum, date of commencement, contract time, liquidated damages rate, and lists the contract documents by name and date.

Bonds: bid bond (5-10% of bid), performance bond (100% of contract sum), and payment bond (100%) protect the owner and subcontractors respectively.

Notice to proceed establishes the start of the contract time; the date of substantial completion triggers warranty, retainage reduction, and liquidated damages cutoff.

Liquidated damages are a pre-estimated sum per day for late completion and must be a reasonable forecast of actual damages to be enforceable as a penalty.