NASCLA Contractor key terms

A scheduling technique that identifies the longest sequence of dependent activities in a project, thereby determining the minimum project duration and showing which activities cannot be delayed without delaying completion.

The amount of time an activity can be delayed from its early start without delaying the project completion date; activities lying on the critical path have zero float.

An itemized breakdown of the contract sum allocated to individual work items, used to evaluate progress and calculate the amount of each monthly progress payment.

A cost-control method that compares the budgeted cost of work performed with actual costs and planned value to measure schedule and cost performance on a project.

A written amendment to the construction contract that modifies scope, price, or schedule, and becomes binding once signed by the owner and accepted by the contractor.

A formal written question from the contractor to the design professional asking for clarification of the contract documents; the response becomes part of the project record.

Shop drawings, product data, samples, or similar documents the contractor provides to the designer for review and approval before fabricating or installing the related work.

A percentage of each progress payment withheld by the owner until completion or specified milestones, giving the owner leverage to ensure final completion and correction of defects.

The stage at which the work is sufficiently complete in accordance with the contract documents that the owner can occupy or use it for its intended purpose.

A pre-agreed amount charged to the contractor for each day of delay past the contract completion date, treated as an estimate of owner loss rather than a penalty.

Marked-up drawings the contractor maintains during construction and delivers at closeout, showing actual dimensions, locations, and deviations from the original design documents.

A bond guaranteeing that a bidder will enter into the contract and furnish required performance and payment bonds if awarded the work; forfeited if the bidder defaults.

A surety bond protecting the owner if the contractor fails to perform the contract, allowing the surety to complete the work or pay for its completion.

A surety bond guaranteeing payment to subcontractors, laborers, and suppliers for work and materials furnished on the project, shielding the owner from mechanics liens.

A reserve included in an estimate or budget to cover unforeseen costs, minor scope changes, or price escalation; it is not a markup or profit item.

A contract arrangement that caps the amount the owner will pay; savings may be shared, and the contractor absorbs overruns not caused by owner-directed changes.

An agreement in which the contractor performs a defined scope for a single fixed price, bearing the risk of quantity and cost variations within that scope.

An agreement that pays the contractor a fixed price for each unit of work actually performed, with the total contract value set by measured quantities.

A hierarchical division of the project into manageable work packages used for estimating, scheduling, cost control, and assigning responsibility to specific parties.

A delivery method in which a single entity contracts with the owner for both design and construction, concentrating responsibility and often shortening the overall schedule.

A delivery method in which a construction manager is engaged early for a fee to advise on design and cost, then holds a contract to build within a guaranteed maximum price.

A written statement defining the work, materials, and deliverables included in a contract, and by implication the items that are excluded.

A procedure that breaks a task into steps, identifies hazards at each step, and defines controls before work starts, often documented as a pre-task briefing.

An individual designated by the employer who can identify existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings and has authority to take prompt corrective action.

Items such as hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, and fall harnesses worn by workers to reduce exposure to hazards when other controls cannot fully eliminate them.

The OSHA rule requiring chemical hazard evaluation, container labeling, safety data sheets, and worker training so employees understand the chemicals they handle.

A method such as sloping, benching, shoring, or shielding used to protect workers in trenches from cave-ins, generally required for excavations five feet deep or more.

Systems and practices such as guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest equipment used to protect workers from falls at elevations of six feet or more in construction.

A list of incomplete or defective items identified near project completion that the contractor must correct before final acceptance and release of final payment.

A full-size physical sample of a building component or assembly built on site to establish a quality standard and obtain approval before full-scale installation.

A project-specific document describing inspection procedures, testing requirements, acceptance criteria, and the parties responsible for verifying that work meets the specifications.

An official document issued by the local building authority confirming that a completed structure complies with applicable codes and is approved for its intended use.

The category assigned to a building based on its intended use, such as business, mercantile, or residential, which drives allowable height, area, and fire protection requirements.

The period, usually stated in hours, that a building assembly resists a standardized fire exposure, used to satisfy code requirements for separations and structural protection.

The continuous path for leaving a building, comprising exit access, the exit itself, and exit discharge, sized and arranged so occupants can evacuate safely in an emergency.

A digital three-dimensional model of a building containing coordinated geometry and data used for design coordination, clash detection, quantity takeoff, and construction planning.

A record kept by site supervision documenting weather, workforce, equipment, deliveries, visitors, and notable events each day, supporting progress tracking and later claims.

A legal claim against real property filed by a party who furnished labor or materials and was not paid, potentially allowing the property to be sold to satisfy the debt.

A company that issues bonds guaranteeing a contractor's performance or payment obligations, after evaluating the contractor's financial strength, experience, and capacity to complete work.