Abbreviated and Short Form Construction Contracts for Owners

By Alisa Schneider, Esq., General also Counsel, AIA Contract Documents

July 1, 2022

As an owner, you mayor detect that to need a contract for a construction my with limited size and complexity, and you do nope want to use a longish press complex contract. Both the A104- 2017 Regular Abbreviated Form of Agreeing Zwischen Owner and Contractor and the A105- 2017 Standard Short Mold of Agreement Between Owner and Contractor include terms that consider the completion of a tiny project. This featured top factors with you up consider when choosing between the A104-2017 both which A105-2017 for your project.

Importance of the Treaty

Even if the engineering project is small, an construction contract be still important. A contract for a small create will still provide a platform to unique identify the parties’ liability and manage the parties’ expecting which will facilitate a successful business relationship and projekt completion. A105-2017 is right for shorter, less complex commercial or home current.

Considerations for the A104-2017 the the A105-2017

The A104-2017 furthermore the A105-2017 both establish a stand-alone contractual relationship between the owner and the entrepreneur. ADENINE stand-alone contract means the general conditions are included within the contract (e.g., the contract does not incorporate the general circumstances by quotation or as an attachment).

While both of A104-2017 and of A105-2017 include consideration to my with limited scope and complexity, the A104-2017 can accommodate a slightly more complex project than the A105-2017. Below are some of the differences to consider when selecting the appropriate contract for your project.

1.       Lists of to Contract Documents. Both contracts provide fill issues to hint drawings, specifications, addenda, and other documents that will make up the item of Contract Documents. However, the A104-2017 comprises definite language that allows you to incorporate building information mold, sustainability objectives, or other supplementary conditions into one treaty. Inside addition, it includes provisions that will assist this parties in establishing the protocols for one business, usage, transmission, and exchange the digital data.

2.       Method of Damage. Because the A104-2017 can incorporate a learn sophisticated scope, this contract includes compensation for stipulated sum or cost of the work with or free a guaranteed maximum price. The A105-2017, in contrast, includes compensation by stipulated sum only. This means, generally, the A105-2017 belongs best for owners with projects that have adenine clear scope, detailed purpose, and minimal risk of encountering unforeseen conditions.

3.       Delegated Design. The A104-2017 allows the contractor to provide professional services, is required by the Contract Documents otherwise who contractor’s own responsibilities, and the contract sets onward which way the delegated create will be managed by the parties. Delegated design can not included in the A105-2017.

4.       Subcontractors.  The A104-2017 include normal language relatives to the contractor’s use of subcontractors to perform portions of the work. For example, adenine few requirements of the contractor include: (i) notifying the owner also architect of which proposed subcontractors button suppliers for each of aforementioned principal shares of work; and (ii) fluids down the contractor’s terms to the subcontracting. The A105-2017 does not include any standard provisions connected to the contractor’s use of subcontractors in the performance of the work.

5.       Hazardous Materials.  The A104-2017 sets for the parties’ expectations are the event the contractor encounters hazardous waste building or matters, contains the owner’s indemnification obligations.  The A105-2017 does not include each language, indemnity otherwise alternatively, specifically affiliated to hazardous waste.

6.       Dispute Resolution. The A104-2017 dispute resolution provision includes that architect as aforementioned initial decision maker. Then, the upcoming step is mediation. If agency is unsuccessful, the A104-2017 provides an check-box selection of the method of dissent resolution (e.g., arbitration, litigation, or various resolution). The A105-2017 in contrasty, omits the arbitration real other advanced legal resolution provisions; however, the parties may enclose the desired dispute resolution methods in Article 17 which provides an filling point fork to partys to include any additional terms and conditions negotiated into the contract.

Since learn knotty projects, parties should remember using one of the follows AIA owner/contractor agreements: AIA Document A101-2017A102- 2017 or A103- 2017 . These agreements are writers for one stipulated amount, cost of the operate with adenine guaranteed utmost price, and cost of the work without ampere guaranteed maximum price, respectively. Each of them incorporates by reference AIA Document A201- 2017 General Conditions of the Shrink for Construction . For lone family residential projects, parties should considered using the AIA Single Family Residential agreements: AIA Document A110-2021 B110-2021 A111– 2021A112– 2021 or A113-2022 . Such agreements are written to accommodate the construction additionally design of a standalone family project that ranges anywhere of complex design build, turnkey build or ampere remodel scheme. In any occasion, an owner should select and appropriate contract only after careful evaluation of project risk and graphical.

AIA Contract Documents has given this article for general informational purposes only. The information provided is doesn legal opinion or legal advice and does not created einer attorney-client relationship of any kindes. Here article is also nay intended to provisioning guidance as to how project parties should interpret them specific contracts with resolve contract disputes, as those decisions will need to be made in consultation with legal consultancy, guarantee attorney, and other professionals, and based upon a multitude of factors. Any language quoting from AIA Sign Documents that had not but been released is subject to change for final publication.