Construction Contract Administration Course

Lesson 1 • Standard Contract Documents Overview

Surveys widely used standard-form agreements and their component parts. Prepares students to navigate and cross-reference contract documents.

Lesson 2 • Key Parties and Their Roles

Defines owner, contractor, subcontractor, designer, and surety roles. Clarifies how each party's duties interact throughout project delivery.

Lesson 3 • Risk Allocation Principles

Introduces how contracts distribute financial and performance risk between parties. Provides a framework for evaluating fairness and enforceability of risk clauses.

Lesson 4 • Contract Law Essentials for Construction

Covers offer, acceptance, consideration, and enforceability as applied to construction. Establishes the legal baseline for all subsequent contract analysis.

Lesson 1 • Schedule Review and Baseline Approval

Teaches critical path review, float analysis, and baseline schedule acceptance. Connects approved schedules to delay and acceleration claims later.

Lesson 2 • Project Documentation Systems

Introduces filing structures, numbering conventions, and document control software. Ensures consistent recordkeeping from project day one.

Lesson 3 • Pre-Construction Meeting Management

Establishes agenda structure, attendee roles, and documentation for kick-off meetings. Sets communication protocols that govern the entire project.

Lesson 4 • Submittals and Shop Drawing Procedures

Defines submittal types, review timelines, and approval stamps. Establishes the submittal log as a core project control tool.

Lesson 1 • Role of the Contract Administrator On Site

Clarifies authority limits, observation vs. inspection distinctions, and liability exposure. Prevents overreach that could shift design liability to the administrator.

Lesson 2 • Photographic and Video Documentation

Establishes standards for capturing, labeling, and storing visual project records. Visual evidence is critical for substantiating claims and resolving disputes.

Lesson 3 • Safety Oversight Responsibilities

Defines the administrator's role in monitoring contractor safety programs without assuming control. Balances safety awareness with contractual authority boundaries.

Lesson 4 • Daily Field Reports and Logs

Covers content requirements, timing, and distribution of daily field reports. Establishes contemporaneous records essential for dispute resolution.

Lesson 1 • Pricing and Negotiating Variation Orders

Covers force account, unit price, and lump-sum pricing methods for changes. Negotiation techniques ensure fair value and maintain contractor relationships.

Lesson 2 • Identifying Compensable Changes

Distinguishes directed changes, constructive changes, and cardinal changes. Accurate identification determines entitlement before pricing begins.

Lesson 3 • Variation Order Documentation and Execution

Details the formal variation order form, approval chain, and contract incorporation. Proper execution prevents disputes over scope and price.

Lesson 4 • Requests for Information Management

Establishes RFI procedures, response timelines, and impact assessment. Unresolved RFIs are a leading source of constructive changes and delays.

Lesson 1 • Schedule Impact Analysis Methods

Covers as-planned vs. as-built, time impact analysis, and collapsed as-built methods. Method selection affects credibility and outcome of delay claims.

Lesson 2 • Delay Classification and Entitlement

Distinguishes excusable, compensable, and non-excusable delays and their remedies. Classification determines whether time, money, or neither is owed.

Lesson 3 • Acceleration and Its Cost Implications

Defines directed and constructive acceleration and the costs each generates. Proper documentation of acceleration orders supports recovery of added costs.

Lesson 4 • Float Consumption and Ownership Disputes

Examines contractual float ownership provisions and their effect on delay claims. Float disputes are resolved by contract language and schedule analysis.

Lesson 1 • Lien Rights and Waivers

Introduces mechanics lien rights, preliminary notice requirements, and waiver forms. Lien management protects the owner's title and the contractor's payment rights.

Lesson 2 • Disputed Amounts and Withholding

Covers proper grounds for withholding payment, notice requirements, and resolution. Improper withholding exposes owners to interest penalties and breach claims.

Lesson 3 • Retainage Management and Release

Explains retainage purposes, reduction triggers, and final release conditions. Proper retainage management balances owner security with contractor cash flow.

Lesson 4 • Progress Payment Application Review

Covers percent-complete verification, stored materials, and certification procedures. Accurate certification protects the owner from overpayment.

Lesson 1 • Mediation and Dispute Review Boards

Explains mediation process, mediator selection, and dispute review board functions. These methods resolve most construction disputes before arbitration or litigation.

Lesson 2 • Negotiation and Settlement Strategies

Applies interest-based negotiation to construction disputes and settlement structuring. Early resolution reduces legal costs and preserves business relationships.

Lesson 3 • Arbitration and Litigation Fundamentals

Compares arbitration and litigation procedures, costs, and enforceability of awards. Administrators must understand formal forums to support legal counsel effectively.

Lesson 4 • Claim Identification and Preservation

Establishes notice obligations, reservation of rights, and contemporaneous recordkeeping. Failure to preserve claims at inception is the most common entitlement killer.

Lesson 1 • Final Payment and Contract Termination

Covers final application review, release of retainage, and contract completion certification. Proper final payment procedures extinguish most remaining claims.

Lesson 2 • Punch List Development and Tracking

Covers punch list preparation, item categorization, and completion verification. A well-managed punch list prevents disputes over final payment withholding.

Lesson 3 • Substantial Completion Determination

Defines substantial completion criteria, inspection procedures, and certificate issuance. The substantial completion date triggers key contractual rights and obligations.

Lesson 4 • Warranty and Guarantee Administration

Distinguishes express warranties, implied warranties, and special guarantees. Proper warranty tracking ensures defects are remedied within contractual periods.