Notes on the General Conditions or the Contract

In some cases the Articles as printed do not include all necessary General Conditions of the Contract. The Architect will then add such others as he deems wise.

Many architects include in their General Conditions one or more of the subjects named below. Most of these are better placed in the specifications for the various trades; and others, though suited for inclusion in the General Conditions, are not always needed. Among these subjects are:

Bracing building during construction,

Charges for extra copies of drawings,

Chases,

Checking by surveyor and his certificate,

Contractor to keep the work in repair,

Contractor to lay out the work, giving lines and levels,

Contractor to work overtime if required,

Fences,

Heating during construction,

Insurance against lightning, wind storms, hail and earthquake,

Keeping building and cellar free from water,

Ladders,

Lanterns,

Offices and their furniture,

Permission to use articles or methods other than those specified,

Photographs,

Protection and care of trees and shrubs,

Protective coverings in general,

Sanitary convenience,

Scaffolding,

Sheds,

Sidewalks,

Special cleaning other than "broom clean," as in Article 33,

Stoppage of work in freezing weather,

Telephone,

Temporary enclosure from weather,

Temporary stairways,

Temporary wiring and electric lights,

Vault permits,

Watchmen.

For further information of use in connection with the General Conditions, refer to the "Handbook of Architectural Practice," published by the American Institute of Architects.

Notes on the Bond of Suretyship

The bond of Suretyship is drawn for use with either corporate or individual sureties. If a bond is to be given, this form, without additions or omissions, should be insisted upon to insure a full measure of protection. Proper certification that those signing the bond have authority so to sign should accompany the bond.

Notes on the Invitation to Bid, Instructions to Bidders and Form of Proposal

The Institute formerly issued the above named forms which contain much of value. Experience, however, showed that they had generally to be adapted to specific cases. They are, therefore, reproduced here so that Architects may draw from them whatever they deem useful.

Form or Invitation to Submit a Proposal

Dear Sir: You are invited to submit a proposal for.................

Drawings, Specifications and other information may be procured from this office on and after...............

All documents must be returned to this office not later than............

.............................

To be entitled to consideration the proposal must be made upon the form provided by the Architect, which must be fully completed in accordance with the accompanying "Instructions to Bidders" and must be delivered to this office not later than.............

Very truly yours,

...................................

Form or Instructions to Bidders

Proposals, to be entitled to consideration, must be made in accordance with the following instructions.

Proposals shall be made upon the form provided therefor, and all blank spaces in the form shall be fully filled; numbers shall be stated both in writing and in figures; the signature shall be in long hand; and the completed form shall be without interlineation, alteration or erasure.

Proposals shall not contain any recapitulation of the work to be done. No oral, telegraphic or telephonic proposals or modifications will be considered.

Proposals shall be addressed to the Owner, in care of the Architect, and shall be delivered to the Architect enclosed in an opaque sealed envelope addressed to him, marked "Proposal" and bearing the title of the work and the name of the Bidder.

Should a bidder find discrepancies in, or omissions from, the drawings or documents, or should he be in doubt as to their meaning, he should at once notify the Architect, who will send a written instruction to all bidders. Neither Owner nor Architect will be responsible for any oral instructions.

Before submitting a proposal, bidders should carefully examine the drawings and specifications, visit the site or work, fully inform themselves as to all existing conditions and limitations and shall include in the Proposal a sum to cover the cost of all items included in the Contract.

The competency and responsibility of bidders and of their proposed subcontractors will be considered in making the award. The Owner does not obligate himself to accept the lowest or any other bid.

Provision will be made in the Agreement for payments on account in the following words: (Insert the Provision).

Any Bulletins issued during the time of bidding are to be covered in the proposal and in closing a contract they will become a part thereof.

Form or Proposal

(The Proposal should be dated and addressed to the Owner in care of the Architect.)

Dear Sir: Having carefully examined the Instructions to Bidders, the General Conditions of the Contract and Specifications entitled......

....................................

(Here insert the caption descriptive of the work as used therein.) and the Drawings, similarly entitled, numbered................as well as the premises and the conditions affecting the work, the Undersigned proposes to furnish all materials and labor called for by them for..............

(Here insert, in case all the work therein described is to be covered by one contract, "the entire work." In case of a partial contract insert name of the trade or trades to be covered and the numbers of the pages of the Specifications on which the work is described.) in accordance with the said documents for the sum of..............Dollars