Construction Contract Terminology
The contract cost is based on the contract quantities and the contractor's bid price for each item. Projects range in scope from a few items up to several hundred line items. When a project is bid, each contractor submits a bid, not on the total cost of the project, but a separate unit price for each item. The contract cost is the sum of the individual item quantities multiplied by the unit cost.
Contractors are paid based on what work is actually done. Final project costs can be more or less than the contract cost.
The Contractor is responsible for constructing the project according to the plans and specifications. Contracts for major projects are awarded based on low bid. Contractors must meet certain qualification criteria in order to bid on a project. The DuPage County Division of Transportation requires I.D.O.T. prequalification.
Sub-contractors and suppliers may work with the Contractors, but the general contractor is ultimately responsible for the work.
The Design Engineer is responsible for developing plans (drawings) and specifications for a project. A project may be designed by DuPage County Division of Transportation engineers, or by a consulting engineering firm selected by the County.
A project generally consists of three phases:
Phase I: Phase I consists of preliminary studies which may be of traffic volumes; environmental issues; drainage issues including stormwater detention, floodplain, and wetlands; and other items specific to the project.
Phase II: This involves the actual design preparation. During the design, the engineer may develop: ground surveys; plan & profile sheets, drainage plans, cross sections, structure plans, stormwater detention plans, wetland mitigation plans, erosion control plans, traffic control plans, pavement striping plans, traffic signal plans. The design engineer may also obtain permits required for the project from various governmental agencies. Plans and specifications can be very complex, or very simple, depending on the project.
Phase III: Phase III is the actual construction of the project. See Resident Engineer and Project Engineer.
The Project Engineer handles the more complex project problems. The Project Engineer may also authorize changes to a project. Each Resident Engineer reports to a Project Engineer. While a Resident Engineer may work for a consultant, the Project Engineer is an actual employee of the County. Typically, a Project Engineer will handle several projects at one time.
If you need to contact the Project Engineer, please call the DuPage County Division of Transportation at (630) 407-6900.
The Resident Engineer is the County's representative on the project site. The R.E. may be an employee of the County, or the County may hire a consulting engineering company to provide an R.E. The Resident Engineer's main function is to ensure that the project is completed according to specifications (i.e. ensuring that proper materials, workmanship and final product are obtained; ensuring that we get our money's worth). The R.E. will work with a Materials Consultant, who may take samples and perform tests on asphalt, aggregate, soils, portland cement, and other materials. The Resident Engineer may, depending on the size and scope of the project, have one or more Inspectors as assistants. The Resident Engineer may have a field office on or near the project, the field office is provided by the Contractor as a contract item.
If you need to contact the Resident Engineer, please contact the Project Engineer. Call the DuPage County Division of Transportation at (630) 407-6900.
A working day shall be defined as any calendar day between May 1 and November 20 inclusive except Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays observed by the Contractor’s entire work force in Illinois. The length of a working day will be determined by the Engineer from the number of working hours established by actual job practice by the contractor for the current controlling item, except not less than 8 hours will be considered in the determination.
A full working day will be charged for any day described in the foregoing on which conditions are such that the Contractor could be expected to do a full day’s work on the controlling item.
The Engineer will determine which days are workable.
No working day or a partial working day of one-quarter, one-half or three-quarters shall be charged under the following conditions:
- When weather conditions do not permit the completion of a full day’s work on the controlling item.
- When job conditions due to recent weather do not permit full efficiency on the controlling item.
- When any condition over which the Contractor has no control prevents…
- When strikes, lock-outs, extraordinary delays caused by utility and Railroad work, extraordinary delays in transportation, or inability to procure critical materials…
- … as long as these delays are not due to any fault of the Contractor.
Excerpted from Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, adopted January 1, 2002, Illinois Department of Transportation, Article 108.04.
