Construction Contract Administration

I know that the AIA defines "Conformed Drawings" someplace.  However, I must admit that the term is new to me.  I have a situation where I have to challenge the term as a "standard of care".  Any experience you have had with this term would be greatly appreciated.

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David Brotman FAIA
Past AIA Regional Director
Sunset Consultants
Scottsdale AZ
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I can say they are NOT Records Documents or As Builts, or part of the typical AIA Contract (Unless you kept in AIA B101-2017 "§ 4.1.1.14 Conformed documents for construction" but we do occasionally offer it when the Contractor is less savvy and doesn't do Revit or build a model themselves.  We have used the following language to help define the additional service to provide Conformed Drawings:
• Conformed Drawings include the bid drawings, updated to include all changes made by addendum during the bid process and all awarded alternates.
• Addendum drawings shall be incorporated into the drawing sheets for the set.
• Addendum drawings shall not be on separate layouts or sheets unless an entire new sheet has been issued and added to the complete set of drawings.
• Conformed drawing hard-copies and PDF files intended for use during construction shall be signed and stamped by the responsible professional.
• Electronic submittals of conformed CAD/BIM files shall not include electronic signatures or professional stamps.
• Each sheet of conformed electronic files must contain the following block:
• Locate the block in the lower right corner of the drawing area to the left of the title block. If sheet contents conflict with the stamp, adjust the location of the stamp.

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Christopher Davis AIA
Technical Practice Leader - Healthcare
Gresham Smith
Coral Gables FL
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David -
With reference to the AIA documents, the Instructions for Form B101 (Instructions: B101™ - 2017, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect - ACD Help) defines Conformed Documents in the instructions for Section 4.1.1.14, as " the Construction Documents modified to include any addenda issued during the bidding or negotiation process and accepted alternates."  Note that B101 (https://content.aia.org/sites/default/files/2017-04/B101_2017%20sample.pdf) defined Conformed Documents as Supplemental Services, not Basic Services -- in other words, not assumed as part of the "standard of care" unless specifically added by contract.

Working for various public agencies, my previous employer (a local public transit district) prepared and issued Conformed Documents on its own, as a matter of course.  My current employer (a state agency) does not, leaving to the contractor team, the project manager, the inspectors, and the A&E team to keep track of the addenda and accepted alternates separately.  Back when I worked in the private sector, if my clients prepared Conformed Documents, they did not keep my firms in the loop -- we tracked that on our own as well.  So my experience is that Conformed Documents are a best practice, but not the rule by any means. 

Good luck in your situation!

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David M. Solomon AIA
Supervising Architect
California Department of General Services
West Sacramento, CA
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