B101 Risk Alignment Checklist.
Do I Need an A201?
Evaluate how your project’s contracts stack up with these questions:
- Do you have the General Conditions that govern this project?
- Do they align with the agreement you signed with the Owner?
- Have you confirmed in writing whether you are serving as Initial Decision Maker?
Together, the right agreements create a framework for risk protection and cross-functional collaboration for construction projects. In our document coordination series, we highlight the essential pairings within the AIA Contract Document library.
Across Design-Bid-Build projects, the B101: Standard Form of Agreement Between an Owner and Architect incorporates by reference the A201 General Conditions of the Contract for Construction. Together, this pairing clarifies your authority, your limits, and your responsibilities beyond design.
A201 defines how the construction contract operates and how you administer design direction during the Construction Phase. Your administration of the Contract Documents does not create a contractual relationship with the Contractor, nor does it make you responsible for construction means and methods, quality control, or job site safety.
At the same time, B101 requires you to administer the construction contract as described in A201. That includes interpreting the Contract Documents, reviewing submittals, risk allocation, certifying payments, determining Substantial Completion, and rejecting non-conforming work.
A201 also establishes your role as Initial Decision Maker. In that role, you help resolve issues before they escalate into formal disputes. That authority supports the project by providing structure and predictability during moments of disagreement, before they escalate, which can put the project at risk.
Discover Contract Frameworks Built for How You Practice
AIA Contract Documents’ strength lies in their coordinated use across a project, from concept to completion. With Unlimited access to the AIA Contract Documents, coordination is seamless.