Free Construction Specifications Institute CDT Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 2

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract (CSI-based)

CSI distinguishes between competitive bidding and negotiated procurement:

Competitive bidding: multiple contractors submit sealed bids based on a complete set of contract documents. Award is usually based primarily on lowest responsive, responsible bid, especially in public work.

Negotiated procurement (negotiated contract): the owner selects one contractor (sometimes a small shortlist) and negotiates price, scope, and terms directly rather than relying on competitive bidding.

CSI notes that negotiated contracts are most often used in the private sector, where owners:

Have ongoing relationships with certain contractors,

Value qualifications, performance history, and trust,

May have complex or fast-track projects where early contractor involvement is desired.

Thus, negotiations typically take the place of bidding when there is a pre-existing relationship and trust between the owner and contractor and the owner chooses to negotiate rather than seek competitive bids. That aligns directly with Option D.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. When exact quantities of work cannot be determined.When quantities are uncertain, a unit-price contract or allowances may be used, but the contractor may still be selected by competitive bidding. Uncertain quantities do not by themselves require a negotiated contract.

B. When a publicly funded project's lowest bid exceeds the budget.For public work, procurement is usually governed by statute. If bids exceed the budget, the typical actions are rebidding, revising scope, or obtaining additional funding—not simply switching to negotiation with one bidder.

C. When the contractor has defaulted on insurance premiums.Insurance problems are a responsibility/qualification issue, not a reason for negotiation to replace bidding. In fact, such a contractor may be deemed not responsible, and thus ineligible for award.

Key CSI References (titles only):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – sections on Procurement, Competitive Bidding vs. Negotiated Contracts.

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – discussions of procurement methods and contract award.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – “Bidding and Negotiation” and “Owner’s Selection of Contractor.”

CSI distinguishes between project delivery methods (e.g., Design-Bid-Build, Construction Management at Risk, Design-Build) and methods of compensation / basis of payment for the construction contract.

Lump sum, unit price, and cost-plus-fee are classic examples of basis of payment (sometimes called pricing or compensation methods):

Lump sum – A single fixed price for the entire work, based on the contract documents.

Unit price – Payment based on measured quantities of work items at agreed unit rates.

Cost-plus-fee – The owner reimburses actual costs of the work plus a fee (which may be fixed or a percentage).

These are not delivery methods or bonding systems; they describe how the contractor is paid under the construction contract, so Option C is correct.

Why the others are incorrect:

A. Delivery method – Delivery methods describe the organizational and contractual structure (who holds contracts with whom and when they are engaged), not how payment is calculated.

B. Bonding system – Bonds (bid, performance, payment) are surety instruments, not pricing arrangements.

D. Cost estimate – An estimate is a forecast of probable cost, not the contractual method of payment.

CSI-aligned references (no URLs):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – distinctions between delivery methods and compensation methods.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – lump sum, unit price, and cost-plus as bases of payment within procurement and contracting.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract (CSI-based)

CSI’s guidance on project record documents distinguishes between several types:

Record drawings – show what was actually installed (dimensions, locations, configurations).

Record specifications/project manual – the written requirements for the work, as issued and modified.

Record submittals – approved shop drawings, product data, and samples documenting the actual products and systems installed, including manufacturer names, model numbers, finishes, and installation instructions.

For replacement of a specific product, such as a broken insulated glazing unit, CSI instruction is that the most precise source is record submittals (Option D). These typically contain:

The exact manufacturer selected.

Product line, model number, glass type, coatings, spacers, gas fill, etc.

Any special fabrication notes or custom sizes.

Contact information or catalog data to facilitate reordering.

This is exactly the information a facility manager needs to “determine where and how to order” the replacement unit. That is why CSI emphasizes maintaining record submittals as part of the owner’s permanent facility information.

Why the other options are less appropriate:

A. Record drawingsRecord drawings (sometimes called “as-built” drawings) can provide size and location of the glazing unit, and possibly indicate type (e.g., “insulated glazing unit”). However, drawings rarely show the precise product manufacturer and model; at best, they reference detail markers or generic notes. They are helpful for field measurement and coordination, but not ideal for identifying the exact product to order.

B. Manufacturer’s representativeA manufacturer’s rep can help once you know the manufacturer and product, but first you need to identify which manufacturer and model were actually installed. Without the record submittals or similar documentation, the rep would be guessing. CSI places the identification of the installed product squarely in the realm of record submittals.

C. Project manualThe project manual (including the specifications) usually lists acceptable manufacturers and products, or performance requirements, but it does not necessarily tell you which one was actually used. If multiple manufacturers or options were permitted, the project manual alone cannot identify the exact unit to reorder.

Thus, under CSI’s treatment of project record documents and facility information, record submittals (Option D) are the best and most appropriate source for ordering an exact replacement product.

CSI reference concepts:

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – sections on “Project Closeout” and “Record Documents,” explaining the distinct roles of record drawings and record submittals.

CSI CDT Study Materials – topics describing record submittals as the owner’s record of actual installed products, used for maintenance and replacement.

CSI describes the schedule of values as the breakdown of the contract sum allocated to portions of the work (often by specification section, building system, or major components). It is used as the basis for reviewing progress payments.

In CSI-aligned practice:

Before the first application for payment, the contractor submits a schedule of values to the A/E for review.

Each line item represents a portion of the work with an assigned dollar amount.

Every application for payment is itemized against that schedule—showing the percentage complete and corresponding dollar amount for each item.

Thus, the contractor’s application is organized and itemized in accordance with the schedule of values, enabling the A/E and owner to evaluate progress in a consistent, transparent way. That matches Option C.

Why the others are incomplete or incorrect in this context:

A. The construction schedule – The construction schedule shows time and sequencing, not the cost breakdown used to itemize payment requests.

B. The subcontractor’s invoices – These may support the contractor’s internal accounting but do not define how the application for payment must be structured for the owner.

D. The percentage of completion – Percentage of completion is important, but it is applied to each line item in the schedule of values. The question asks what the application must be itemized in accordance with, which is the schedule of values, not just percentages.

CSI-aligned references (no URLs):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – sections on construction phase payment procedures.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – payment applications and use of schedule of values.

Standard conditions of the contract as discussed in CSI materials – provisions on progress payments.

In the standard organization of the contract documents as taught in CSI’s CDT materials and practice guides, the General Conditions establish the baseline contractual rights, responsibilities, and relationships among the owner, contractor, and architect/engineer (A/E).

CSI explains that whenever there is a need to change or add to the standard provisions of the General Conditions (for example, to address project-specific insurance limits, bonding, liquidated damages, or local legal requirements), those changes are made in the Supplementary Conditions. The Supplementary Conditions are expressly written to modify, delete, or add to the printed General Conditions, and they do so by direct reference to specific articles or paragraphs.

The General Conditions set the standard, overall rules of the contract.

The Supplementary Conditions are the only document whose primary purpose is to modify those General Conditions for the specific project.

Other documents (Agreement, Division 01) must be consistent with the Conditions of the Contract but are not the formal instrument intended to “directly modify” the General Conditions.

Why the other options are not correct:

A. Division 01, General Requirements – Division 01 coordinates administrative and procedural requirements for the work and bridges from the Conditions of the Contract to the technical specifications. It may elaborate how procedures are implemented but it is not the document that directly amends the General Conditions.

C. Agreement – The Agreement (e.g., AIA A101) identifies parties, contract sum, contract time, and incorporates the Conditions, drawings, and specifications by reference. It relies on the General and Supplementary Conditions; it does not systematically edit their language.

D. Instructions to Bidders – These govern the procurement phase only (how to submit bids, qualifications, bid security, etc.) and cease to have effect once the Contract is executed. They do not modify the General Conditions of the construction contract.

CSI’s Project Delivery and Construction Specifications Practice Guides describe this hierarchy and emphasize that Supplementary Conditions are the proper instrument for project-specific modifications to the General Conditions, which makes Option B the correct answer.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation (CSI-aligned, paraphrased)

In CSI’s project delivery guidance, constructability reviews are described as a structured way to have construction-experienced professionals—often contractors, CMs, or experienced field personnel—review the design during planning or design phases to determine:

Whether the design can be built efficiently and safely

How site conditions, constraints, and logistics will affect means and methods

Potential cost, schedule, and sequencing issues arising from unique or complex aspects of the project

Constructability reviews are especially valuable when:

The site is constrained (tight urban sites, limited access, nearby sensitive structures)

There are unusual ground, environmental, or logistical conditions

The work involves complex staging, phasing, or access issues

Option C. The site presents unusual challenges and constraints is therefore the clearest trigger for a constructability review, because it directly ties to the need to evaluate how the physical and logistical realities of the site affect construction feasibility, cost, and sequence.

Why the other options are less appropriate:

A. The client is unfamiliar with this type of project.This calls for more owner education, clearer communication, and perhaps additional planning or programming support—not specifically a constructability review. The core need is understanding, not constructability.

B. The project team consists of multiple new members.That suggests a need for team alignment, clarification of roles, and communication protocols. While new team members may benefit from constructability input, the main justification for a formal constructability review is project/site complexity, not simply team turnover.

D. The contractor is unable to commit to original schedule.This is a procurement or scheduling problem, often addressed through rescheduling, negotiation, or possibly re-bid. Constructability reviews are proactive during design; schedule commitment issues often arise later and are handled with different tools (e.g., schedule analysis, changes, resequencing).

Key CSI-Related References (titles only):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – sections on constructability reviews and preconstruction services.

CSI CDT Study Materials – discussions of preconstruction evaluation, constructability, and risk identification.

Within CSI’s project delivery and construction documents framework, quality control (QC) refers to activities that check and verify the accuracy and completeness of the work product itself—in this case, the drawings, specifications, and other parts of the project manual before they are issued for bidding or construction.

Peer reviews and internal reviews of completed documents are performed after the documents have been prepared, specifically to find and correct errors, omissions, conflicts, or lack of coordination.

These reviews examine the end product of the documentation process (the drawings and specifications), checking conformance with office standards, project requirements, code requirements, and coordination between disciplines.

CSI distinguishes this from quality assurance (QA), which focuses on the systems and procedures used to produce the documents (such as standard checklists, training, and office procedures). QC, by contrast, is concerned with reviewing the actual deliverables.

Therefore, activities like peer review of completed drawings and specifications, internal checking of finished sections, and coordination review of the project manual are classic examples of quality control tasks, not commissioning, QA-in-the-abstract, or construction administration.

Commissioning (B) focuses on verifying that systems and equipment are installed, tested, and performing according to the contract documents near project completion—not on checking design documents in the office.

Quality assurance (C) is the broader system of policies, procedures, and standards that aim to prevent errors, such as standard templates, firm-wide procedures, and training; the act of reviewing specific completed documents falls under QC.

Construction administration (D) includes responding to RFIs, reviewing submittals, processing change orders, and site visits during construction; it is not the term CSI uses for internal checking of design documents.

Key CSI-aligned references (no URLs):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – chapters on Quality Management, Design Phase, and Construction Documents.

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – content on quality assurance vs. quality control in construction documentation.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – sections on document coordination, reviews, and quality processes.

In CSI and CDT terminology, the process of reaching out to potential or prequalified bidders to obtain bids or proposals is called “solicitation.”

The procurement (bidding) phase includes preparing procurement documents and then soliciting bids or proposals from interested or qualified firms.

“Solicitation” covers all methods used to notify and invite participation: advertisements, invitations to bid, requests for proposals (RFPs), and notices to prequalified bidders.

CSI’s Project Delivery Practice Guide and CDT study materials describe the sequence in the procurement stage roughly as:

Preparation of procurement documents (including Instructions to Bidders/Offerors, bid forms, proposed contract forms, etc.).

Solicitation of bids or proposals – announcement or direct issuance to prospective bidders.

Receipt, opening, and evaluation of bids/proposals.

Recommendation and award of contract.

Within that structure, “solicitation” is clearly identified as the step where the owner/AE issues the invitation to bid or request for proposals. The other answer choices refer to documents or requests that are part of the process, but not the process itself:

B. Instructions for Procurement – The CDT/CSI terminology is usually “Instructions to Bidders” or “Instructions to Offerors,” which are sections within the procurement documents explaining how to submit bids (time, place, format, required forms, etc.). They are not the act of announcing or inviting; they are a part of the documents used once solicitation has begun.

C. Instructions to Bidders – This is a specific document or section that sets the rules for bidding (bid security, withdrawal of bids, opening procedures, etc.). It is not the overall process of broadcasting the opportunity; instead it governs bidder behavior after solicitation has occurred.

D. Request for Scope of Work – This is not a standard CSI/CDT term. Scope of work is normally defined in the drawings, specifications, and sometimes in a statement of work, but “request for scope of work” is not used as the formal label for the invitation stage.

Because the question asks specifically for “the process of notifying prospective or qualified bidders requesting proposals for a specific project or an invitation to bid,” the correct CSI-aligned term is “Solicitation” (Option A).

Relevant CSI references (no URLs):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – Procurement phase and terminology for solicitation of bids/proposals.

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – Sections on procurement and bidding documents.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – Topic: Procurement (solicitation and receipt of bids/proposals).

CSI’s treatment of methods of payment / contract pricing (as used in standard owner–contractor agreements and CDT content) includes several common bases of payment:

Stipulated Sum (Lump Sum)

The contractor agrees to provide the work for a single fixed price.

The price does not change except through formal changes to the work (change orders).

This is the classic “fixed-price” contract form.

Unit Price

The contractor is paid based on measured quantities of work completed multiplied by agreed unit rates.

Final cost depends on actual quantities installed, not a single fixed total.

Cost-Plus-Fee

The owner reimburses actual cost of the work (labor, materials, equipment, etc.) plus a fee (fixed or percentage) as contractor’s compensation.

The final cost is not fixed; it varies with actual costs incurred.

Cost-Plus-Fee with Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP)

A variation of cost-plus where the total reimbursable cost plus fee is capped at a guaranteed maximum.

Still not the same as a straightforward fixed lump sum; the basis is cost reimbursement up to a cap.

The question specifically asks: “for a fixed price.” In CSI and standard contract terminology, “fixed price” = “stipulated sum” (or lump sum). That is:

The owner and contractor negotiate a single dollar amount for the entire scope of work;

The contractor’s compensation is that stipulated sum, adjusted only by approved changes.

Why the other options are not correct:

B. Unit price – The total cost is not fixed at the time of contracting; it depends on actual installed quantities.

C. Cost-plus-fee – Costs are reimbursed; final price is open-ended and therefore not fixed.

D. Cost-plus-fee with guaranteed maximum price – This sets a cap, but the actual final cost is not a single fixed price; it is “actual cost plus fee” up to the GMP.

Therefore, the correct basis of payment for a fixed-price contract is Stipulated sum (Option A), consistent with CSI’s classification of contract types and standard owner–contractor agreements.

Key CSI References (titles only, no links):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – sections on “Basis of Payment” and contract pricing methods (stipulated sum, unit price, cost-plus, GMP).

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – Contract Types and Methods of Payment.

Standard owner–contractor agreements discussed in CSI materials (e.g., stipulated sum as the fixed-price form).

CSI exam content aligns closely with the standard general conditions used in the industry (such as AIA A201). Under those conditions, the owner’s right to stop the work typically arises when:

The contractor fails to correct work that is not in accordance with the Contract Documents, or

The contractor persistently fails to carry out the work in accordance with the Contract Documents.

In that situation, after appropriate notice, the owner may order the contractor to stop the work until the cause for such order has been eliminated. This is intended to protect the owner from continued defective or nonconforming work and to force corrective action. That is exactly what Option B describes.

Why the other options are incorrect or incomplete:

A. If the architect/engineer fails to represent owner properlyProblems in the A/E’s services are handled through the owner–A/E agreement, not by stopping the contractor’s work under the construction contract. There is no standard right for the owner to stop construction solely because of a dispute with the A/E.

C. If the contractor is presumed to be bankruptBankruptcy or insolvency is typically addressed under termination or suspension provisions, not strictly the owner’s immediate “stop work” right described in general conditions. A presumption of bankruptcy alone does not automatically trigger the standard “stop work” clause.

D. If there is a safety problem on the siteThe contractor is usually designated as the party primarily responsible for site safety and for stopping unsafe operations. The owner may insist that unsafe conditions be corrected, and might in practice insist work stop, but the formal “owner’s right to stop the work” clause in general conditions is tied to nonconforming work or failure to follow the Contract Documents, not generally to safety administration (which is the contractor’s duty).

Therefore, in the context of CSI-aligned general conditions, the correct answer is B: when the contractor fails to correct work that is not compliant with the contract documents.

Key CSI Reference Titles (no links):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – Contract Administration and Owner’s Rights during Construction.

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – discussion of General Conditions and owner/contractor responsibilities.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – “General Conditions: Rights and Responsibilities of the Parties.”