Free Construction Specifications Institute CDT Practice Exam with Questions & Answers | Set: 3

CSI organizes the contract documents into a logical hierarchy:

General Conditions – Standard baseline clauses on rights, responsibilities, procedures (e.g., claims, dispute resolution, termination, payments, schedule of values reference).

Supplementary Conditions – Project-specific modifications or additions to the General Conditions, often driven by laws, funding requirements, or owner policies.

Division 01 – General Requirements – Administrative and procedural requirements specific to the project (submittals, schedule of values procedures, temporary facilities, etc.), coordinated with the Conditions of the Contract.

CSI’s guidance (as used for CDT) explains that Supplementary Conditions are the place to add or modify contract conditions to comply with local laws, regulations, and owner requirements that go beyond or differ from the standard General Conditions. Typical items include:

Project-specific insurance requirements and limits,

Local wage requirements,

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action provisions,

Special regulatory or funding-agency conditions.

Therefore, Equal Employment Opportunity requirements belong properly in Supplementary Conditions, making Option C the CSI-consistent answer.

Why the others are incorrect in CSI’s structure:

A. Requirements for a schedule of valuesCSI places the detailed procedures and requirements for the schedule of values in Division 01 – General Requirements, not in the Supplementary Conditions. The General Conditions may mention the schedule of values at a high level, but the “how to” (formats, breakdown, submission procedures) belongs in Division 01, not Supplementary Conditions.

B. Claims and dispute resolution requirementsStandard claims and dispute resolution clauses are part of the General Conditions (for example, notice requirements, initial decision-maker roles, mediation/arbitration steps). Supplementary Conditions may modify certain aspects if needed, but the base provisions themselves are not created there; they originate in the General Conditions.

D. Termination of the work by owner or contractorTermination rights (for cause or for convenience) and their procedures are fundamental contract provisions that belong in the General Conditions. Like claims, they can be adjusted in Supplementary Conditions, but the primary termination clauses are part of the standard General Conditions text, not something you “include” first in Supplementary Conditions.

Key CSI-aligned references (no links):

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – chapters on the Conditions of the Contract and the roles of General and Supplementary Conditions.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – organization of the Project Manual and correct placement of Division 01, General Conditions, and Supplementary Conditions content.

CSI’s terminology for specifications includes the concept of a “reference standard”, which is:

A requirement established by a recognized authority, by custom, or by general consensus.

An accepted criterion used to define properties, performance, or methods for materials, products, or workmanship (e.g., ASTM, ANSI, ACI, AISC, UL).

Cited in specifications so that, instead of repeating technical details, the spec simply references the named standard.

This is exactly the definition implied by the phrase “requirement set by authority, custom, or general consensus that is also an established accepted criterion.” That is the CSI definition of a standard, and in specification-writing context, specifically a reference standard. Hence the correct choice is C.

Why not the others:

A. Building code – A building code is a legal document adopted by public authority and enforced by the authority having jurisdiction; it is one type of regulatory document but not the generic term used in CSI for “established accepted criterion” used as a reference in specs.

B. Quality control standard – Quality control is a process; standards may be used within QC, but “quality control standard” is not the CSI term that matches this specific definition.

D. Specification master – CSI refers to master guide specifications or master specifications, but this is a spec-writing resource, not the formal term for a requirement established by authority or consensus.

CSI-aligned references (no URLs):

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – explanations of standards and reference standard method of specifying.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – definitions of “standard” and “reference standard” in the context of specifications.

In CSI and general construction budgeting practice, project costs are often discussed in terms of:

Hard costs – also called direct construction costs, generally associated with the actual construction of the facility (labor, materials, equipment, and construction-related services).

Soft costs – professional services and non-construction expenses, such as design fees, legal fees, financing costs, some testing and inspections, and administrative costs.

Other development costs, such as land acquisition, that may be tracked separately from construction vs. soft costs.

Within that framework:

Hard costs are those closely tied to getting the building or facility physically constructed and operational. In many project budgets, commissioning work that is specified as part of the construction/contractor’s scope (functional testing of systems, demonstrating performance, etc.) is treated with the construction scope and appears with construction-related costs.

Among the four items given:

Architect/engineer design fees (A) – clearly a soft cost, part of professional services for planning and design, not part of direct construction.

Project financing (C) – interest during construction, loan fees, and similar items are typically categorized as financing/soft costs, entirely separate from construction.

Land acquisition (D) – usually tracked as a separate property or development cost, not within the construction hard-cost category.

Commissioning fees (B) – frequently included in the construction or closeout scope (and often in specifications under Division 01 or relevant technical Divisions) and directly associated with making systems function as intended. When commissioning is contracted as part of the construction contract (which is a common CSI-based approach), its cost is embedded in the hard construction costs.

In CDT-aligned budgeting discussions, when you’re forced to choose among these four, commissioning fees (Option B) are the closest to and most consistently treated as a construction-related (hard) cost, because they are often part of the contractor’s scope and necessary to complete and hand over a functioning facility.

The others—A/E fees, financing, and land—are clearly outside of direct construction and uniformly treated as soft or separate development costs in CSI-oriented project cost breakdowns.

Key CSI and industry references (titles only, no links):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – sections on “Project Costs” and distinctions between construction cost and project cost.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – “Owner’s Costs, Construction Costs, and Cost Categories.”

Typical CSI-based Owner–Contractor contracts and Division 01 sections where commissioning requirements are placed within the construction scope.

CSI’s project delivery and CDT materials distinguish clearly between public and private procurement:

Public work (funded and contracted by government entities) is typically governed by statutes and regulations that require:

Formal advertisement,

Clearly defined bidding procedures,

Sealed bids opened publicly at a specified time and place, and

Award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, except where law allows other defined selection methods.

Private work, by contrast, is not generally bound by these public procurement statutes. CSI explains that private owners have significantly more flexibility, including:

Not being required to publicly open bids,

Being able to negotiate with one or more bidders,

Rejecting any or all bids, and

Awarding the contract to any responsive and responsible bidder they choose, based on value, qualifications, schedule, or other criteria—not solely lowest price.

Because of this flexibility, CSI emphasizes that a private owner may select a bidder other than the lowest as long as the bidder is responsive (submits a bid per the requirements) and responsible (qualified, capable, and reliable). This matches Option D exactly.

Why the other options are incorrect or misleading:

A. A private owner may waive any informality in the bidding, except for the performance bond.While private owners often can waive bid informalities, CSI does not state any universal rule that the performance bond is a special exception in private bidding. Performance bonds are typically part of the contract requirements after award, not a fixed “unwaivable informality” in bid receipt; treatment of bonding is governed by the owner’s requirements and any applicable law, not a CSI rule unique to private work.

B. Private bids may be opened in private, but the results must be published in a reasonable time.Publication of bid results is a hallmark of public work (transparency and accountability). CSI does not require private owners to publish bid results; private owners may keep them confidential if they wish, unless other obligations apply (e.g., corporate policies).

C. The laws and regulations for private bidding are the same as for public bidding.CSI specifically distinguishes between public and private owners: public owners are constrained by statutes and regulations, whereas private owners have much more discretion. The laws governing public bidding and private bidding are not the same, and this is a key CDT concept.

Thus, the CSI-consistent distinction is that private owners are free to award the contract to a responsive and responsible bidder who is not the lowest, making Option D the correct choice.

Key CSI-aligned references (no links):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – procurement and bidding chapters comparing public and private practice.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – sections on bidding requirements, “responsive and responsible bidder,” and differences between public and private construction procurement.

In CSI’s project delivery framework, the preconstruction meeting (often called the preconstruction conference) is a formal meeting held after award of the construction contract and before substantial field work begins. Its typical purposes match the stem of this question almost word-for-word:

Introduce the key members of the owner’s team, the design team, and the contractor’s team.

Review and establish communication protocols – who communicates with whom, in what format (letters, emails, RFIs, submittals), and through which channels (e.g., via the A/E as the owner’s representative).

Explain administrative procedures for submittals, RFIs, change orders, applications for payment, project meetings, record documents, and closeout requirements.

Clarify roles and responsibilities, lines of authority, and decision-making processes during construction.

Review the project schedule, major milestones, site logistics, and constraints so everyone begins the project with a common understanding.

These points are fully consistent with how CSI’s Project Delivery Practice Guide and typical Division 01 “Project Management and Coordination” sections describe the preconstruction conference: as the kickoff meeting for the construction phase, focused on communication, procedures, and administration—not bidding or detailed technical coordination.

Why the other options are not correct:

A. Mobilization meeting“Mobilization” refers to the contractor’s process of moving onto the site (bringing in equipment, setting up field offices, etc.). While a project might have discussions about mobilization, “mobilization meeting” is not the standard CSI project-delivery term for this formal kickoff. The structured, procedure-focused meeting described in the question is the preconstruction meeting.

C. Prebid meetingA prebid meeting (pre-bid conference) occurs during procurement, before bids are submitted. Its primary purposes are to familiarize prospective bidders with the project, review procurement requirements, visit the site, and answer questions that might affect bids. It does not introduce the already-selected construction team, nor does it establish the project’s communication and administrative procedures for contract execution. That occurs after award in the preconstruction meeting.

D. Coordination meetingCoordination meetings are typically recurring, working meetings during construction to resolve ongoing technical, scheduling, or coordination issues between trades (e.g., MEP coordination). They do not serve as the initial, formal kickoff to introduce teams and set overall administrative and communication “ground rules.”

Therefore, the meeting that introduces the design and construction teams, sets communication ground rules, and explains administrative processes is the Preconstruction meeting (Option B), as aligned with CSI project delivery and Division 01 practices.

Key CSI References (titles only, no links):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – chapters on Construction Phase and Project Meetings (Preconstruction Conference).

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – discussions of Division 01 “Project Management and Coordination” and required project meetings.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – topic area: “Construction Phase Services and Communication.”

In the design-build project delivery method, the design-builder (a single entity or team under one contract) is responsible for both design and construction. Industry guidance consistent with CSI’s CDT framework explains that, unlike Design–Bid–Build (where the architect prepares construction documents and a separate contractor builds), design-build uses a single contract covering both the design and construction phases, with a “design builder” responsible for meeting contract requirements.

During the design phase of a design-build project:

The design-builder leads planning and design and, together with its architectural/engineering team, creates the detailed design needed to build the project.

Once design details are in place, this design is used to set prices and proceed into construction.

In CSI/CDT terms, the output of this design effort is the Construction Documents (drawings and specifications) that define the scope, quality, and requirements for the work and become part of the contract documents for the project.

Why the other options do not match the CDT/CSI role at this stage:

A. Submittals – Submittals (shop drawings, product data, samples) are primarily a construction-phase contractor responsibility, responding to the already-issued construction documents. They are not the primary deliverable of the design phase.

B. Record documents – Record documents (as-built drawings, O&M manuals, etc.) are post-construction deliverables, produced near the end of the project to show what was actually installed.

C. Geotechnical reports – In many project delivery methods, geotechnical investigations are owner-provided information or obtained early by the owner; the design-builder may coordinate or rely on them, but they are not the core design-phase deliverable the question is seeking.

Therefore, in a design-build delivery method, during design, the design-builder is responsible for producing and delivering Construction documents (Option D) to the owner.

Core CSI-aligned references for this question (no URLs):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – sections on Design-Build roles and responsibilities (single point of responsibility for design and construction).

Industry explanations of design-build (single contract; design builder leads design and then construction).

CSI describes that during the construction phase, the contractor is responsible for maintaining a continuously updated set of record documents (often called record drawings or as-built drawings). These are a marked-up set of the contract drawings (and sometimes specifications) showing actual field conditions, including:

Changes in dimensions or locations of foundations and structural elements (e.g., pier depths).

Exact locations of underground and concealed utilities.

Adjustments made during construction that are not fully captured in formal design revisions.

Any other deviations between the original design intent and the actual constructed work that will affect future maintenance, alterations, or operations.

CSI’s guidance is that these markups are maintained continuously on site by the contractor and then turned over at closeout as part of the project record.

This is exactly what Option B – Record set refers to: a set of documents updated to reflect the actual constructed conditions.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Conformed setA conformed set is the contract documents updated by the design professional to incorporate all addenda and certain pre-award changes, forming a clean set for construction. It is not the running field record of what was actually built; it’s a “clean” version of what was contracted, not what was constructed.

C. Change order logThe change order log tracks formal contract modifications (change orders) – values, dates, brief descriptions. It does not typically contain detailed field information such as exact pier depths and utility locations. Those details belong on the record drawings/record set.

D. Request for information documentsRFIs (requests for information) are used for clarifications and questions during construction. While they may trigger changes or clarifications, RFIs are not the place where the contractor maintains the running graphic record of actual field conditions. The results of RFIs that change the work must still be reflected on the record set.

Key CSI Reference Titles (no links):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – Construction Phase, “Record Documents / As-Built Drawings.”

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – Division 01 sections on “Project Record Documents” and “Closeout Submittals.”

CDT Body of Knowledge – Construction Phase responsibilities of the contractor and record documentation.

Under the typical CSI-aligned project delivery framework, additional time and money are generally justified when:

The owner (or A/E as owner’s agent) changes the work or otherwise causes delay (e.g., active interference, late decisions, design changes).

There are unforeseen conditions beyond the control of both owner and contractor, where the contract documents anticipated “normal” conditions instead.

Other compensable events defined in the Conditions of the Contract occur (e.g., certain force majeure events, if provided for).

However, the contractor is responsible for correcting defective or nonconforming work at no increase in contract sum or time (except where the defect is caused by others). CSI-based guidance on construction phase services and contract administration explains that:

Defective work (work not in accordance with the contract documents) must be removed, replaced, or corrected by the contractor at the contractor’s expense.

Any extra time and cost arising from correcting such defective work is not a valid basis for a change order or a claim for increased compensation or time extension.

If the contractor’s own documentation shows that the extra cost and time are due to defective work needing repair, the A/E has a clear basis—consistent with the Conditions of the Contract—to reject the claim. That aligns directly with Option D.

Why the other options do not support rejecting the claim:

A. Active interference by the owner – Owner-caused interference is typically a valid ground for a time and possibly cost adjustment, not grounds for rejection.

B. Conditions beyond the control of the contractor or owner – Unforeseen conditions are exactly the type of situation that may justify a claim, depending on the contract language.

C. The A/E modified the contract documents – A/E-issued changes (such as change orders or certain clarifications) often result in compensable changes if they add work or cause delay.

CSI-aligned references (no URLs):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – Construction Phase and Claims/Changes discussions.

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – responsibilities for defective work and changes.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – construction phase administration and evaluation of claims.

CSI’s CDT materials rely heavily on the AIA A201 – General Conditions of the Contract for Construction as the model for understanding roles, responsibilities, and risk allocation. In A201 (both the 2007 and 2017 editions), the default requirement for property insurance (builder’s risk) is placed on the Owner.

The relevant article states, in substance, that:

Unless otherwise provided in the contract documents, the Owner shall purchase and maintain property insurance written on an “all-risks” or equivalent builder’s risk policy.

This insurance is to cover the Work, materials, and equipment to be incorporated into the project during construction, and sometimes temporary structures and portions of the site as specified.

The parties may alter this allocation by specific agreement (for example, by assigning the responsibility to the contractor in the Supplementary Conditions or Agreement), but the baseline A201 allocation is clearly:

Owner is responsible for the property insurance,

“unless otherwise provided” in the contract documents.

Why the other options are not correct:

A. Surety, on contractor’s behalf – The surety’s role relates to bonds (bid bond, performance bond, payment bond), not to providing property insurance for the work.

C. Owner and contractor, jointly – The standard A201 language does not assign joint responsibility; it assigns it primarily to the Owner, subject to modification.

D. Contractor, unless assigned to owner – This reverses the A201 default. Only if the contract documents specifically shift the duty would the contractor procure property insurance.

Therefore, in accordance with AIA A201 as interpreted and taught in CSI’s CDT program, responsibility for property insurance for the Work rests with the Owner, unless the contract documents specifically assign it otherwise, making Option B the correct answer.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract (CSI-aligned, paraphrased)

CSI organizes the facility life cycle into phases such as planning, design, construction, closeout, and operations/occupancy. Within this framework, CSI describes project closeout as the phase where the contractor and design team complete all remaining contractual obligations and formally turn the project over to the owner.

A key part of that turnover is providing the owner with operations and maintenance (O&M) information, often including:

Operating and maintenance manuals for equipment and systems

Warranties and guarantees

Spare parts lists and recommended maintenance procedures

As-built/record documentation and, sometimes, commissioning records and training materials

CSI indicates that these O&M documents are to be delivered as part of the closeout requirements, usually at or near Substantial Completion or Final Completion, so that the owner can properly operate and maintain the facility during the occupancy phase.

Therefore the correct answer is B. Closeout phase.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. After the authorities having jurisdiction issues a permitPermits are typically issued during design or preconstruction, authorizing the start of work. At this time, the facility is not built and O&M documentation does not yet exist in final form. CSI treats permits as part of regulatory approvals, not the turnover of maintenance information.

C. Preconstruction phasePreconstruction focuses on activities like finalizing construction documents, bidding, procurement planning, and initial mobilization. O&M manuals cannot be finalized because products and systems are not yet fully installed, tested, and accepted.

D. Construction phaseDuring construction, some O&M information may be started or submitted in draft form, but CSI’s guidance is clear that formal delivery of complete O&M documentation is a closeout requirement, not an in-progress construction requirement.

Key CSI-Related References (titles only):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – facility life cycle and project closeout chapters.

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – Division 01 sections (Closeout Submittals, Operation and Maintenance Data).

CSI CDT Study Materials – topics on project closeout, warranties, and O&M documentation.