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Project Managementaka: CAaka: design phase services

Construction Administration

In Plain English

The architect's role during construction — reviewing work, answering questions, and approving submittals.

Definition

Construction administration (CA) is the phase of an architect's or engineer's services during which the design professional monitors construction for conformance with the contract documents, reviews submittals and shop drawings, issues supplemental instructions, responds to RFIs, and evaluates payment applications. CA does not mean supervision or control of construction means and methods, which remains the contractor's responsibility.

Why It Matters in Bidding

Construction administration shapes how smoothly a job runs after award, and estimators should understand it because submittal review turnaround, RFI response time, and supplemental instructions all affect schedule and the likelihood of change orders. Knowing the CA scope helps a bidder gauge documentation burden and how disciplined the design team will be in resolving field questions.

Example

When a dimensional conflict surfaces in the field, the contractor submits an RFI and the architect, performing construction administration, issues a supplemental instruction clarifying the detail without changing contract cost or time.

Related Terms

RFI (Request for Information)SubmittalShop DrawingField Order

Related Tools & Templates

Rfi LogSubmittal Log

Frequently Asked Questions

Construction administration is the design professional reviewing conformance with the contract documents, answering RFIs, and processing submittals and pay applications. It explicitly excludes controlling construction means, methods, sequences, and site safety, which remain the contractor's responsibility. The distinction limits the architect's liability and keeps execution decisions with the builder.
Strong CA catches conflicts early through submittal review and prompt RFI responses, reducing field rework and disputed extras. Slow or thin CA lets ambiguities reach the field, where they surface as change orders and delay claims. Bidders gain when the design team commits to clear review timelines in the specifications.
During construction administration the architect reviews each application for payment and certifies the amount it believes is due based on observed progress, then forwards it to the owner. This certification is a professional judgment, not a guarantee of exact quantities, and it directly affects how quickly the contractor receives progress payments.

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