How should site inspections and condition verifications be handled under A201?

• A. The Contractor should inspect site conditions and report discrepancies; the Architect may verify readiness.
• B. The Owner conducts all inspections; Contractor is not involved.
• C. The Architect inspects only for design compliance; no contractor input.
• D. Subcontractors independently verify site conditions.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that site condition checks are the contractor’s duty, with the architect serving as the verifier of readiness and the owner enabling access. Under A201, the Contractor is responsible for inspecting the site, understanding conditions that will affect cost or schedule, and promptly reporting any discrepancies to the Architect. This keeps unforeseen site issues from slipping through gaps and ensures they are addressed through proper changes or adjustments. The Architect’s role is to verify readiness to proceed and coordinate the process, not to replace the Contractor’s on-site investigations. The Owner provides access and information as needed, but the inspection and reporting come from the Contractor. The other options misplace responsibilities by assigning all inspections to the Owner, limiting the Architect to purely design-check duties, or having subs independently verify conditions, which isn’t how A201 allocates duties.