Is the contractor required to ascertain if the contract documents are in conformance with applicable laws, statutes, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, or lawful orders of public authorities?

• A. Yes, the contractor must verify conformance with all laws and codes.
• B. Yes, but only when the architect asks.
• C. No, but the contractor must notify the architect in a request for information if aware of any nonconformity.
• D. No, and no obligation to inform anyone.

Answer: (C)

The test is asking how responsibility for checking that contract documents meet laws and codes is allocated. In AIA A201, the architect (and owner) have the primary role related to ensuring the design complies with applicable laws, codes, and public authorities. The contractor is not expected to independently verify every legal or code conformity of the contract documents. Instead, if the contractor becomes aware of any nonconformity, the proper path is to communicate that through a formal mechanism to the architect—typically a request for information (RFI)—so the issue can be clarified or corrected.

That’s why the best answer is that the contractor does not have to ascertain conformance on its own, but must notify the architect in an RFI if it becomes aware of any nonconformity. The other options place duties on the contractor that the contract documents and AIA practice do not impose: blanket verification, reliance on the architect only upon request, or no obligation to inform anyone.