Primary steps in typical A201 payment process, including who certifies the amount due.

• A. The Owner deposits funds and then the Contractor invoices the Owner directly.
• B. The Architect reviews and certifies; the Contractor submits payment application; the Owner pays the certified amount.
• C. The Contractor submits an application for payment; the Architect reviews and certifies; the Owner pays the certified amount.
• D. The Contractor submits an application for payment; the Owner certifies the amount due; the Architect pays the certified amount.

Answer: (C)

In this payment process, the contractor initiates the flow by submitting an application for payment. The architect then reviews that application to verify work performed and compliance with the contract documents, and the architect issues a certificate for payment certifying the amount due. Finally, the owner pays the certified amount to the contractor. This sequence—contractor requesting payment, architect certifying the amount due, owner paying the certified amount—reflects the architect’s role as the certifier and the owner’s obligation to pay the certified sum.

The other options misstate the flow or roles. One suggests the owner deposits funds and the contractor invoices directly without architect certification, which omits the required certification step. Another puts the architect’s review before the contractor’s application, reversing the actual order. The last option assigns the owner the role of certifier and the architect the payer, which is not how the process is defined.