What is a sub-subcontractor?

• A. A subcontractor's own subcontractor.
• B. A person who is employed directly by the owner.
• C. A subcontractor that is subcontracted by another subcontractor.
• D. An independent contractor not connected to any subcontract.

Answer: (C)

In this setup, work is organized in tiers: the owner hires a contractor, the contractor hires subcontractors, and those subcontractors may hire their own subcontractors. A sub-subcontractor is exactly that—an individual or firm that is subcontracted by another subcontractor to perform part of the work.

So the sub-subcontractor does not have a direct contract with the owner or with the general contractor; instead, they work under the subcontract of a subcontractor, handling specific tasks as part of that subcontractor’s scope. This chain allows specialized work to be delegated further while keeping the overall project responsibilities aligned with the main contract. For example, if a drywall subcontractor brings in a sub-subcontractor to handle a particular finishing detail, that sub-subcontractor is performing work under the drywall subcontractor’s direction and contract.