What triggers an adjustment to the contract sum or time due to discoveries?

• A. The architect's assessment and recommendation to adjust the contract sum or time
• B. The owner's approval required
• C. The contractor's request alone
• D. The building official ruling

Answer: (A)

When unforeseen discoveries occur, the trigger for adjusting the contract sum or time is the Architect’s assessment of the impact and its recommendation to adjust. Under the AIA A201 framework, the Architect serves as the administering party who evaluates how the discovered condition affects the work, the schedule, and the cost, and then determines whether a change in the contract is required. If a change is warranted, the Architect issues a Change Order (if the parties agree on terms) or a Construction Change Directive (if they do not), which formally adjust the contract sum or the completion time.

Ownership approval matters for formal changes but does not itself initiate the adjustment—the adjustment comes from the Architect’s evaluation and recommendation. A contractor’s request alone doesn’t automatically trigger an adjustment; it must be reviewed and recommended by the Architect. Building official rulings can influence compliance but do not by themselves authorize contract-sum or time changes—the Architect’s determination drives the change.