Which action describes the architect's obligation when responding to an RFI?

• A. The architect must refuse to respond unless authorized by the owner.
• B. The architect must respond only if the contractor requests.
• C. The architect does not respond to RFIs.
• D. The architect must prepare drawings and specifications to answer the RFI.

Answer: (D)

RFIs trigger the architect’s obligation to provide a timely, written clarification. When a contractor asks for interpretation or more detail, the architect must respond in writing. If the clarification or required information necessitates changing what’s in the contract documents, the architect then prepares the necessary drawings and specifications to reflect the change and to guide construction. That makes the action of producing drawings and specifications to address the RFI the appropriate mechanism for resolving the issue.

This aligns with the role of the architect as the interpreter and updater of the design documents, ensuring the contractor has clear, implementable information. Refusing to respond, waiting for a specific requester, or ignoring RFIs would conflict with the obligation to provide timely clarification.