Who is responsible for providing and paying for labor, materials, equipment, tools, construction equipment and machinery, water, heat, utilities, transportation, and other facilities and services necessary for the proper execution of the work?

• A. The contractor
• B. The architect
• C. The subcontractor
• D. The owner

Answer: (A)

The basic idea is who has the obligation to provide and pay for the resources needed to actually perform the work. Under the AIA A201 contract framework, the contractor is responsible for providing and paying for labor, materials, equipment and tools, construction equipment and machinery, water, heat, utilities, transportation, and other facilities and services necessary to execute the work properly. This arrangement gives the contractor control over the means and methods of construction and assigns the cost risk for obtaining those resources. The architect’s role is design and administration, not supplying construction resources. The owner funds the project but does not typically provide the day-to-day resources for construction, and subcontractors supply portions of the work under the contractor's direction.