General Construction Contract Provisions (September 1997) - Section 90

Section 10 - Definition of Terms
Section 20 - Proposal Requirements and Conditions
Section 30 - Award and Execution of Contract
Section 40 - Scope of Work
Section 50 - Control of Work
Section 60 - Control of Materials
Section 70 - Legal Regulations and Responsibility to Public
Section 80 - Prosecution and Progress
Section 90 - Measurement and Payment
Section 100 - Contractor Quality Control Program
Section 110 - Methods of Estimating Percentage of Material within Specifications (PWL) [pdf, 5 pages, 21kb]

Section 90 - Measurement and Payment

90-01 MEASUREMENT OF QUANTITIES. All work completed under the contract will be measured by the Engineer, or his/her authorized representatives, using United States Customary Units of Measurement or the International System of Units.

The method of measurement and computations to be used in determination of quantities of material furnished and of work performed under the contract will be those methods generally recognized as conforming to good engineering practice.

Unless otherwise specified, longitudinal measurements for area computations will be made horizontally, and no deductions will be made for individual fixtures (or leave-outs) having an area of 9 square feet (0.8 square meter) or less. Unless otherwise specified, transverse measurements for area computations will be the neat dimensions shown on the plans or ordered in writing by the Engineer.

Structures will be measured according to neat lines shown on the plans or as altered to fit field conditions.

Unless otherwise specified, all contract items which are measured by the linear foot such as electrical ducts, conduits, pipe culverts, underdrains, and similar items shall be measured parallel to the base or foundation upon which such items are placed.

In computing volumes of excavation the average end area method or other acceptable methods will be used.

The thickness of plates and galvanized sheet used in the manufacture of corrugated metal pipe, metal plate pipe culverts and arches, and metal cribbing will be specified and measured in decimal fraction of inches.

The term "ton" will mean the short ton consisting of 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms) avoirdupois. All materials which are measured or proportioned by weights shall be weighed on accurate, approved scales by competent, qualified personnel at locations designed by the Engineer. If material is shipped by rail, the car weight may be accepted provided that only the actual weight of material be paid for. However, car weights will not be acceptable for material to be passed through mixing plants. Trucks used to haul material being paid for by weight shall be weighed empty daily at such times as the Engineer directs, and each truck shall bear a plainly legible identification mark.

Materials to be measured by volume in the hauling vehicle shall be hauled in approved vehicles and measured therein at the point of delivery. Vehicles for this purpose may be of any size or type acceptable to the Engineer, provided that the body is of such shape that the actual contents may be readily and accurately determined. All vehicles shall be loaded to at least their water level capacity, and all loads shall be leveled when the vehicles arrive at the point of delivery.

When requested by the Contractor and approved by the Engineer in writing, material specified to be measured by the cubic yard (cubic meter) may be weighed, and such weights will be converted to cubic yards (cubic meters) for payment purposes. Factors for conversion from weight measurement to volume measurement will be determined by the Engineer and shall be agreed to by the Contractor before such method of measurement of pay quantities is used.

Bituminous materials will be measured by the gallon (liter) or ton (kilogram). When measured by volume, such volumes will be measured at 60 F (15 C) or will be corrected to the volume at 60 F (15 C) using ASTM D 1250 for asphalts or ASTM D 633 for tars.

Net certified scale weights or weights based on certified volumes in the case of rail shipments will be used as a basis of measurement, subject to correction when bituminous material has been lost from the car or the distributor, wasted, or otherwise not incorporated in the work.

When bituminous materials are shipped by truck or transport, net certified weights by volume, subject to correction for loss or foaming, may be used for computing quantities.

Cement will be measured by the ton (kilogram) or hundredweight (kilogram).

Timber will be measured by the thousand feet board measure (M.F.B.M.) actually incorporated in the structure. Measurement will be based on nominal widths and thicknesses and the extreme length of each piece.

The term "lump sum" when used as an item of payment will mean complete payment for the work described in the contract.

When a complete structure or structural unit (in effect, "lump sum" work) is specified as the unit of measurement, the unit will be construed to include all necessary fittings and accessories.

Rental of equipment will be measured by time in hours of actual working time and necessary traveling time of the equipment within the limits of the work. Special equipment ordered by the Engineer in connection with force account work will be measured as agreed in the change order or supplemental agreement authorizing such force account work as provided in the subsection titled PAYMENT FOR EXTRA AND FORCE ACCOUNT WORK of this section.

When standard manufactured items are specified such as fence, wire, plates, rolled shapes, pipe conduit, etc., and these items are identified by gage, unit weight, section dimensions, etc., such identification will be considered to be nominal weights or dimensions. Unless more stringently controlled by tolerances in cited specifications, manufacturing tolerances established by the industries involved will be accepted.

Scales for weighing materials which are required to be proportioned or measured and paid for by weight shall be furnished, erected, and maintained by the Contractor, or be certified permanently installed commercial scales.

Scales shall be accurate within one-half percent of the correct weight throughout the range of use. The Contractor shall have the scales checked under the observation of the inspector before beginning work and at such other times as requested. The intervals shall be uniform in spacing throughout the graduated or marked length of the beam or dial and shall not exceed one-tenth of 1 percent of the nominal rated capacity of the scale, but not less than 1 pound (454 grams). The use of spring balances will not be permitted.

Beams, dials, platforms, and other scale equipment shall be so arranged that the operator and the inspector can safely and conveniently view them.

Scale installations shall have available ten standard 50-pound (2.3 kilogram) weights for testing the weighing equipment or suitable weights and devices for other approved equipment.

Scales must be tested for accuracy and serviced before use at a new site. Platform scales shall be installed and maintained with the platform level and rigid bulkheads at each end.

Scales "overweighing" (indicating more than correct weight) will not be permitted to operate, and all materials received subsequent to the last previous correct weighting-accuracy test will be reduced by the percentage of error in excess of one-half of 1 percent.

In the event inspection reveals the scales have been "underweighing" (indicating less than correct weight), they shall be adjusted, and no additional payment to the Contractor will be allowed for materials previously weighed and recorded.

All costs in connection with furnishing, installing, certifying, testing, and maintaining scales; for furnishing check weights and scale house; and for all other items specified in this subsection, for the weighing of materials for proportioning or payment, shall be included in the unit contract prices for the various items of the project.

When the estimated quantities for a specific portion of the work are designated as the pay quantities in the contract, they shall be the final quantities for which payment for such specific portion of the work will be made, unless the dimensions of said portions of the work shown on the plans are revised by the Engineer. If revised dimensions result in an increase or decrease in the quantities of such work, the final quantities for payment will be revised in the amount represented by the authorized changes in the dimensions. 90-02 SCOPE OF PAYMENT. The Contractor shall receive and accept compensation provided for in the contract as full payment for furnishing all materials, for performing all work under the contract in a complete and acceptable manner, and for all risk, loss, damage, or expense of whatever character arising out of the nature of the work or the prosecution thereof, subject to the provisions of the subsection titled NO WAIVER OF LEGAL RIGHTS of Section 70.

When the "basis of payment" subsection of a technical specification requires that the contract price (price bid) include compensation for certain work or material essential to the item, this same work or material will not also be measured for payment under any other contract item which may appear elsewhere in the contract, plans, or specifications.

90-03 COMPENSATION FOR ALTERED QUANTITIES. When the accepted quantities of work vary from the quantities in the proposal, the Contractor shall accept as payment in full, so far as contract items are concerned, payment at the original contract price for the accepted quantities of work actually completed and accepted. No allowance, except as provided for in the subsection titled ALTERATION OF WORK AND QUANTITIES of Section 40 will be made for any increased expense, loss of expected reimbursement, or loss of anticipated profits suffered or claimed by the Contractor which results directly from such alterations or indirectly from his/her unbalanced allocation of overhead and profit among the contract items, or from any other cause.

90-04 PAYMENT FOR OMITTED ITEMS. As specified in the subsection titled OMITTED ITEMS of Section 40, the Engineer shall have the right to omit from the work (order nonperformance) any contract item, except major contract items, in the best interest of the owner.

Should the Engineer omit or order nonperformance of a contract item or portion of such item from the work, the Contractor shall accept payment in full at the contract prices for any work actually completed and acceptable prior to the Engineer's order to omit or nonperform such contract item.

Acceptable materials ordered by the Contractor or delivered on the work prior to the date of the Engineer's order will be paid for at the actual cost to the Contractor and shall thereupon become the property of the owner.

In addition to the reimbursement hereinbefore provided, the Contractor shall be reimbursed for all actual costs incurred for the purpose of performing the omitted contract item prior to the date of the Engineer's order. Such additional costs incurred by the Contractor must be directly related to the deleted contract item and shall be supported by certified statements by the Contractor as to the nature the amount of such costs.

90-05 PAYMENT FOR EXTRA AND FORCE ACCOUNT WORK. Extra work, performed in accordance with the subsection titled EXTRA WORK of Section 40, will be paid for at the contract prices or agreed prices specified in the change order or supplemental agreement authorizing the extra work. When the change order or supplemental agreement authorizing the extra work requires that it be done by force account, such force account shall be measured and paid for based on expended labor, equipment, and materials plus a negotiated and agreed upon allowance for overhead and profit.

1. Miscellaneous. No additional allowance will be made for general superintendence, the use of small tools, or other costs for which no specific allowance is herein provided.
2. Comparison of Record. The Contractor and the Engineer shall compare records of the cost of force account work at the end of each day. Agreement shall be indicated by signature of the Contractor and the Engineer or their duly authorized representatives.
3. Statement. No payment will be made for work performed on a force account basis until the Contractor has furnished the Engineer with duplicate itemized statements of the cost of such force account work detailed as follows:
   1. Name, classification, date, daily hours, total hours, rate and extension for each laborer and foreman.
   2. Designation, dates, daily hours, total hours, rental rate, and extension for each unit of machinery and equipment.
   3. Quantities of materials, prices, and extensions.
   4. Transportation of materials.
   5. Cost of property damage, liability and workman's compensation insurance premiums, unemployment insurance contributions, and social security tax.

Statements shall be accompanied and supported by a receipted invoice for all materials used and transportation charges. However, if materials used on the force account work are not specifically purchased for such work but are taken from the Contractor's stock, then in lieu of the invoices the Contractor shall furnish an affidavit certifying that such materials were taken from his/her stock, that the quantity claimed was actually used, and that the price and transportation claimed represent the actual cost to the Contractor.

90-06 PARTIAL PAYMENTS. Partial payments will be made at least once each month as the work progresses. Said payments will be based upon estimates prepared by the Engineer of the value of the work performed and materials complete in place in accordance with the contract, plans, and specifications. Such partial payments may also include the delivered actual cost of those materials stockpiled and stored in accordance with the subsection titled PAYMENT FOR MATERIALS ON HAND of this section.

No partial payment will be made when the amount due the Contractor since the last estimate amounts to less than five hundred dollars.

From the total of the amount determined to be payable on a partial payment, 10 percent of such total amount will be deducted and retained by the owner until the final payment is made, except as may be provided (at the Contractor's option) in the subsection titled PAYMENT OF WITHHELD FUNDS of this section. The balance (90 percent) of the amount payable, less all previous payments, shall be certified for payment. Should the Contractor exercise his/her option, as provided in the subsection titled PAYMENT OF WITHHELD FUNDS of this section, no such 10 percent retainage shall be deducted.

When not less than 95 percent of the work has been completed the Engineer may, at his/her discretion and with the consent of the surety, prepare an estimate from which will be retained an amount not less than twice the contract value or estimated cost, whichever is greater, of the work remaining to be done. The remainder, less all previous payments and deductions, will then be certified for payment to the Contractor.

It is understood and agreed that the Contractor shall not be entitled to demand or receive partial payment based on quantities of work in excess of those provided in the proposal or covered by approved change orders or supplemental agreements, except when such excess quantities have been determined by the Engineer to be a part of the final quantity for the item of work in question.

No partial payment shall bind the owner to the acceptance of any materials or work in place as to quality or quantity. All partial payments are subject to correction at the time of final payment as provided in the subsection titled ACCEPTANCE AND FINAL PAYMENT of this section.

90-07 PAYMENT FOR MATERIALS ON HAND. Partial payments may be made to the extent of the delivered cost of materials to be incorporated in the work, provided that such materials meet the requirements of the contract, plans, and specifications and are delivered to acceptable sites on the airport property or at other sites in the vicinity that are acceptable to the owner. Such delivered costs of stored or stockpiled materials may be included in the next partial payment after the following conditions are met:

1. The material has been stored or stockpiled in a manner acceptable to the Engineer at or on an approved site.
2. The Contractor has furnished the Engineer with acceptable evidence of the quantity and quality of such stored or stockpiled materials.
3. The Contractor has furnished the Engineer with satisfactory evidence that the material and transportation costs have been paid.
4. The Contractor has furnished the owner legal title (free of liens or encumbrances of any kind) to the material so stored or stockpiled.
5. The Contractor has furnished the owner evidence that the material so stored or stockpiled is insured against loss by damage to or disappearance of such materials at anytime prior to use in the work.

It is understood and agreed that the transfer of title and the owner's payment for such stored or stockpiled materials shall in no way relieve the Contractor of his/her responsibility for furnishing and placing such materials in accordance with the requirements of the contract, plans, and specifications.

In no case will the amount of partial payments for materials on hand exceed the contract price for such materials or the contract price for the contract item in which the material is intended to be used.

No partial payment will be made for stored or stockpiled living or perishable plant materials.

The Contractor shall bear all costs associated with the partial payment of stored or stockpiled materials in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.

90-08 PAYMENT OF WITHHELD FUNDS. At the Contractor's option, he/she may request that the owner accept (in lieu of the 10 percent retainage on partial payments described in the subsection titled PARTIAL PAYMENTS of this section) the Contractor's deposits in escrow under the following conditions.

1. The Contractor shall bear all expenses of establishing and maintaining an escrow account and escrow agreement acceptable to the owner.
2. The Contractor shall deposit to and maintain in such escrow only those securities or bank certificates of deposit as are acceptable to the owner and having a value not less than the 10 percent retainage that would otherwise be withheld from partial payment.
3. The Contractor shall enter into an escrow agreement satisfactory to the owner.
4. The Contractor shall obtain the written consent of the surety to such agreement.

90-09 ACCEPTANCE AND FINAL PAYMENT. When the contract work has been accepted in accordance with the requirements of the subsection titled FINAL ACCEPTANCE of Section 50, the Engineer will prepare the final estimate of the items of work actually performed. The Contractor shall approve the Engineer's final estimate or advise the Engineer of his/her objections to the final estimate which are based on disputes in measurements or computations of the final quantities to be paid under the contract as amended by change order or supplemental agreement. The Contractor and the Engineer shall resolve all disputes (if any) in the measurement and computation of final quantities to be paid within 30 calendar days of the Contractor's receipt of the Engineer's final estimate. If, after such 30-day period, a dispute still exists, the Contractor may approve the Engineer's estimate under protest of the quantities in dispute, and such disputed quantities shall be considered by the owner as a claim in accordance with the subsection titled CLAIMS FOR ADJUSTMENT AND DISPUTES of Section 50.

After the Contractor has approved, or approved under protest, the Engineer's final estimate, final payment will be processed based on the entire sum, or the undisputed sum in case of approval under protest, determined to be due the Contractor less all previous payments and all amounts to be deducted under the provisions of the contract. All prior partial estimates and payments shall be subject to correction in the final estimate and payment.

If the Contractor has filed a claim for additional compensation under the provisions of the subsection titled CLAIMS FOR ADJUSTMENTS AND DISPUTES of Section 50 or under the provisions of this subsection, such claims will be considered by the owner in accordance with local laws or ordinances. Upon final adjudication of such claims, any additional payment determined to be due the Contractor will be paid pursuant to a supplemental final estimate.