What is the consultant's responsibility regarding construction agreements?

• A. Direct Contractor Operations On Site.
• B. Define Authority And Understand Contractor Responsibilities.
• C. Draft Every Clause In The Agreement.
• D. Ignore Contractual Terms.

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is that a consultant’s job in construction agreements is to establish who has the authority to make decisions on the project and to spell out what the contractor is responsible for. Defining authority means clarifying who can issue directives, approve changes or substitutions, interpret drawings and specs, and authorize payments. Understanding contractor responsibilities means outlining the contractor’s scope of work, performance standards, schedule obligations, safety and quality expectations, coordination with subs, and the duty to provide information in a timely manner.

When these roles are clearly defined in the agreement, everyone on the project knows who has the go‑ahead for decisions and what the contractor must deliver, which helps prevent disputes and keeps the work moving forward.

Directing on-site operations is not the consultant’s role; drafting every clause is typically the job of owners’ counsel or contract administrators, and ignoring contractual terms is not acceptable.