How are EJCDC documents created?
EJCDC documents are developed in subcommittees comprised of experienced engineers and attorney's advice. These subcommittees consider and review all conditions and contingencies that could take place in the completion of an engineer-designed and lead construction or infrastructure development project in the U.S. Once the committee has agreed on a contract, it is then presented to the full EJCDC Committee for approval.
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How should EJCDC documents be used?
It is important to know the content of the document as these documents are tailored for specific projects. One should understand that a change in one may require change in one or more other documents. EJCDC recommends that a legal review be made, especially if any part of a document has been changed.
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What document families are published by EJCDC?
EJCDC publishes five families of documents as follows:
- Engineering (Owner-Engineer, Engineer-Subconsultant)
These documents were updated within the past two years (2008-2010). They include: Owner-Engineer Agreements ("full", short-form, for studies, task orders) and Amendment form Structured as basic terms plus contract-specific exhibits with detailed menu of tasks/functions (scope of services). Most exhibits provide options (e.g., compensation methods). This family also includes Agreements with Consultants (geotech, architect, others), Joint Venture Agreement, Peer Review Agreement, and Program Management Agreement.
- Construction (Owner-Contractor)
The current edition was written in 2007. An update for 2012 is underway. It includes an integrated series of 21 documents coordinated with Engineering Agreements and assumes the design Engineer is involved during construction. These documents are intended for engineered construction. Document number C-700, General Conditions, is the keystone of C-series and other EJCDC document families. The document include provisions for payment alternatives such as Lump Sum and Cost-Plus, and consider risk allocation consistent with industry norms. They are CSI-endorsed
- Design/Build
The current edition was written in 2009. This family includes 12 documents addressing agreements (lump sum and cost-plus), general conditions, performance bond, payment bondOwner-DB, DB-Engineer, DB-Sub, There are two versions of General Conditions (one for Owner-DB, one for subcontract).
- Environmental Remediation
The current edition was written in 2005. It is comprised of seven documents that consider agreements (lump sum & cost-plus) and general conditions; Environmental Remediator -SubSingle-Point Responsibility to the Owner; Possible subcontracting by the Environmental Remediator.
- Procurement (Buyer-Seller)
The current edition was updated in 2010. These documents are specific for engineer-designed or -specified equipment, usually procured with a long lead time. These eight documents include ITB, bid form, agreement, performance bond, payment bond, GCs, SCs, narrative guide Documents use UCC terminology
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What user guidance is available?
EJCDC supporting organizations publish occasional white papers, and conduct regular seminars and other educational events. Some of the documents are guidance documents that can be tailored by user. Standard form documents include "Notes to User" to assist specifiers in preparation.
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What are the principal advantages of using EJCDC standard documents?
EJCDC documents conform to recognized organizational format (CSI MasterFormat). They have been tested over decades of use and interpreted in courts of various jurisdictions.
EJCDC documents reduce the potential for errors, omissions, redundancies, or conflicts in construction docs. All documents are fully coordinated and integrated. The documents provide for industry-accepted distribution of risk among project participants. Familiarity with these documents by both the Bidder/Contractor may result in improved prices bid to Owner.
The documents are updated approximately every five years to reflect industry trends, court decisions, and changes in applicable laws and regulations.
They are suitable for public works and private sector.
Finally, EJCDC documents are less expensive than alternate standard documents and are created in user friendly MS Word format. In short, EJCDC documents are the most-thorough and best-organized standard documents available.
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What four organizations comprise EJCDC?
The four organizations that comprise EJCDC are:
- The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC),
- The National Society of Professional Engineers/Professional Engineers in Private Practice (NSPE/PEPP),
- The American Society of Civil Engineers - Construction Institute (ASCE-CI), and
- The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).
- And, in order to include other interested groups, EJCDC allows observers such as ABA; APWA; CMAA; CSI; NUCA; USDA/RUS; FIDIC; DBIA; AIA; WWEMA; American Congress of Surveying & Mapping; American Arbitration Association; CNA/Schinnerer (VOSCO); XL Insurance, and others.
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When and why was EJCDC founded?
EJCDC has existed since 1975 to develop and update fair and objective standard documents that represent the latest and best thinking in contractual relations between all parties involved in engineering design and construction projects.
Driven by increased professional liability exposure of engineers, including lack of privity and the absence of a contractual relationship not a bar to a third-party claims, such as injured worker claims and contractor economic loss claims, EJCDC came together to develop objective standard documents that represent both parties in engineer-designed construction projects in the United States. EJCDC documents are intended to be objective, clear, thorough and consistent with current practice and laws, as well as responsive to user needs.
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