News

ConsensusDOCS Releases First-of-its-kind Collaborative Guidebook to Accompany Contracts

Washington, D.C.—ConsensusDOCS, the first-of-its-kind collaboration to publish fair and balanced standard construction contracts and forms, today released the first edition of its guidebook, which provides an overview of the main contracts and forms as well as individual highlights and possible project-specific considerations for modification.

The guidebook includes contributions by the participating endorsing associations of ConsensusDOCS and it supplements the consensus provisions in the 72 ConsensusDOCS contracts and forms, which cover all project delivery methods and help to facilitate the use of innovative technologies like Building Information Modeling.

“ConsensusDOCS offers the most balanced contract language for parties to negotiate and complete a construction project,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). “The guidebook is another innovative approach to provide the most relevant and timely information to the respective memberships of the leading associations participating in ConsensusDOCS.”

Jack Mumma of Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) comments, “The guidebook is a critical component to ConsensusDOCS. There is no such thing as a perfect out of the box contract. The guidebook should give owners a great tool to consider changes other owners recommend, and to review and understand the issues raised by designers, contractors and subcontractors.”

Ricardo Aparico, President of the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) comments, “The guidebook provides a collection of supplementary information that contracting parties should carefully consider before entering into an agreement.”

“Subcontractors negotiating on the basis of the best practices reflected in the ConsensusDOCS will find the commentary in the guidebook useful for understanding their options,” explains Colette Nelson, Executive Vice President of the American Subcontractors Association (ASA).

The recent September 28 release of ConsensusDOCS, comprised of diverse construction associations representing owners, contractors, subcontractors, sureties and designers, represented the first time that broad industry representation has had an equal voice in collaboratively drafting construction contracts. The unprecedented buy-in for these contracts reflects a genuine effort to identify and employ best practices to better the industry. ConsensusDOCS contracts provide fair risk allocation for all parties in the construction process. For more information on the 21 organizations endorsing ConsensusDOCS or for a free copy of the guidebook, visit www.consensusdocs.org.

For a complete list of the member organizations participating in ConsensusDOCS, click here. For more information or to purchase and download ConsensusDOCS, visit www.ConsensusDOCS.org.

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Media Contacts:
• Greg Sizemore, CURT, 513-563-4131, gsizemore@curt.org
• Lisa Degolyer, COAA, 912-920-3498, ldegolyer@coaa.org
• Kelley Keeler, AGC, 703-837-5310, keelerk@agc.org
• Dan Walter, ASC, 301-215-4520, DGW@necanet.org
• David Mendes, ASA, 703-684-3450 x 1335, dmendes@asa-hq.com
• Beth Margulies, NECA, 301-215-4526, beth.margulies@necanet.org
• Ron Berger, NSA, stanyc.berger@verizon.net
• Thomas J. Soles, SMACNA, (703) 803-2988, tsoles@smacna.org
• Kathy Hoffman, NASBP, 202-464-1175, khoffman@nasbp.org