Free Practice Questions for Construction Specifications Institute CDT Exam

CSI-aligned General Conditions and Division 01 provisions dealing with Owner-furnished products state that:

The Owner may furnish certain products or equipment to be incorporated into the work (for example, owner-purchased equipment).

The Contractor is responsible for receiving, unloading, handling, storing, protecting, and installing those owner-furnished items once they are delivered to the site.

As part of that responsibility, the Contractor is expected to visually inspect owner-furnished products upon delivery and promptly report any damage, defects, or nonconforming conditions to the Owner and A/E.

In practical and contractual terms, that means the Contractor is the party who accepts the delivery on site and conducts the initial inspection for damage, since the items come under their care, custody, and control once delivered to the project.

Installers and subcontractors may physically handle the products, but the prime Contractor is contractually responsible for coordination and for ensuring that owner-furnished items are inspected and protected as part of the overall work.

Therefore, Option A – Contractor is correct.

Why the other options are not correct:

B. Installer – An installer (often a subcontractor) may handle and install the item, but the prime Contractor is responsible for overall coordination and for ensuring proper acceptance and inspection procedures.

C. Owner – The Owner furnishes the products but typically does not undertake on-site receiving and damage inspection once the items are delivered to the construction site; that is shifted to the Contractor under the construction contract.

D. Subcontractor – Subcontractors act under the Contractor’s agreement; they may assist, but the contractual responsibility is with the Contractor.

Key CSI-Oriented References (titles only, no links):

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – sections on “Owner-Furnished Products” and Division 01 responsibilities.

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – Construction Phase, responsibilities for products and materials.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – “Responsibilities for Products, Equipment, and Owner-Furnished Items.”

In CSI-based drawing organization, the cover sheet (sometimes called the title sheet) is the primary identification sheet of the drawing set. It typically includes:

Project name and project number

Owner’s name

Architect/engineer’s name and logo

Names of key consultants (structural, mechanical, electrical, etc.)

General project data (site address, legal description, gross area, etc.)

A location map or vicinity map

Sometimes a sheet index, code summary, and other global project information

CSI’s guidance for construction documents describes the cover sheet as the place where the project is formally identified and the major parties are listed so that anyone picking up the drawing set immediately knows what project it is, who the participants are, and where the project is located. This is exactly what the question is asking about.

Why the others are not correct in CSI’s sense:

A. Sheet index – A sheet index is usually a list of drawing sheets (by discipline and sheet number) and may be placed on the cover sheet or on a separate index sheet, but it does not normally carry the full set of project identification data, consultant names, and location map by itself.

C. General notes – General notes are used to provide global instructions or clarifications applicable to the drawings (e.g., dimensional conventions, typical construction requirements). They are not the primary location for listing the owner, A/E, consultants, or site location map.

D. Building code summary – A building code summary focuses on code-related data: occupancy classification, construction type, fire-resistance ratings, egress calculations, etc. While it may appear on the cover sheet or nearby sheets, it is not where CSI expects all of the names and general project data to be grouped.

So, per CSI’s standard organization of construction drawings and project manuals, the cover sheet is the correct answer.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation (CSI-aligned, paraphrased)

CSI’s description of the Design-Bid-Build (DBB) method highlights several characteristics:

The design professional completes the contract documents before bidding.

Contractors bid competitively based on a defined scope.

The owner’s construction cost is not known with certainty until bids are opened.

Among the commonly cited disadvantages of DBB in CSI-related materials are:

Cost risk at bid time – If the market is volatile, or if the design and scope outpace the budget, there is a real possibility that all bids may exceed the owner’s budget, forcing redesign, rebid, or scope reductions.

Longer overall project duration due to the sequential nature (design is completed before bidding, and bidding before construction).

Limited contractor input during design compared with more integrated methods (e.g., CM at Risk, Design-Build, IPD).

Given the answer choices, the one that matches a recognized, fundamental DBB disadvantage is:

B. All of the bids may exceed the owner’s budget

Why the other options are not accurate disadvantages in the CSI sense:

A. It attracts too many biddersHaving multiple bidders is generally considered a benefit of competitive bidding, promoting better pricing and selection, not a defined drawback.

C. It requires a higher level of bid document qualityAll methods benefit from high-quality documents. While DBB does rely heavily on complete and coordinated documents before bidding, CSI does not characterize this as a “primary disadvantage” but rather a professional obligation regardless of delivery method.

D. It reduces the owner’s control over the project during the construction phaseIn fact, in traditional DBB, the owner typically has significant control: separate contracts with A/E and contractor, direct role in changes, submittal review, etc. Compared with Design-Build, DBB often gives more direct owner oversight, not less.

Key CSI-Related References (titles only):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – comparison tables of DBB, CM at Risk, Design-Build, and IPD, including advantages and disadvantages.

CSI CDT Study Materials – sections on project delivery methods and associated risk/allocation.

CSI distinguishes between “project record documents” (kept during construction) and record drawings or as-built drawings (often prepared later by the A/E using the contractor’s markups).

In CSI’s terminology (paraphrased from the Construction Specifications Practice Guide and CDT study materials):

Project record documents consist of the marked-up drawings, specifications, addenda, change orders, and shop drawings kept current during construction, indicating actual conditions and changes in the work.

These record documents are a responsibility of the contractor, who must maintain them on the job site and update them as work progresses.

At project closeout, the contractor turns the updated record documents over to the owner (often via the A/E). The A/E may then prepare record drawings based on those markups, if required by the contract.

Therefore, the entity that maintains project record documents during construction is the Contractor, making Option B correct.

Why the other options are not correct:

A. Architect/engineer (A/E) – The A/E reviews the work and may use the contractor’s record documents to prepare record drawings, but does not maintain the working set of record documents during construction.

C. Owner – The owner ultimately receives and keeps the record documents at the end of the project but does not maintain them as the work progresses.

D. Owner or A/E – This option is inconsistent with CSI’s defined responsibility: maintenance of project record documents is specifically assigned to the contractor in standard specifications and conditions of the contract.

CSI References (no links):

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – sections on project record documents, as-built/record drawings, and contractor responsibilities.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – topic on document control and record documents during the construction phase.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract (CSI-aligned, paraphrased)

CSI organizes the facility life cycle into phases such as planning, design, construction, closeout, and operations/occupancy. Within this framework, CSI describes project closeout as the phase where the contractor and design team complete all remaining contractual obligations and formally turn the project over to the owner.

A key part of that turnover is providing the owner with operations and maintenance (O&M) information, often including:

Operating and maintenance manuals for equipment and systems

Warranties and guarantees

Spare parts lists and recommended maintenance procedures

As-built/record documentation and, sometimes, commissioning records and training materials

CSI indicates that these O&M documents are to be delivered as part of the closeout requirements, usually at or near Substantial Completion or Final Completion, so that the owner can properly operate and maintain the facility during the occupancy phase.

Therefore the correct answer is B. Closeout phase.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. After the authorities having jurisdiction issues a permitPermits are typically issued during design or preconstruction, authorizing the start of work. At this time, the facility is not built and O&M documentation does not yet exist in final form. CSI treats permits as part of regulatory approvals, not the turnover of maintenance information.

C. Preconstruction phasePreconstruction focuses on activities like finalizing construction documents, bidding, procurement planning, and initial mobilization. O&M manuals cannot be finalized because products and systems are not yet fully installed, tested, and accepted.

D. Construction phaseDuring construction, some O&M information may be started or submitted in draft form, but CSI’s guidance is clear that formal delivery of complete O&M documentation is a closeout requirement, not an in-progress construction requirement.

Key CSI-Related References (titles only):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – facility life cycle and project closeout chapters.

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – Division 01 sections (Closeout Submittals, Operation and Maintenance Data).

CSI CDT Study Materials – topics on project closeout, warranties, and O&M documentation.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract (CSI-based)

In CSI-aligned contract administration procedures and the AIA A201 General Conditions, under a single prime contract:

All subcontractors, suppliers, and lower-tier entities submit their shop drawings, product data, and samples to the Contractor.

The Contractor reviews them for coordination, compliance with the contract documents, and completeness.

After the Contractor’s review and approval, the shop drawings are forwarded to the Architect/Engineer (A/E) for review and action.

This maintains the single point of responsibility between the Owner and the Contractor and ensures the Contractor coordinates all submittals before they reach the A/E. Therefore, under a single prime contract, shop drawings should reach the A/E from the Contractor, making Option A correct.

Why the other options are incorrect:

B. Material supplier and D. Subcontractor – They prepare many of the shop drawings but are required to submit them through the prime Contractor, not directly to the A/E. Direct submission would bypass the Contractor’s coordination and contractual responsibility.

C. Owner – The Owner is not part of the technical submittal review chain; they rely on the A/E and Contractor to manage shop drawings.

Relevant CSI references:

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – sections on submittal procedures and lines of communication.

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – Division 01 provisions for submittals and routing.

AIA A201 General Conditions (referenced in CSI CDT materials) – Articles on submittals and contractor responsibilities.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract (CSI-aligned, paraphrased)

CSI’s project delivery framework places the owner at the center of the facility life cycle. The owner:

Initiates the project by defining needs and project goals.

Selects the project delivery method and engages the design and construction teams.

Participates in planning, design decisions, funding, and approvals.

During construction, the owner is responsible for payments, change decisions, and acceptance of the work.

After construction and closeout, the owner (often through a facility management group) is responsible for operation, maintenance, and long-term performance of the facility.

CSI repeatedly highlights that only the owner is engaged from the earliest concept through long-term operation and eventual renovation or disposal. All other parties (designers, contractors, manufacturers) participate for limited phases.

Therefore, the party “actively involved and interested in all phases of the project” is clearly:

B. Owners

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. ContractorsContractors typically become formally involved at procurement/bidding and remain through construction and closeout. They usually have no role in early planning (except in some delivery methods like CM-at-Risk or IPD where they join during design) and no long-term responsibility for operations beyond warranty obligations.

C. Architects/engineersThe A/E’s primary involvement is during planning and design, and then construction administration during construction and closeout. After the project is turned over, their involvement often ends unless separately engaged for post-occupancy evaluations or future work. They do not normally manage day-to-day operations and maintenance.

D. Manufacturers/suppliersManufacturers and suppliers participate mainly in product selection, submittals, and furnishing materials and equipment during design-assist and construction phases. They may have continuing obligations for warranties or support, but they are not engaged in every phase of the project’s life cycle as the owner is.

Key CSI-Related References (titles only):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – roles and responsibilities of the owner, design professional, contractor, and others.

CSI Facility Management Practice Guide – owner’s role during operations and the extended facility life cycle.

CSI CDT Study Materials – diagrams and explanations of project participants over the facility life cycle.

Within the CSI / CDT framework, bid shopping is the practice of a prime bidder (typically a general contractor) using one subcontractor’s price to pressure that subcontractor or competitors into lowering their price after bids have been received. CSI treats this as an unethical and undesirable practice that increases risk and undermines fair competition in the procurement process.

Practices that help minimize bid shopping include:

Bid listing and bid depository provisions (Option A):Some public agencies require that the general contractor list major subcontractors with the bid or use a bid depository system. These mechanisms are intended specifically to discourage bid shopping by locking in the subcontractors named at bid time and making the process more transparent.

Requiring bidders to provide a list of intended subcontractors with their bid (Option B):This is another form of sub-bid listing. By compelling the prime bidder to identify subcontractors at bid submission, it restricts their ability to shop sub-bids afterward, thereby minimizing the risk of bid shopping.

Subcontractors withholding their prices until close to bid time (Option C):While not ideal from a coordination standpoint, this is a common subcontractor strategy in a competitive environment to reduce the time window during which a prime contractor can use their number to shop for a lower price. This can mitigate bid shopping risk from the subcontractor’s perspective.

By contrast:

D. The bidder can ask the subcontractor to reevaluate their prices to find a lower price after the subcontractor has submitted their price.This is essentially a description of bid shopping behavior. Asking a subcontractor to “re-evaluate” to get a lower price after their number has been used to compile the bid (especially when using other subs’ prices as leverage) is exactly what public procurement provisions try to prevent. This does not minimize the risk of bid shopping; it is bid shopping.

Therefore, the only option that clearly does not reduce or prevent bid shopping is D.

Relevant CSI-aligned references (no URLs):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – Procurement and Bidding chapters (discussion of competitive bidding ethics and bid shopping).

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – Procurement and bidding procedures and ethical practices in public work.

CSI describes the facility manager as a key stakeholder during project closeout and turnover. Their role is to receive the information, materials, and training needed to operate the completed facility in accordance with the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR).

Typical responsibilities for the facility manager at closeout, as outlined in CSI’s Project Delivery Practice Guide, include (paraphrased):

Participating in commissioning and training sessions.

Verifying receipt of operation and maintenance (O&M) manuals, warranties, and record documents.

Confirming that required spare parts, attic stock/excess materials, and special tools have been delivered.

Ensuring staff have sufficient training to operate building systems during the initial occupancy period.

This is captured best by Option A, which aligns closely with CSI’s description of closeout responsibilities for the facility manager.

Why the other options are not correct:

B. Coordinate with the architect a final clean-up and site restoration – Final cleaning and site restoration are responsibilities of the contractor, overseen by the A/E and owner. The facility manager may observe but is not normally the one coordinating this work in the contract documents.

C. Hire a new security company – Selecting or changing service vendors (like security firms) is an owner/facility operations business decision, not specifically identified in CSI’s project closeout procedures. It is not a standard closeout task defined in the construction documents.

D. Draft the final changes on the as-built documents – CSI differentiates between “project record documents” maintained by the contractor during construction and record drawings/specifications produced by the A/E (when required). The facility manager receives these but does not normally draft or edit them.

CSI References (no links):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – chapters on Construction Phase and Facility Management/Closeout.

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – sections on project closeout, O&M data, and attic stock.