Which statement is false?

Which statement is false?

• A. The CMAA CM-at-Risk series contract documents permit the CM to perform part of the construction work if the CM chooses.
• B. The owner, CM, and designer are less likely to be involved in disputes when the lowest bid wins.
• C. The CMAA standard forms of agreement are not necessarily best for all projects.
• D. The owner may direct the CM to provide services as an agent without penalty in CMAA CM-at-Risk documents.

Answer: (D)

Agency and cost-control mechanisms in CMAA CM-at-Risk contracts are what this item tests. In these agreements, the CM can act as the owner’s agent for defined coordination and management tasks, but directions to provide additional services or to act as an agent beyond the stated scope aren’t free of consequence. Any extra work or agency responsibilities asked for by the owner typically triggers a change process that adjusts cost, schedule, or the GMP, rather than being “without penalty.” The contract is built to allocate risk and cost, so extra directions or services must be compensated and managed through formal changes rather than being performed at no cost or penalty. The other statements align with how these forms are used: the CM-at-Risk documents can authorize the CM to self-perform portions of construction if those tasks are included in the scope and price; the idea that disputes will be minimized simply because the lowest bid wins isn’t something the CMAA forms guarantee, since procurement and project risk depend on more than bid price; and it’s true that CMAA standard forms aren’t the perfect fit for every project and may require tailoring to fit specific needs.

Agency and cost-control mechanisms in CMAA CM-at-Risk contracts are what this item tests. In these agreements, the CM can act as the owner’s agent for defined coordination and management tasks, but directions to provide additional services or to act as an agent beyond the stated scope aren’t free of consequence. Any extra work or agency responsibilities asked for by the owner typically triggers a change process that adjusts cost, schedule, or the GMP, rather than being “without penalty.” The contract is built to allocate risk and cost, so extra directions or services must be compensated and managed through formal changes rather than being performed at no cost or penalty.

The other statements align with how these forms are used: the CM-at-Risk documents can authorize the CM to self-perform portions of construction if those tasks are included in the scope and price; the idea that disputes will be minimized simply because the lowest bid wins isn’t something the CMAA forms guarantee, since procurement and project risk depend on more than bid price; and it’s true that CMAA standard forms aren’t the perfect fit for every project and may require tailoring to fit specific needs.