Which statement is true?

Which statement is true?

• A. The CMAA CM-at-Risk contract documents, the CM may perform part of the construction work if the CM so chooses.
• B. The CMAA CM-at-Risk contract documents, the owner may direct the CM to provide services as an agent of the owner without penalty.
• C. The owner, CM, and designer are less likely to be involved in disputes with the contractor if a contract is awarded to the lowest bidder.
• D. Owners should always use standard forms of agreement without modification for each project.

Answer: (A)

In CMAA CM-at-Risk contracts, the construction manager is allowed to perform part of the construction work with the CM’s own forces if doing so makes sense for the project. This option lets the CM self-perform certain tasks when it’s advantageous—such as saving time, coordinating specialized work, or ensuring quality—while still operating under the owner’s overall budget and the GMP. It reflects the practical flexibility built into the CM-at-Risk model, where the CM isn’t just a coordinator but can also execute parts of the work when appropriate, with accountability for cost, schedule, and quality. The other statements don’t fit how CMAA CM-at-Risk contracts are typically structured. Directing the CM to act as the owner’s agent without penalty doesn’t align with the standard compensation and risk framework. Relying on the lowest bid to prevent disputes isn’t a guaranteed safeguard, since disputes can arise from many sources beyond bid selection. And insisting on using standard forms without modification ignores the common need to tailor contracts to a project’s specifics.

In CMAA CM-at-Risk contracts, the construction manager is allowed to perform part of the construction work with the CM’s own forces if doing so makes sense for the project. This option lets the CM self-perform certain tasks when it’s advantageous—such as saving time, coordinating specialized work, or ensuring quality—while still operating under the owner’s overall budget and the GMP. It reflects the practical flexibility built into the CM-at-Risk model, where the CM isn’t just a coordinator but can also execute parts of the work when appropriate, with accountability for cost, schedule, and quality.

The other statements don’t fit how CMAA CM-at-Risk contracts are typically structured. Directing the CM to act as the owner’s agent without penalty doesn’t align with the standard compensation and risk framework. Relying on the lowest bid to prevent disputes isn’t a guaranteed safeguard, since disputes can arise from many sources beyond bid selection. And insisting on using standard forms without modification ignores the common need to tailor contracts to a project’s specifics.