Standard Specifications for Road, Bridge, and Municipal Construction 2020 (M 41-10) - page 21

Page 1-102 

Legal Relations and Responsibilities to the Public

1-07.24 

Rights of Way

All rights of way for the completed facility will be provided by the Contracting Agency in 
advance of construction. Any exceptions will be noted in the Special Provisions. Should 
the necessary Right of Way not be available as provided in the Contract, an extension of 
time will be considered in accordance with 

Section 1-08.8

.

1-07.25 

Opening of Sections to Traffic

The Contracting Agency reserves the right to use and open to traffic any portion of the 
Work before the Physical Completion Date of the entire Contract without constituting 
acceptance of any of the Work. This action will not cause the Contracting Agency to incur 
any liability to the Contractor except as may otherwise be provided in the Contract.

If the Contracting Agency opens any portion of the Work prior to the Physical Completion 
Date of the entire Contract because early opening is specified in the Contract or when 
the Contractor has failed to prosecute the Work continuously and efficiently, any 
Work remaining shall be performed by the Contractor at the unit Contract prices for 
the items of Work involved. No additional payment will be made for costs incurred by 
the Contractor because of: (1) inconvenience, additional length of travel to conform to 
established traffic patterns and planned access features; (2) compliance with statutes 
governing traffic regulations and limitations of loads; or (3) additional flagging costs 
necessary to protect the operations and the traveling public. The Contractor shall take 
all costs due to traffic using portions of the Work into account when submitting the Bid 
Proposal, and the unit Contract prices for the various items of Work involved shall include 
these costs. 

1-07.26 

Personal Liability of Public Officers

Neither the Governor, the Commission, the Secretary, the Engineer, nor any other 
officer or employee of the State shall be personally liable for any acts or failure to act in 
connection with the Contract, it being understood that in such matters, they are acting 
solely as agents of the State.

Legal Relations and Responsibilities to the Public 

1-07

1-07.27 

No Waiver of State’s Legal Rights

The State shall not be precluded or estopped by any measurement, estimate, or 
certificate made either before or after the completion and acceptance of the Work 
and payment therefore from showing the true amount and character of the Work 
performed and materials furnished by the Contractor, or from showing that any such 
measurement, estimate, or certificate is untrue or incorrectly made, or that the Work 
or materials do not conform in fact to the Contract. The State shall not be precluded or 
estopped, notwithstanding any such measurement, estimate, or certificate, and payment 
in accordance therewith, from recovering from the Contractor and the Sureties such 
damages as it may sustain by reason of the Contractor’s failure to comply with the terms 
of the Contract. Neither the acceptance by the Secretary, nor any payment for the whole 
or any part of the Work, nor any extension of time, nor any possession taken by the State 
shall operate as a waiver of any portion of the Contract or of any power herein reserved 
or any right to damages herein provided, or bar recovery of any money wrongfully or 
erroneously paid to the Contractor. A waiver of any breach of the Contract shall not be 
held to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

The Contractor and the State recognize that the impact of overcharges to the State by 
the Contractor resulting from antitrust law violations by the Contractor’s suppliers or 
Subcontractors adversely affects the State rather than the Contractor. Therefore, the 
Contractor agrees to assign to the State any and all claims for such overcharges.

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Prosecution and Progress

1-08 

Prosecution and Progress

1-08.1 Subcontracting

Work done by the Contractor’s own organization shall account for at least 30 percent of 
the Awarded Contract price. Before computing this percentage, however, the Contractor 
may subtract (from the Awarded Contract price) the costs of any subcontracted Work on 
items the Contract designates as specialty items.

The Contractor shall not subcontract Work unless the Engineer approves in writing. 
Each request to subcontract shall be on the form the Engineer provides. If the Engineer 
requests, the Contractor shall provide proof that the Subcontractor has the experience, 
ability, and equipment the Work requires. The Contractor shall require each Subcontractor 
to comply with 

Section 1-07.9

 and to furnish all certificates and statements required by 

the Contract.

Prior to subcontracting any Work, the Contractor shall verify that every first tier 
Subcontractor meets the responsibility criteria stated below at the time of subcontract 
execution. The Contractor shall include these responsibility criteria in every subcontract, 
and require every Subcontractor to:
1.  Possess any electrical contractor license required by 

RCW 19.28 

or elevator 

contractor license required by 

RCW 70.87

, if applicable; 

2.  Have a certificate of registration in compliance with chapter 

RCW 18.27

;

3.  Have a current State unified business identifier number;
4.  If applicable, have:

a.  Industrial insurance coverage for the bidder’s employees working in Washington 

(

Title 51 RCW

);

b.  An employment security department number (

Title 50 RCW

);

c.  A State excise tax registration number (

Title 82 RCW

);

5.  Not be disqualified from bidding on any public works contract under 

RCW 39.06.010

 

or 

RCW 39.12.065(3)

.

6.  Verify these responsibility criteria for every lower tier subcontractor at the time of 

subcontract execution; and,

7.  Include these responsibility criteria in every lower tier subcontract.

Along with the request to sublet, the Contractor shall submit the names of any 
contracting firms the Subcontractor proposes to use as lower tier subcontractors. 
Collectively, these lower tier subcontractors shall not do Work that exceeds 25 percent 
of the total amount subcontracted to a Subcontractor. When a Subcontractor is 
responsible for construction of a specific Structure or Structures, the following 
Work may be performed by lower tier Subcontractors without being subject to the 
25 percent limitation:

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1-08

1.  Furnishing and driving of piling, or
2.  Furnishing and installing concrete reinforcing and post-tensioning steel.

Except for the 25 percent limit, lower tier subcontractors shall meet the same 
requirements as Subcontractors.

The Engineer will approve the request only if satisfied with the proposed Subcontractor’s 
record, equipment, experience, and ability. Approval to subcontract shall not:
1.  Relieve the Contractor of any responsibility to carry out the Contract,
2.  Relieve the Contractor of any obligations or liability under the Contract and the 

Contractor’s bond,

3.  Create any contract between the Contracting Agency and the Subcontractor, or
4.  Convey to the Subcontractor any rights against the Contracting Agency.

All work that is not performed by the Contractor will be considered as subcontracting 
except: (1) purchase of sand, gravel, crushed stone, crushed slag, batched concrete 
aggregates, ready-mix concrete, off-site fabricated structural steel, other off-site 
fabricated items, and any other materials supplied by established and recognized 
commercial plants; or (2) delivery of these materials to the Work site in vehicles owned or 
operated by such plants or by recognized independent or commercial hauling companies 
hired by those commercial plants. However, the Washington State Department of Labor 
and Industries may determine that 

RCW 39.12

 applies to the employees of such firms 

identified in 1 and 2 above in accordance with 

WAC 296-127

. If this should occur, the 

provisions of 

Section 1-07.9

, as modified or supplemented, shall apply.

The Contractor shall not use businesses (material suppliers, vendors, subcontractors, etc.) 
with federal purchasing exclusions. Businesses with exclusions are identified using the 
System for Award Management web page at 

www.SAM.gov

.

On all projects, the Contractor shall certify to the actual amounts paid to all firms that 
were used as Subcontractors, lower tier subcontractors, manufacturers, regular dealers, 
or service providers on the Contract. This includes all Disadvantaged, Minority, Small, 
Veteran or Women’s Business Enterprise firms. This Certification shall be submitted to 
the Engineer on a monthly basis each month between Execution of the Contract and 
Physical Completion of the Contract using the application available at: 

https://wsdot.

diversitycompliance.com

. A monthly report shall be submitted for every month between 

Execution of the Contract and Physical Completion regardless of whether payments were 
made or work occurred.

The Contractor shall comply with the requirements of 

RCW 39.04.250

, 

39.76.011

, 

39.76.020

, and 

39.76.040

, in particular regarding prompt payment to Subcontractors. 

Whenever the Contractor withholds payment to a Subcontractor for any reason including 
disputed amounts, the Contractor shall provide notice within 10 calendar days to the 
Subcontractor with a copy to the Contracting Agency identifying the reason for the 
withholding and a clear description of what the Subcontractor must do to have the 
withholding released. Retainage withheld by the Contractor prior to completion of the 

Page 1-106 

Prosecution and Progress

Subcontractors work is exempt from reporting as a payment withheld and is not included 
in the withheld amount. The Contracting Agency’s copy of the notice to Subcontractor for 
deferred payments shall be submitted to the Engineer concurrently with notification to 
the Subcontractor.

If dissatisfied with any part of the subcontracted Work, the Engineer may request in 
writing that the Subcontractor be removed. The Contractor shall comply with this request 
at once and shall not employ the Subcontractor for any further Work under the Contract.

1-08.1(1)  Prompt Payment, Subcontract Completion and Return of 

Retainage Withheld

The following procedure shall apply to all subcontracts entered into as a part of this 
Contract:

Requirements
1.  Upon request, the Engineer will provide a copy of any or all progress payment 

estimates, with regard to contract payments to any interested party to the project.

2.  The Contractor shall make payment to the Lower Tier Subcontractor not later 

than ten calendar days after receipt of payment for work satisfactorily completed 
by the Lower Tier Subcontractor, to the extent of the Lower Tier Subcontractor’s 
interest therein.

3.  In the event the Contractor believes they have the right under the Contract or 

Subcontract to withhold payment in part or whole from a Lower Tier Subcontractor 
they shall provide immediate notification to that Lower Tier Subcontractor and the 
Engineer. The notice shall include an accounting of payments to date, the value and 
reason for the withheld amount, and an explanation of what must be done to have 
the withheld amount released. The Lower Tier Subcontractor shall be paid within 
eight calendar days after the Subcontractor completes the remedial action identified.

4.  Every subcontract and lower tier subcontract shall have a dispute resolution process 

incorporated for resolving issues between the parties to the subcontract, or one shall 
be established as necessary.

5.  If the parties agree, the Contracting Agency will make a third party neutral available 

provided the parties to the dispute agree that the cost of doing so is split between 
them.

6.  The Engineer will withhold the same amount of funds from the Contractor as was 

withheld if the issue is not resolved by the next progress estimate.

7.  Failure by a Contractor or Subcontractor to comply with these requirements may 

result in one or more of the following:
a.  Reflected in the Prime Contractor’s Performance Evaluation.
b.  Cancellation, termination or suspension of the Contract, in whole or in part.
c.  Sanctions as provided by the Contract; subcontract; or by law under applicable 

prompt payment statutes including 

RCW 39.04.250

.

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1-08

8.  The Subcontractor shall make a written request to the Contractor for the release of 

the Subcontractor’s retainage or retainage bond.

9.  Within 10 calendar days of the request, the Contractor shall determine if the 

subcontract has been satisfactorily completed including any required lien releases, 
documentation and material testing and shall inform the Subcontractor, in writing, of 
the Contractor’s determination.

10.  If the Contractor determines that the subcontract has been satisfactorily completed, 

the Subcontractor’s retainage or retainage bond shall be released by the Contractor 
within 10 calendar days from the date of the written notice. If the Contractor 
determines that the Subcontractor has not achieved satisfactory completion of the 
subcontract, the Contractor must provide the Subcontractor with written notice, 
stating specifically why the subcontract Work is not satisfactorily completed and 
what has to be done to achieve completion. The Contractor shall release the 
Subcontractor’s retainage or retainage bond within 10 calendar days after the 
Subcontractor has satisfactorily completed the Work identified in the notice.

11.  In determining whether satisfactory completion has been achieved, the Contractor 

may require the Subcontractor to provide documentation such as certifications and 
releases, showing that all laborers, lower-tiered Subcontractors, suppliers of material 
and equipment, and others involved in the Subcontractor’s Work have been paid in 
full. The Contractor may also require any documentation from the Subcontractor 
that is required by the subcontract or by the Contract between the Contractor 
and Contracting Agency or by law such as affidavits of wages paid, and material 
acceptance certifications to the extent that they relate to the Subcontractor’s Work.

12.  If the Contractor fails to comply with the requirements of the Specification and the 

Subcontractor’s retainage or retainage bond is wrongfully withheld, the Contractor 
will be subject to the actions described in No. 7 listed above. The Subcontractor may 
also seek recovery against the Contractor under applicable prompt pay statutes in 
addition to any other remedies provided for by the subcontract or by law.

Conditions
1.  This clause does not create a contractual relationship between the Contracting 

Agency and any Subcontractor as stated in 

Section 1-08.1

. Also, it is not intended 

to bestow upon any Subcontractor, the status of a third-party beneficiary to the 
Contract between the Contracting Agency and the Contractor.

2.  This section of the Contract does not apply to retainage withheld by the Contracting 

Agency from monies earned by the Contractor. The Contracting Agency shall 
continue to process the release of that retainage based upon the Completion Date of 
the project as defined in 

Section 1-08.5

 Time for Completion and in accordance with 

the requirements and procedures set forth in 

RCW 60.28

.

Page 1-108 

Prosecution and Progress

Payment

The Contractor shall be solely responsible for any additional costs involved in paying 
retainage to the Subcontractors prior to total project completion. Those costs shall be 
incidental to the respective Bid items.

1-08.2 Assignment

The Contractor shall not assign all or any part of the Work unless the Engineer approves 
in writing. The Engineer will not approve any proposed assignment that would relieve the 
original Contractor or Surety of responsibility under the Contract.

Money due (or that will become due) to the Contractor may be assigned. If given written 
notice, the Contracting Agency will honor such an assignment to the extent the law 
permits. But the assignment shall be subject to all setoffs, withholdings, and deductions 
required by law and the Contract.

1-08.3 

Progress Schedule

1-08.3(1)  General Requirements

The Contractor shall submit Type A or Type B Progress Schedules and Schedule Updates 
to the Engineer for approval. Schedules shall show Work that complies with all time and 
order of Work requirements in the Contract. Scheduling terms and practices shall conform 
to the standards established in Construction Planning and Scheduling, Second Edition, 
published by the Associated General Contractors of America. Except for Weekly Look-
Ahead Schedules, all schedules shall meet these General Requirements, and provide the 
following information:
1.  Include all activities necessary to physically complete the project.
2.  Show the planned order of Work activities in a logical sequence.
3.  Show durations of Work activities in working days as defined in 

Section 1-08.5

.

4.  Show activities in durations that are reasonable for the intended Work.
5.  Define activity durations in sufficient detail to evaluate the progress of individual 

activities on a daily basis.

6.  Show the Physical Completion of all Work within the authorized Contract time.

Total float belongs to the project and shall not be for the exclusive benefit of any party.

The Contracting Agency allocates its resources to a Contract based on the total time 
allowed in the Contract. The Contracting Agency may accept a Progress Schedule 
indicating an early Physical Completion Date but cannot guarantee the Contracting 
Agency’s resources will be available to meet an accelerated schedule. No additional 
compensation will be allowed if the Contractor is not able to meet their accelerated 
schedule due to the unavailability of Contracting Agency’s resources or for other reasons 
beyond the Contracting Agency’s control.

Prosecution and Progress 

1-08

If the Engineer determines that the Progress Schedule or any necessary Schedule Update 
does not provide the required information, then the schedule will be returned to the 
Contractor for correction and resubmittal. 

The Engineer’s approval of any schedule shall not transfer any of the Contractor’s 
responsibilities to the Contracting Agency. The Contractor alone shall remain responsible 
for adjusting forces, equipment, and Work schedules to ensure completion of the Work 
within the time(s) specified in the Contract.

1-08.3(2)  Progress Schedule Types

Type A Progress Schedules are required on all projects that do not contain the Bid item 
for Type B Progress Schedule. Type B Progress Schedules are required on all projects that 
contain the Bid item for Type B Progress Schedule. Weekly Look-Ahead Schedules and 
Schedule Updates are required on all projects.

1-08.3(2)A 

Type A Progress Schedule

The Contractor shall submit five copies of a Type A Progress Schedule no later than 
10 days after the date the contract is executed, or some other mutually agreed upon 
submittal time. The schedule may be a critical path method (CPM) schedule, bar chart, or 
other standard schedule format. Regardless of which format is used, the schedule shall 
identify the critical path. The Engineer will evaluate the Type A Progress Schedule and 
approve or return the schedule for corrections within 15 calendar days of receiving the 
submittal.

1-08.3(2)B 

Type B Progress Schedule

The Contractor shall submit a preliminary Type B Progress Schedule no later than 
5 calendar days after the date the Contract is executed. The preliminary Type B Progress 
Schedule shall comply with all of these requirements and the requirements of 

Section 

1-08.3(1)

, except that it may be limited to only those activities occurring within the first 

60 working days of the project.

The Contractor shall submit five copies of a Type B Progress Schedule depicting the 
entire project no later than 30 calendar days after the date the Contract is executed. The 
schedule shall be a critical path method (CPM) schedule developed by the Precedence 
Diagramming Method (PDM). Restraints may be utilized, but may not serve to change the 
logic of the network or the critical path. The schedule shall display at least the following 
information:

• 

Contract Number and Title

• 

Construction Start Date

• 

Critical Path

• 

Activity Description

• 

Milestone Description

• 

Activity Duration

• 

Predecessor Activities

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Prosecution and Progress

• 

Successor Activities

• 

Early Start (ES) and Early Finish (EF) for each activity

• 

Late Start (LS) and Late Finish (LF) for each activity

• 

Total Float (TF) and Free Float (FF) for each activity

• 

Physical Completion Date

• 

Data Date

The Engineer will evaluate the Type B Progress Schedule and approve or return the 
schedule for corrections within 15 calendar days of receiving the submittal.

1-08.3(2)C Vacant
1-08.3(2)D 

Weekly Look-Ahead Schedule

Each week that Work will be performed, the Contractor shall submit a Weekly Look-
Ahead Schedule showing the Contractor’s and all Subcontractors’ proposed Work 
activities for the next two weeks. The Weekly Look-Ahead Schedule shall include the 
description, duration and sequence of Work, along with the planned hours of Work. This 
schedule may be a network schedule, bar chart, or other standard schedule format. The 
Weekly Look-Ahead Schedule shall be submitted to the Engineer by the midpoint of the 
week preceding the scheduled Work or some other mutually agreed upon submittal time.

1-08.3(3)  Schedule Updates

The Engineer may request a Schedule Update when any of the following events occur:
1.  The project has experienced a change that affects the critical path.
2.  The sequence of Work is changed from that in the approved schedule.
3.  The project is significantly delayed.
4.  Upon receiving an extension of Contract time.

The Contractor shall submit five copies of a Type A or Type B Schedule Update within 
15 calendar days of receiving a written request, or when an update is required by any 
other provision of the Contract. A “significant” delay in time is defined as 10 working days 
or 10 percent of the original Contract time, whichever is greater. 

In addition to the other requirements of this section, Schedule Updates shall reflect the 
following information:
1.  The actual duration and sequence of as-constructed Work activities, including 

changed Work.

2.  Approved time extensions.
3.  Any construction delays or other conditions that affect the progress of the Work.
4.  Any modifications to the as-planned sequence or duration of remaining activities.
5.  The Physical Completion of all remaining Work in the remaining Contract time.

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1-08

Unresolved requests for time extensions shall be reflected in the Schedule Update by 
assuming no time extension will be granted, and by showing the effects to follow-on 
activities necessary to physically complete the project within the currently authorized 
time for completion.

1-08.3(4) Measurement

No specific unit of measurement shall apply to the lump sum item for Type B Progress 
Schedule.

1-08.3(5) Payment

Payment will be made for the following Bid item when it is included in the Proposal:

“Type B Progress Schedule”, lump sum.
The lump sum price shall be full pay for all costs for furnishing the Type B Progress 
Schedule and preliminary Type B Progress Schedule. 
Payment of 80 percent of the lump sum price will be made upon approval of the 
Progress Schedule.
Payment will be increased to 100 percent of the lump sum price upon completion of 
80 percent of the original total Contract Award amount.
All costs for providing Type A Progress Schedules and Weekly Look-Ahead Schedules 
are considered incidental to other items of Work in the Contract.
No payment will be made for Schedule Updates that are required due to the 
Contractors operations. Schedule Updates required by events that are attributed 
to the actions of the Contracting Agency will be paid for in accordance with 

Section 1-09.4

.

1-08.4 

Prosecution of Work

The Contractor shall begin Work within 21 calendar days from the date of execution 
of the Contract by the Contracting Agency, unless otherwise approved in writing. The 
Contractor shall diligently pursue the Work to the Physical Completion Date within 
the time specified in the Contract. Voluntary shutdown or slowing of operations by the 
Contractor shall not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility to complete the Work 
within the time(s) specified in the Contract.

When shown in the Plans, the first order of work shall be the installation of high 
visibility fencing to delineate all areas for protection or restoration, as described in the 
Contract. Installation of high visibility fencing adjacent to the roadway shall occur after 
the placement of all necessary signs and traffic control devices in accordance with 

Section 1-10.1(2)

. Upon construction of the fencing, the Contractor shall request the 

Engineer to inspect the fence. No other work shall be performed on the site until the 
Contracting Agency has accepted the installation of high visibility fencing, as described in 
the Contract.

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Prosecution and Progress

1-08.5 

Time for Completion

The Contractor shall complete all physical Contract Work within the number of “working 
days” stated in the Contract Provisions or as extended by the Engineer in accordance with 

Section 1-08.8

. Every day will be counted as a “working day” unless it is a nonworking day 

or an Engineer determined unworkable day. A nonworking day is defined as a Saturday, 
a Sunday, a whole or half day on which the Contract specifically prohibits Work on the 
critical path of the Contractor’s approved progress schedule, or one of these holidays: 
January 1, the third Monday of January, the third Monday of February, Memorial Day, 
July 4, Labor Day, November 11, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and 
Christmas Day. When any of these holidays fall on a Sunday, the following Monday shall 
be counted a nonworking day. When the holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday 
shall be counted a nonworking day. The days between December 25 and January 1 will be 
classified as nonworking days.

An unworkable day is defined as a half or whole day the Engineer declares to be 
unworkable because of weather or conditions caused by the weather that prevents 
satisfactory and timely performance of the Work shown on the critical path of the 
Contractor’s approved progress schedule. Other conditions beyond the control of the 
Contractor may qualify for an extension of time in accordance with 

Section 1-08.8

.

Contract time shall begin on the first working day following the 21st calendar day after 
the date the Contracting Agency executes the Contract. If the Contractor starts Work 
on the project at an earlier date, then Contract time shall begin on the first working day 
when on-site Work begins. The Contract Provisions may specify another starting date for 
Contract time, in which case, time will begin on the starting date specified.

Each working day shall be charged to the Contract as it occurs, until the Contract Work 
is physically complete. If Substantial Completion has been granted and all the authorized 
working days have been used, charging of working days will cease. Each week the 
Engineer will provide the Contractor a statement that shows the number of working days: 
(1) charged to the Contract the week before; (2) specified for the Physical Completion 
of the Contract; and (3) remaining for the Physical Completion of the Contract. The 
statement will also show the nonworking days and any half or whole day the Engineer 
declares as unworkable. Within 10 calendar days after the date of each statement, the 
Contractor shall file a written protest of any alleged discrepancies in it. To be considered 
by the Engineer, the protest shall be in sufficient detail to enable the Engineer to ascertain 
the basis and amount of time disputed. By not filing such detailed protest in that period, 
the Contractor shall be deemed as having accepted the statement as correct.

The Engineer will give the Contractor written notice of the Physical Completion Date for 
all Work the Contract requires. That date shall constitute the Physical Completion Date of 
the Contract, but shall not imply the Secretary’s acceptance of the Work or the Contract.

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1-08

The Engineer will give the Contractor written notice of the Completion Date of the 
Contract after all the Contractor’s obligations under the Contract have been performed 
by the Contractor. The following events must occur before the Completion Date can 
be established:
1.  The physical Work on the project must be complete; and
2.  The Contractor must furnish all documentation required by the Contract and 

required by law, to allow the Contracting Agency to process final acceptance 
of the Contract. The following documents must be received by the Engineer prior 
to establishing a Completion Date:
a.  Certified Payrolls (Federal-aid Projects)
b.  Material Acceptance Certification Documents
c.  Monthly Reports of Amounts Paid as MBE/WBE Participants, or Monthly 

Reports of Amounts Credited as DBE Participation, as required by the 
Contract Provisions

d.  Final Contract Voucher Certification
e.  Copies of the approved “Affidavit of Prevailing Wages Paid” for the Contractor 

and all Subcontractors

f. 

A copy of the Notice of Termination sent to the Washington State Department 
of Ecology (Ecology); the elapse of 30 calendar days from the date of receipt 
of the Notice of Termination by Ecology; and no rejection of the Notice of 
Termination by Ecology. This requirement will not apply if the Construction 
Stormwater General Permit is transferred back to the Contracting Agency in 
accordance with 

Section 8-01.3(16)

1-08.6 

Suspension of Work

The Engineer may order suspension of all or any part of the Work if:
1.  Unsuitable weather prevents satisfactory and timely performance of the Work; or
2.  The Contractor does not comply with the Contract; or
3.  It is in the public interest.

When ordered by the Engineer to suspend or resume Work, the Contractor shall do so 
immediately.

If the Work is suspended for reason (1) above, the period of Work stoppage will be 
counted as unworkable days. But if the Engineer believes the Contractor should have 
completed the suspended Work before the suspension, all or part of the suspension 
period may be counted as working days. The Engineer will set the number of unworkable 
days (or parts of days) by deciding how long the suspension delayed the entire project.

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Prosecution and Progress

If the Work is suspended for reason (2) above, the period of Work stoppage will be 
counted as working days. The lost Work time, however, shall not relieve the Contractor 
from any Contract responsibility.

If the performance of all or any part of the Work is suspended, delayed, or interrupted for 
an unreasonable period of time by an act of the Contracting Agency in the administration 
of the Contract, or by failure to act within the time specified in the Contract (or if no 
time is specified, within a reasonable time), the Engineer will make an adjustment for 
any increase in the cost or time for the performance of the Contract (excluding profit) 
necessarily caused by the suspension, delay, or interruption. However, no adjustment will 
be made for any suspension, delay, or interruption if (1) the performance would have been 
suspended, delayed, or interrupted by any other cause, including the fault or negligence of 
the Contractor, or (2) an equitable adjustment is provided for or excluded under any other 
provision of the Contract.

If the Contractor believes that the performance of the Work is suspended, delayed, or 
interrupted for an unreasonable period of time and such suspension, delay, or interruption 
is the responsibility of the Contracting Agency, the Contractor shall immediately submit 
a written notice of protest to the Engineer as provided in 

Section 1-04.5

. No adjustment 

shall be allowed for any costs incurred more than 10 calendar days before the date the 
Engineer receives the Contractor’s written notice of protest. If the Contractor contends 
damages have been suffered as a result of such suspension, delay, or interruption, the 
protest shall not be allowed unless the protest (stating the amount of damages) is asserted 
in writing as soon as practicable, but no later than the date of the Contractor’s signature 
on the Final Contract Voucher Certification. The Contractor shall keep full and complete 
records of the costs and additional time of such suspension, delay, or interruption and 
shall permit the Engineer to have access to those records and any other records as may 
be deemed necessary by the Engineer to assist in evaluating the protest.

The Engineer will determine if an equitable adjustment in cost or time is due as provided 
in this section. The equitable adjustment for increase in costs, if due, shall be subject 
to the limitations provided in 

Section 1-09.4

, provided that no profit of any kind will 

be allowed on any increase in cost necessarily caused by the suspension, delay, or 
interruption.

Request for extensions of time will be evaluated in accordance with 

Section 1-08.8

.

The Engineer’s determination as to whether an adjustment should be made will be final 
as provided in 

Section 1-05.1

.

No claim by the Contractor under this clause shall be allowed unless the Contractor has 
followed the procedures provided in this section and in Sections 

1-04.5

 and 

1-09.11

.

Prosecution and Progress 

1-08

1-08.7 

Maintenance During Suspension

Before and during any suspension (as described in 

Section 1-08.6

) the Contractor 

shall protect the Work from damage or deterioration. Suspension shall not relieve the 
Contractor from anything the Contract requires unless this section states otherwise.

At no expense to the Contracting Agency, the Contractor shall provide through the 
construction area safe, smooth, and unobstructed roadways and pedestrian access 
routes for public use during the suspension (as required in 

Section 1-07.23

 or the Special 

Provisions). This may include a temporary road, alternative pedestrian access route 
or detour.

If the Engineer determines that the Contractor failed to pursue the Work diligently before 
the suspension, or failed to comply with the Contract or orders, then the Contractor shall 
maintain the temporary Roadway in use during suspension. In this case, the Contractor 
shall bear the maintenance costs. If the Contractor fails to maintain the temporary 
Roadway, the Contracting Agency will do the Work and deduct all resulting costs from 
payments due to the Contractor. 

If the Engineer determines that the Contractor has pursued the Work diligently before the 
suspension, then the Contracting Agency will maintain the temporary Roadway (and bear 
its cost). This Contracting Agency-provided maintenance work will include only routine 
maintenance of:
1.  The Traveled Way, Auxiliary Lanes, Shoulders, and detour surface;
2.  Roadway drainage along and under the traveled Roadway or detour; and 
3.  All barricades, signs, and lights needed for directing traffic through the temporary 

Roadway or detour in the construction area.

The Contractor shall protect and maintain all other Work in areas not used by traffic. All 
costs associated with protecting and maintaining such Work shall be the responsibility of 
the Contractor.

After any suspension during which the Contracting Agency has done the routine 
maintenance, the Contractor shall accept the traveled Roadway or detour as is when 
Work resumes. The Contractor shall make no claim against the Contracting Agency for the 
condition of the Roadway or detour.

After any suspension, the Contractor shall resume all responsibilities the Contract assigns 
for the Work.

1-08.8 

Extensions of Time

The Contractor shall submit any requests for time extensions to the Engineer in writing 
no later than 10 working days after the delay occurs. The requests for time extension 
shall be limited to the effect on the critical path of the Contractor’s approved schedule 
attributable to the change or event giving rise to the request.

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Prosecution and Progress

To be considered by the Engineer, the request shall be in sufficient detail (as determined 
by the Engineer) to enable the Engineer to ascertain the basis and amount of the time 
requested. The request shall include an updated schedule that supports the request and 
demonstrates that the change or event: (1) had a specific impact on the critical path, and 
except in cases of concurrent delay, was the sole cause of such impact, and (2) could not 
have been avoided by resequencing of the Work or by using other reasonable alternatives. 
If a request combined with previous extension requests, equals 20 percent or more of the 
original Contract time then the Contractor’s letter of request must bear consent of Surety. 
In evaluating any request, the Engineer will consider how well the Contractor used the 
time from Contract execution up to the point of the delay and the effect the delay has on 
any completion times included in the Special Provisions. The Engineer will evaluate and 
respond within 15 calendar days of receiving the request.

The authorized time for Physical Completion will be extended for a period equal to the 
time the Engineer determines the Work was delayed because of:
1.  Adverse weather causing the time requested to be unworkable, provided that the 

Engineer had not already declared the time to be unworkable and the Contractor has 
filed a written protest according to 

Section 1-08.5

.

2.  Any action, neglect, or default of the Contracting Agency, its officers, or employees, 

or of any other contractor employed by the Contracting Agency.

3.  Fire or other casualty for which the Contractor is not responsible.
4. Strikes.
5.  Any other conditions for which these Specifications permit time extensions such as:

a. In 

Section 1-04.4

 if a change increases the time to do any of the Work including 

unchanged Work.

b. In 

Section 1-04.5

 if increased time is part of a protest that is found to be a valid 

protest.

c. In 

Section 1-04.7

 if a changed condition is determined to exist that caused a 

delay in completing the Contract.

d. In 

Section 1-05.3

 if the Contracting Agency does not approve properly prepared 

and acceptable drawings within 30 calendar days.

e. In 

Section 1-07.13

 if the performance of the Work is delayed as a result of 

damage by others.

f. In 

Section 1-07.17

 if the removal or the relocation of any utility by forces other 

than the Contractor caused a delay.

g. In 

Section 1-07.24

 if a delay results from all the Right of Way necessary for the 

construction not being purchased and the Special Provisions does not make 
specific provisions regarding unpurchased Right of Way.

h. In 

Section 1-08.6

 if the performance of the Work is suspended, delayed, 

or interrupted for an unreasonable period of time that proves to be the 
responsibility of the Contracting Agency.

Prosecution and Progress 

1-08

i. In 

Section 1-09.11

 if a dispute or claim also involves a delay in completing the 

Contract and the dispute or claim proves to be valid.

j. In 

Section 1-09.6

 for Work performed on a force account basis.

6.  If the actual quantity of Work performed for a Bid item was more than the original 

Plan quantity and increased the duration of a critical activity. Extensions of time will 
be limited to only that quantity exceeding the original Plan quantity.

7.  Exceptional causes not specifically identified in items 1 through 6, provided the 

request letter proves the Contractor had no control over the cause of the delay and 
could have done nothing to avoid or shorten it.

Working days added to the Contract by time extensions, when time has overran, shall 
only apply to days on which liquidated damages or direct engineering have been charged, 
such as the following:
 

If Substantial Completion has been granted prior to all of the authorized working 
days being used, then the number of days in the time extension will eliminate an 
equal number of days on which direct engineering charges have accrued. If the 
Substantial Completion Date is established after all of the authorized working days 
have been used, then the number of days in the time extension will eliminate an 
equal number of days on which liquidated damages or direct engineering charges 
have accrued.

The Engineer will not allow a time extension for any cause listed above if it resulted 
from the Contractor’s default, collusion, action or inaction, or failure to comply with the 
Contract.

The Contracting Agency considers the time specified in the Special Provisions as 
sufficient to do all the Work. For this reason, the Contracting Agency will not grant a time 
extension for:
1.  Failure to obtain all materials and workers unless the failure was the result of 

exceptional causes as provided above in 

Subsection 7

;

2.  Changes, protests, increased quantities, or changed conditions (

Section 1-04

) that do 

not delay the completion of the Contract or prove to be an invalid or inappropriate 
time extension request;

3.  Delays caused by nonapproval of drawings or plans as provided in 

Section 1-05.3

;

4.  Rejection of faulty or inappropriate equipment as provided in 

Section 1-05.9

;

5.  Correction of thickness deficiency as provided in 

Section 5-05.5(1)

.

The Engineer will determine whether the time extension should be granted, the reasons 
for the extension, and the duration of the extension, if any. Such determination will be 
final as provided in 

Section 1-05.1

.