Which primary document governs the relationships, responsibilities, and general conditions between owner and contractor during construction?

• A. The Project Manual
• B. The General Conditions of the contract (e.g., AIA A201)
• C. The Building Code
• D. The Bid Form

Answer: (B)

The governing framework for how owner and contractor interact, who has authority, and how changes, payments, and risks are handled is defined by the general conditions of the contract. This set of terms—often seen in standard forms like AIA A201—establishes the relationships among the owner, contractor, and architect, outlining procedures for change orders, notices, time extensions, insurance, bonds, payments, and dispute resolution. The Project Manual accompanies the contract documents and includes specifications and bidding information, but it does not itself establish the overarching contractual mechanics. The Building Code sets safety and performance requirements that must be met, not the contract’s relationship rules. The Bid Form is used for submitting pricing during the procurement phase, not for governing ongoing duties.