CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A SMALL PROJECT - C522 - guidelines for use

Aug 31, 2026

This document provides the standard contract framework for construction of a small project, detailing when the form is appropriate and what conditions must fit the simplified scope. It specifies suitability criteria such as limited cost and duration, minimal coordination needs, and a relatively straightforward change and claims process. It also explains integration guidance, including when to use it as a stand-alone form, which related EJCDC documents to avoid together with C522, and how to handle insurance and potential modifications.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatDOCX

Pages32

Reading Time11 min

AccessFree to download

PURPOSE AND INTENDED USE OF THE DOCUMENT

OTHER DOCUMENTS

ORGANIZATION OF INFORMATION

GUIDANCE NOTES AND NOTES TO USER

This document has important legal consequences; consultation with an attorney is encouraged with respect to its use or modification. This document should be adapted to the particular circumstances of the contemplated Project and the controlling Laws and Regulations. CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A SMALL PROJECT Prepared By Endorsed By Endorsed By Copyright© 2018 National Society of Professional Engineers 1420 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2794 (703) 684-2882 www.nspe.org American Council of Engineering Companies 1015 15th Street N.W., Washington, DC 20005 (202) 347-7474 www.acec.org American Society of Civil Engineers 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191-4400 (800) 548-2723 www.asce.org The copyright for this EJCDC document is owned jointly by the three sponsoring organizations listed above. The National Society of Professional Engineers is the Copyright Administrator for the EJCDC documents; please direct all inquiries regarding EJCDC copyrights to NSPE. NOTE: EJCDC publications may be purchased at HYPERLINK "http://www.ejcdc.org/" www.ejcdc.org, or from any of the sponsoring organizations above. GUIDELINES FOR USE OF EJCDC® C522, Contract for Construction of a Small Project PURPOSE AND INTENDED USE OF THE DOCUMENT EJCDC® C522, Contract for Construction of a Small Project, is intended to be used for smaller, less complex projects, such as small water and wastewater utilities, roads and paving, drainage improvements, and site development. This Contract is appropriate for projects where: The construction cost is $500,000 or less, the scheduling for the Work is relatively simple with few constraints, scheduled duration is less than 12 months, and little coordination is required with entities other than the Engineer, Owner, and Contractor. The change and claims process is relatively simple. If it is anticipated there could be significant changes to the Work in response to differing site conditions, client requirements, or other factors, it is recommended that EJCDC® C520, Agreement Between Owner and Contractor for Construction Contract (Stipulated Price) (2018) or EJCDC® C525, Agreement Between Owner and Contractor for Construction Contract (Cost-Plus-Fee) (2018) be used, together with the comprehensive EJCDC® C700, Standard General Conditions of the Construction Contract (2018). There is little chance of changed or differing site conditions. No hazardous environmental conditions are anticipated. Substitutions for material or equipment will be handled through the change order process. There is no assignment to Contractor of an equipment purchase contract entered into by Owner. The Contract Documents do not delegate any professional design services to the Contractor. There is little need for coordination with others working at the Site, other than for incidental tasks such as routine utility relocations (see Paragraph 7.03). The Engineer is involved with the review of submittals, interpretation of the documents, and development of change orders that affect the design of the Project. C522 provides that builder’s risk insurance and/or property insurance will be provided by the Contractor. If the Owner wants to provide this insurance, the Contract will need to be modified. OTHER DOCUMENTS C522 is intended to be used as a stand-alone document. It contains the core elements of an Owner-Contractor agreement form (such as identification of the parties, Contract Price, and Contract Times) as well as essential general terms and conditions. Thus if C522 is used, do not use the EJCDC agreement forms (C520 or C525), or the Standard General Conditions, C700. C522 has not been fully integrated with other EJCDC documents. For example, terms used in C522 may differ somewhat from corresponding terms in other EJCDC documents. Other EJCDC® C-series documents, such as EJCDC® C200, Instructions to Bidders for Construction Contract (2018), and EJCDC® C800, Supplementary Conditions of the Construction Contract (2018), are wr

FAQs

What types of small projects is EJCDC C522 intended for?

It is intended for smaller, less complex projects such as small water and wastewater utilities, roads and paving, drainage improvements, and site development.

When is it recommended to use other EJCDC contract documents instead of relying only on C522?

If significant changes are anticipated due to differing conditions or requirements, the document recommends considering EJCDC C520 or C525 together with the standard general conditions in C700.

Can C522 be used with other EJCDC document series like D-series or P-series?

No. The document states it must not be used under any circumstances with Design-Build (D-series) or Procurement (P-series) documents.

Aug 31, 2026

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