Content.
Dispute Resolution—Mediation and Arbitration
Synopsis.
AIA Document C103–2015 is a standard form of agreement between owner and consultant that contains terms and conditions, including those related to copyrights and licenses, claims and disputes, termination or suspension, and compensation. C103-2015 does not include a scope of consultant’s services, which must be inserted in Article 2 or attached as an exhibit. Separation of the scope of services from the owner/consultant agreement allows users the freedom to append alternative scopes of services. For use and execution of a document, see its instructions »
Purpose.
AIA Document C103–2015 is a standard form of agreement between Owner and Consultant that provides agreement terms only. C103–2015 does not include a scope of Consultant’s Services, which must be inserted in Article 2 or attached as an exhibit to C103–2015. The AIA publishes the following standard form scope of services documents that can be paired with C103–2015:
C201™–2015, Standard Form of Consultant’s Services: Land Survey
C202™–2015, Standard Form of Consultant’s Services: Geotechnical Engineering
C103-2015 is the first standard form of agreement between an Owner and Consultant published by the AIA. C103–2015 may be used with a variety of compensation methods, further described in these Instructions.
Dispute Resolution—Mediation and Arbitration.
This document contains provisions for mediation and arbitration of claims and disputes. Mediation is a non-binding process but is mandatory under the terms of this agreement. Arbitration may be mandatory under the terms of this agreement. Arbitration is binding in most states and under the Federal Arbitration Act. In a minority of states, arbitration provisions relating to future disputes are not enforceable but the parties may agree to arbitrate after the dispute arises. Even in those states, under certain circumstances (for example, in a transaction involving interstate commerce), arbitration provisions may be enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act.
The AIA does not administer dispute resolution processes. To submit disputes to mediation or arbitration or to obtain copies of the applicable mediation or arbitration rules, contact the American Arbitration Association at (800) 778-7879 or visit the website at adr.org.