AIA Contract Documents

To the Editor of ENR:

Speaking on behalf of the 700,000 design professionals in the United States collectively represented by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) and the American Institute of Architects, we would like to express concern about ENR's September 24, 2007 cover story titled "New Standard Forms Seek Unity on Fairness." The article misrepresents to the design and construction industry the participation of design professionals in ConsensusDOCS. For the record, the Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee (EJCDC) has not endorsed ConsensusDOCS and has not joined ConsensusDOCS; EJCDC's involvement with ConsensusDOCS has not been "pretty significant." To our knowledge, no organization in the design professional community has provided comments on, or contributed intellectual property to ConsensusDOCS. We request that ENR set the record straight.

Lawrence A. Jacobson
Executive Director, National Society of Professional Engineers

Christine McEntee
Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, American Institute of Architects

Patrick J. Natale
Executive Director, American Society of Civil Engineers

David A. Raymond
President and Chief Executive Officer, American Council of Engineering Companies