If submittals are not checked and signed by the GC, what should the designer do?

• A. Review them thoroughly and issue comments.
• B. Immediately return them without review.
• C. Forward to a consultant for approval.
• D. Approve them as submitted.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that submittals must first go through the contractor’s quality control steps, including the GC reviewing and signing off to certify that they have been checked for coordination and conformance with the contract documents. If the GC has not checked and signed the submittals, the designer should not perform a formal design review. Instead, return them immediately to the GC so the required signature and verification can be obtained before any designer review proceeds. This preserves the intended roles, avoids shifting responsibility, and keeps the submittal process aligned with contract requirements. Once the GC signs, the designer can then review the submittals thoroughly and issue comments as needed.

Returning without review prevents the designer from validating items the GC is responsible for or approving submittals that haven’t met the signing requirement. It also avoids routing the submittals to another consultant for approval, which would bypass the established process. And it avoids giving approval as submitted, which would imply compliance without the GC’s verification.