Who reviews and approves submittals such as shop drawings, product data, and samples on USACE projects?

• A. The Contractor's QC Manager reviews and approves submittals; government reviews only for compliance.
• B. The Architect of Record reviews and approves submittals.
• C. The Government Quality Assurance representative/Resident Engineer reviews and approves submittals; the contractor uses approved submittals for work.
• D. Submittals are reviewed only for completeness and do not require approval.

Answer: (C)

Submittals on USACE projects are reviewed and approved by the Government Quality Assurance representative, usually the Resident Engineer. The contractor prepares shop drawings, product data, and samples, and these must be checked against contract requirements, design intent, and constructability before any work proceeds. The government QA reviewer verifies that the submittals accurately reflect the approved design and that the proposed materials and methods are acceptable for construction. Once approved, the contractor uses those submittals as the basis for performing the work. The Architect of Record does not typically approve construction submittals for USACE projects, and while the contractor’s QC manager performs internal quality control, the formal approval authority rests with the government QA representative/Resident Engineer. Submittals are evaluated for conformity to contract requirements and readiness for construction, not just for completeness.