Audits/Inspections Contractor agrees to permit the County’s Auditor-Controller or the Auditor- Controller’s authorized representative (including auditors from a private auditing firm hired by the County) access during normal working hours to all books, accounts, records, reports, files, financial records, supporting documentation, including payroll and accounts payable/receivable records, and other papers or property of Contractor for the purpose of auditing or inspecting any aspect of performance under this Contract. The inspection and/or audit will be confined to those matters connected with the performance of the Contract including, but not limited to, the costs of administering the Contract. The County will provide reasonable notice of such an audit or inspection. The County reserves the right to audit and verify the Contractor’s records before final payment is made. Contractor agrees to maintain such records for possible audit for a minimum of three years after final payment, unless a longer period of records retention is stipulated under this Contract or by law. Contractor agrees to allow interviews of any employees or others who might reasonably have information related to such records. Further, Contractor agrees to include a similar right to the County to audit records and interview staff of any subcontractor related to performance of this Contract. Should the Contractor cease to exist as a legal entity, the Contractor’s records pertaining to this Contract shall be forwarded to the County’s project manager.
Tests and Inspections 13.5.1 Tests, inspections and approvals of portions of the Work required by the Contract Documents or by laws, ordinances, rules, regulations or orders of public authorities having jurisdiction shall be required. Unless otherwise provided, the Contractor shall make arrangements for such tests, inspections and approvals with an independent testing laboratory or entity acceptable to the Owner, or with the appropriate public authority, and shall bear all related costs of tests, inspections or approvals. The Contractor shall give the Architect timely notice of when and where tests and inspections are to be made so the Architect may observe such procedures. The Owner shall bear costs of tests, inspections or approvals which do not become requirements until after bids are received or negotiations concluded. The Contractor shall not obligate the Owner for costs without the Architect's approval.
13.5.2 If the Architect, Owner or public authorities having jurisdiction determine that portions of the Work require additional testing, inspection or approval not included under Subparagraph 13.5.1, the Architect will upon written authorization from the Owner, instruct the Contractor to make arrangements for such additional testing, inspection or approval by an entity acceptable to the Owner, and the Contractor shall give timely notice to the Architect of when and where tests and inspections are to be made so the Architect may observe such procedures. The Owner shall bear such costs except as provided in subparagraph 13.5.3.
13.5.3 If such procedures for testing, inspection or approval under Subparagraphs 13.5.1 and 13.5.2 reveal failure of the portions of the Work to comply with requirements established by the Contract Documents, the Contractor shall bear all costs made necessary by such failure including those of repeated procedures and compensation for the Architect's services and expenses. The Contractor also agrees that the cost of testing services required for the convenience of the Contractor in his scheduling and performance of the Work, and the cost of testing services related to remedial operations performed to correct deficiencies in the Work shall be borne by the Contractor.
13.5.4 Required certificates of testing, inspection or approval shall, unless otherwise required by the Contract Documents, be secured by the Contractor and promptly delivered to the Architect.
13.5.5 If the Architect is to observe tests, inspections or approvals required by the Contract Documents, the Architect will do so promptly and, where practicable, at the normal place of testing.
13.5.6 Owner to notify Contractor of selected testing company. All tests, except those preformed exclusively for the Contractor's convenience, shall be paid by the Owner; however, the Contractor must notify and/or coordinate with the testing firms with proper notification to the Owner. Any retests made necessary by the Contractor's failure to perform to the specs in the specifications, these costs shall be paid by the Contractor.
