FAMCo | C-941 Change Order Training

01

Know the rules

Field Guide

3 min

01

C-941 is the master record.

Every description, dollar, date, and attachment must reconcile back to it.

02

C-941 = SOV.

The dollar amounts and line-item changes must match the Schedule of Values.

03

Every change is traceable.

Name the action and show the same adjustment in the SOV Changes column.

04

No signature. No approval.

A verbal “go ahead” does not authorize cost. The Owner’s signed C-941 does.

Process at a glance

From field change to final record

10 moves

1IdentifyChange is discovered
2GatherContract info + backup
3ClassifyAdd, delete, increase, decrease
4UpdateSOV Changes column
5CompleteDescription + price
6ReconcileC-941 math = SOV
7TimeComplete if affected
8AttachSOV + supporting documents
9SubmitReview + authorization
10VerifyOwner signed?

Ready? Build a traceable description next.

02

Make it traceable

Description Lab

2 min

What is happening?

＋ AddNew line item − DeleteRemove line item ↑ IncreaseRaise listed price ↓ DecreaseLower listed price

Line item number Amount

Line item description

!

Mirror this in the SOV. The adjustment belongs in the Changes column, and the SOV must show every contract line item.

The story is clear. Now make the math behave.

03

Box 1 through Box 5

Math Lab

5 min

Training note: Use the actual project records and applicable NMGRT amount for a live Change Order. These starting figures are examples only.

Numbers agree? Now handle the schedule separately.

04

Schedule changes stand on their own

Change in Contract Times — Understanding Time Adjustments

8 min

C-941 structure

Price, Times, or both.

A Change Order may modify the Contract Price, the Contract Times, or both. A time change must be documented and evaluated separately from a price change. A cost increase does not automatically create a time extension—and a time extension is never automatic simply because one is requested.

!

Pick one method: state Contract Times as specific dates or durations in days. Do not mix methods unless the conversion is explicitly shown.

1

Original Contract Times

Record the original Substantial Completion and Ready for Final Payment milestones.

2

Increase / Decrease From Previously Approved Change Orders

Identify the prior approved Change Orders and cumulative increase or decrease in time.

3

Contract Times Prior to This Change Order

Show both milestones after incorporating previous approved changes.

4

Increase / Decrease This Change Order

Record the proposed increase or decrease separately for each milestone.

5

Contract Times With All Approved Change Orders

Calculate the resulting milestones, including the current Change Order once approved.

Interactive calculator

Build the Contract Times section

Specific dates Durations in days

Date method selected. Enter the actual milestone dates for each stage; the tool shows calendar-day differences as an explicit training conversion.

Change Order number Previous approved COs

1 Original Contract Times

Substantial CompletionReady for Final Payment

2–3 Milestones after previously approved COs

Substantial CompletionReady for Final Payment

4–5 Proposed resulting milestones for this CO

Substantial CompletionReady for Final Payment

Each date is independent. Notice the example adds 7 days to Substantial Completion and 0 days to Ready for Final Payment.

Reason for requesting the time adjustment Supporting documentation / attachments

PROPOSED — NOT YET CONTRACTUAL

Change Order 4

Step-by-step Contract Times

Part	Substantial Completion	Ready for Final Payment
1 · Original	Jun 30, 2027	Jul 31, 2027
2 · Prior approved change	+10 days	+10 days
3 · Prior to this CO	Jul 10, 2027	Aug 10, 2027
4 · Proposed this CO	+7 days	0 days
5 · Proposed result	Jul 17, 2027	Aug 10, 2027

↔

Two milestones. Two calculations. A Substantial Completion adjustment does not automatically adjust Ready for Final Payment.

Basis stated: Yes
Support identified: Yes

Contract accuracy check

This training calculator documents a proposed adjustment; it does not determine entitlement. The basis for an extension, notice requirements, supporting evidence, and approval process depend on the applicable Contract Documents.

Required verification

Time Change Verification Checklist

0 / 7

Original contract milestones are correct. Previous approved time adjustments are accounted for. The current proposed increase or decrease is clearly identified. Both completion milestones are calculated correctly. The reason and supporting documentation are identified. Required recommendations, authorizations, and funding-agency approvals are addressed as applicable. The proposed time change is not represented as approved before required execution and approvals.

Calculation documented. Now test the judgment behind it.

05

Training scenarios

Price, Times, or Both?

0 / 6

These are hypothetical training examples. Classify what the Change Order modifies—not whether someone merely mentioned cost or schedule.

TRAINING SCENARIO 01

Owner-directed additional work

The Owner directs installation of an added drainage structure. The work adds $42,000 and the documented schedule impact is 8 days.

TRAINING SCENARIO 02

Quantity and scope change

Unforeseen quantities increase excavation cost and add 5 days to Substantial Completion. Ready for Final Payment is unchanged after separate evaluation.

TRAINING SCENARIO 03

Price + time together

Change Order 6 proposes a $15,000 increase, a 4-day Substantial Completion extension, and a separate 2-day Ready for Final Payment extension.

TRAINING SCENARIO 04

Price-only change

A material substitution adds $9,500. Schedule analysis shows no change to either Contract Time milestone.

TRAINING SCENARIO 05

Time-only change

An approved non-compensable adjustment adds 6 days to Substantial Completion and 0 days to Ready for Final Payment. Contract Price is unchanged.

TRAINING SCENARIO 06

Requested—not approved

The Contractor requests a 10-day extension with schedule support. The C-941 has not been executed and required approvals remain pending. No price change is proposed.

Remember: Correct classification does not establish entitlement. Check the Contract Documents, notice provisions, evidence, recommendations, authorization, and any applicable funding-agency approval.

Good judgment needs a hard approval gate.

06

The non-negotiable

Approval Gate

1 min

Stop. Check the signature.

Has the Owner signed the C-941?

The Owner’s signature confirms authorization and protects the contractor from committing materials, labor, equipment, or other added cost without formal approval.

× NOT APPROVED

Do not purchase material or commit added cost based on verbal confirmation.

01

Engineer

Recommendation, when required.

02

Owner

Authorization is the approval gate.

03

Funding Agency

Approval, when applicable.

Signature status is clear. See price and time together.

07

One Change Order, two independent tracks

Integrated Price & Time Change Summary

BOTH

Change Order4

EffectPrice + Contract Times

StatusProposed — not approved

$

Contract Price

Price track

Original Contract Price: $1,000,000.00
Previous approved price changes: +$75,000.00
Current proposed price change: +$25,000.00
Current proposed NMGRT: +$1,937.50
Revised price without current GRT: $1,100,000.00
Revised price with current CO GRT: $1,101,937.50

Current price adjustment is proposed until required execution and approvals.

⏱

Contract Times

Time track

Substantial CompletionReady for Final Payment

OriginalJun 30, 2027Jul 31, 2027

Previous approved adjustment+10 days+10 days

Current proposed adjustment+7 days0 days

Proposed revised milestoneJul 17, 2027Aug 10, 2027

The two time milestones remain separate even when displayed in one summary.

Proposed current change Previously approved baseline

Both tracks tell one consistent story. Now finish the package checks.

08

Before submitting

Final Check

0 / 10

⏱

Contract Time check: If this change affects Substantial Completion or readiness for final payment, complete the C-941 Contract Times section using the project’s actual contract records.

Package checked? Prove the competency.

09

Final competency assessment

Price + Times Competency Check

12 questions

80% to pass10 of 12 correct

Critical answers requiredReconciliation + approval questions must be correct

01 The C-941 price total does not match the updated SOV. What happens next? CRITICAL Submit it and correct the SOV later. Stop and reconcile the C-941 and SOV before submission. Ask for verbal approval of the difference.

02 What belongs in Contract Price Box 2? Only the current Change Order amount. The prior approved Change Order range and cumulative increase or decrease. The original Contract Price.

03 Original Substantial Completion is June 30, 2027. Prior approved changes add 10 calendar days and the current proposal adds 7 more. What is the proposed resulting date? July 7, 2027 July 10, 2027 July 17, 2027

04 The current proposal adds 7 days to Substantial Completion and 0 days to Ready for Final Payment. What happens to Ready for Final Payment? It automatically receives 7 days. It remains unchanged unless separately adjusted. It is removed from the Change Order.

05 A substitution adds $9,500, with no change to either time milestone. What does the Change Order affect? Price only Times only Both

06 The Owner verbally agrees with the Change Order, but has not signed the C-941. What is its status? CRITICAL Approved because the Owner agreed verbally. Not approved; required execution and approvals are still needed. Approved for price but not time.

07 How should specific dates and durations in days be handled in the Contract Times section? Mix them freely in the same calculation. Use one method consistently unless an explicit conversion is shown. Only dates are ever allowed.

08 A documented, approved non-compensable adjustment adds 6 days with no price change. What does the Change Order affect? Price only Times only Both

09 Does this training tool establish a universal entitlement to a time extension? Yes, whenever extra work occurs. No; entitlement, notice, evidence, and approvals depend on the Contract Documents. Yes, whenever the Owner discusses it.

10 A current Change Order proposes a $15,000 increase and a separately supported 4-day extension. What does it affect? Price only Times only Both

11 How should Engineer recommendation and funding-agency approval be handled? They are never part of the Change Order process. They are universally required on every project. Address them when required or applicable under the project documents and funding requirements.

12 A supported 10-day extension is entered in the current Change Order, but required execution and approvals are pending. How must it be shown? CRITICAL As an approved contractual date. As proposed—not yet an approved contractual change. Omit it from all supporting documents.

Change orders without the chaos.

Field Guide

C-941 is the master record.

C-941 = SOV.

Every change is traceable.

No signature. No approval.

From field change to final record

Description Lab

Math Lab

Change in Contract Times — Understanding Time Adjustments

Price, Times, or both.

Original Contract Times

Increase / Decrease From Previously Approved Change Orders

Contract Times Prior to This Change Order

Increase / Decrease This Change Order

Contract Times With All Approved Change Orders

Build the Contract Times section

Time Change Verification Checklist

Price, Times, or Both?

Owner-directed additional work

Quantity and scope change

Price + time together

Price-only change

Time-only change

Requested—not approved

Approval Gate

Has the Owner signed the C-941?

Engineer

Owner

Funding Agency

Integrated Price & Time Change Summary

Price track

Time track

Final Check

Price + Times Competency Check

Not scored