AIA Document A305, Contractor’s Qualification Statement: Exhibits, Oath, and Filing

To fill out AIA Document A305, the Contractor’s Qualification Statement, buy the current 2020 edition from AIA Contract Documents, complete the short main document along with whichever exhibits the requesting owner or architect specifies, attach your supporting financials and project records, and have an authorized officer of your firm sign the certification under oath in front of a notary before delivering the package by the method the bid instructions require.¹

Get the Current 2020 Edition

The official A305-2020 is sold through the AIA Contract Documents platform at aiacontracts.com, either as a one-time individual purchase or through an annual subscription that covers more than 300 AIA documents.² Either route requires an online account. Use the current edition. Owners and architects who ask for an A305 expect the 2020 version, and an outdated or unofficial template can get your package returned before anyone reads it.

Decide Which Exhibits You Need

The 2020 edition is modular: a short main document plus five optional exhibits. At least one exhibit has to be attached, and the right combination depends on why you are submitting.³

For general pre-qualification across a range of potential projects, the main document plus Exhibit A (General Information) is often enough. For a specific project, you will usually need Exhibit A and Exhibit C (Project-Specific Information). If the owner wants to see your books, add Exhibit B (Financial and Performance Information). Exhibits D and E document past project experience.¹ Most bid packages tell you exactly which exhibits are required. Read them before you start filling anything out.

The Main Document

The main form itself is short. It asks for your organization’s name and address, the name and address of the party you are submitting to, and the type of work your organization performs, such as general contracting, construction-manager-as-constructor services, electrical contracting, or plumbing contracting.⁴ A checklist below lets you mark which exhibits are attached. The detailed content sits in those exhibits.

Completing Exhibit A: General Information

Exhibit A covers your firm’s foundational details. Start with the full legal name, then identify the legal structure under which you do business: sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, joint venture, or another form.⁵ A corporation lists the state of incorporation, date of incorporation, and up to four of its highest-ranking officers with titles. Partnerships and sole proprietorships list their partners or owner and the date the organization was formed.

Exhibit A also covers organizational capabilities and references, but no project-specific or financial information.³ Pull your articles of incorporation or partnership agreement before you start so the dates and jurisdiction match your registered records exactly. Choose references who worked with you on past projects: owners and architects who can speak to your reliability and site management. References from projects similar in size or scope to the one you are pursuing carry more weight than a generic list.

Completing Exhibit B: Financial and Performance Information

Exhibit B is where owners judge whether your firm can survive the project financially. The central requirement is attaching the last three years of financial statements, prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, including your latest balance sheet and income statement, along with the name of the firm that prepared each one.⁶ Most owners expect audited or CPA-reviewed statements; internally prepared statements carry far less weight.

Exhibit B also asks whether your organization has been involved in any bankruptcy proceeding within the last ten years and requests your preferred credit rating agency along with your identification number at that agency, such as a Dun & Bradstreet DUNS number.⁶

The performance side is where contractors most often stumble. A series of disclosure questions cover the last five years:

Any outstanding judgments, arbitration proceedings, bond claims, or lawsuits exceeding $75,000 involving your organization or its affiliates.
Whether you have ever been terminated for cause or failed to finish an awarded project.
Any judgments, settlements, or awards on a construction project for which your firm was responsible for more than $75,000.
Convictions or indictments for business-related crimes, disciplinary actions against any professional license, or penalties from state or federal environmental agencies.

A “yes” to any of these requires an explanation.⁶ Leaving a yes unexplained, or checking no when the answer is actually yes, is the fastest way to lose credibility on the submission or face legal consequences later.

Completing Exhibit C: Project-Specific Information

When you are chasing a particular job, Exhibit C tailors the qualification statement to that project. Open with the project name and location, the office out of which you propose to perform the work, the type of work you are seeking, and a conflict-of-interest disclosure covering your organization and its affiliates.⁷

The exhibit then goes into how you plan to staff and execute the work:

Business and contractor license or registration numbers for the office handling the project.
Names, positions, expertise, and relevant experience of key personnel who will be meaningfully involved.
Which portions of the project you intend to self-perform with your own forces.
Major subcontractors you plan to use, to the extent known.
Whether the office has a written safety program, along with any safety-related citations and penalties.
Insurance coverage and bonding information for the project.

Exhibit C also asks for your firm’s current workload, meaning the total dollar value of work under contract at the relevant office and how much of that work remains to be completed, plus the average annual dollar value of construction the office has performed over the last five years and the largest single contract completed during that period.⁷ Owners read these numbers to see whether you have capacity for their project without overextending.

Completing Exhibits D and E: Past Projects

Exhibit D is a chart for up to four past projects, completed or in progress, that show your firm’s experience and capabilities. For each project, the form asks for the project name, location, project type, owner, architect, your project executive and key personnel, contract amount, completion date, percentage of work self-performed, project delivery method, and any sustainability certifications.⁸ If four slots are not enough, Exhibit E uses the same format for additional entries.³

Choose projects strategically. If Exhibit D goes in alongside Exhibit C for a specific bid, pick projects relevant to the target job in geographic area, building type, or scope. A focused selection of comparable work does more than a longer list that shows volume without relevance.

Signing Under Oath and Notarizing

The main document closes with a certification block where an authorized representative signs under oath that the information provided “is true and sufficiently complete so as not to be misleading.”⁹ The sworn-statement language carries legal weight, so read what you certify before signing.

A notary block directly below the signature requires the state, county, date, notary signature, and commission expiration date.⁹ Schedule the notarization ahead of your submission deadline rather than the day of delivery. Notaries are available at banks, shipping stores, and law offices, and state-mandated fees typically run between $2 and $10.

Submitting the Package

Follow the bid documents on delivery method and destination. Many projects use digital construction management portals that accept uploaded PDFs and provide a time-stamped receipt. When physical delivery is required, use certified mail or a tracked service so you can prove arrival before the deadline. Keep a full copy of everything submitted, including the main document, every exhibit, and every attachment, so you can respond quickly if a reviewer requests clarification or you need it during bidding.

After the owner or architect receives your statement, expect a review period before you learn whether you are pre-qualified. Reviewers may contact references, verify licensing, or cross-check financials, and they may send a formal request for clarification if something is unclear. Contractors who pass the screening are invited into the formal bidding process. Firms that do not meet the criteria are typically notified without an invitation to bid, and there is rarely an appeal process for private-sector pre-qualification.

Why Honest Answers Matter

Because the certification is sworn and notarized, false information on an A305 creates real legal exposure. A false sworn statement can be a criminal offense in most jurisdictions, and federal projects add another layer under 18 U.S.C. § 1001, which makes it a crime to knowingly make false statements in any matter within federal jurisdiction.¹⁰

On government work, contractors who misrepresent qualifications also face administrative consequences including suspension and debarment from future public bidding.¹¹ On private projects, discovery of a material misrepresentation can lead to contract termination, loss of your bond, and civil lawsuits. The practical answer is to disclose honestly and explain any blemishes in the Exhibit B answers rather than hiding them. An honest yes with a clear explanation is almost always recoverable. A false no that surfaces later rarely is.

1
AIA Contract Documents. Summary: A305-2020, Contractor’s Qualification Statement
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AIA Contract Documents. AIA Contract Documents – The Industry Standard for Construction
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AIA Contract Documents. FAQs: A305-2020, Contractor’s Qualification Statement
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Nucor Construction Corp. Document A305-2020 Contractor’s Qualification Statement
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American Institute of Architects. AIA Document A305 Contractor’s Qualification Statement – Exhibit A
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American Institute of Architects. AIA Document A305 Contractor’s Qualification Statement – Exhibit B
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The American Institute of Architects. AIA Document A305-2020 Exhibit C
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AIA Contract Documents. A305 Exhibit D – Contractor’s Past Project Experience
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The American Institute of Architects. AIA Document A305 – 2020 Contractor’s Qualification Statement
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Federal Highway Administration. False Claims Presentation
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Acquisition.GOV. Subpart 9.4 – Debarment, Suspension, and Ineligibility