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Resolution XX-06 Full Function
Electronic Documents for All Firms,
Small and Large

Sponsored by AIA East Bay
Co-Sponsored by:
AIA Baltimore, AIA California Council, AIA Central Valley
AIA Inland California, AIA Kansas, AIA Los Angeles,
AIA New England, AIA New Hampshire, AIA Orange County, AIA Philadelphia, AIA Santa Clara Valley, AIA Treasure Coast, AIA Western Massachusetts, Lower Rio Grande Valley AIA, David J. Brotman, FAIA
 
WHEREAS a significant number of members of The American Institute of Architects practice in small firms or as sole practitioners;

WHEREAS it is the desire of the Institute to expand the use of AIA Contract Documents among architecture
firms of all sizes and throughout the construction industry;

WHEREAS the Institute advocates through Public Policy that the “financial health of architecture businesses
is essential to the future of the profession”;

WHEREAS the full function Electronic Documents & Software (EDS) is currently offered only in a 300-unit per year metered license or unlimited annual license;

WHEREAS small firms and sole practitioners rarely use the full 300 document units in a license year and
consequently lose unused units and thus money;

WHEREAS most small firms and sole practitioners rarely need, or access the extended family of contract
documents included in the EDS;

WHEREAS although paper documents and “fill in the blanks” computerized documents are potential
alternates to the EDS, these alternatives do not offer necessary full function word-processing editing
functions such as visible insertion and strikeout provisions and do not project to clients a professional image equal to that produced by the EDS;

WHEREAS the availability of alternates to the existing software licensing options has been under
consideration for a number of years; and
WHEREAS the Institute encourages all of its members to utilize electronic documentation in their daily
practice;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of The American Institute of Architects direct
management, the AIA Documents Committee and/or other appropriate groups to analyze the electronic
document needs of smaller firms and sole practitioners, and submit no later than
31 December 2006 their analyses including a recommendation on reasonable pricing and packaging of the
EDS for smaller firms and sole practitioners.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board take such action, if any, that it may deem appropriate on the
basis of those analyses.

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