Owner / Architect · ALA Contract Documents

Pre-Design Services Agreement (Lump Sum)

The fixed-fee version of the pre-design agreement: one defined price for feasibility, programming, and early studies, with scope boundaries spelled out so extra requests become extra services.

Format Editable Microsoft Word document, delivered by email after checkout
Price $75 · free for ALA members
Drafted by Husch Blackwell construction-law attorneys for the Association of Licensed Architects
Who this document is for
  • Architects quoting a set fee for defined pre-design scope
  • Clients who want cost certainty before committing to full design
  • Firms converting pre-design work into the full commission
Frequently asked

How is this different from other industry-standard forms?

Unlike forms written for the whole construction industry, the Pre-Design Services Agreement is drafted specifically from the architect’s perspective, in plain language your clients can read without their own attorney translating every clause.

Can I edit it for my project?

Yes. It arrives as an editable Microsoft Word file, so you can adapt names, scope, fees, and project-specific terms while keeping the attorney-drafted structure intact.

Part of the ALA contract library — attorney-drafted agreements in clear language, written for the way architects actually work. Four contracts cost more than a year of ALA membership, which includes every document free.