You need a sub for a specific opening in the schedule. Use this subcontractor prequalification checklist to compare the proposed crew, work boundaries, and evidence before award. Fill out one sheet for each candidate. Keep the drawing revision and trade package beside it so every conversation starts from the same assignment.
Start with the company that will sign. Ask who supplies labor, materials, equipment, and cleanup. Write down exclusions, including return visits after another trade finishes. Treat an unanswered item as an open question with an owner and response date.
Do not turn a blank box into a favorable answer because the start date is close.
Ask about the crew assigned to your job. Record the foreman, committed workers, start conditions, and competing commitments. Discuss rough-in and trim separately. Request a callback contact before you need one.
These are suggested interview prompts. They are not a promise that a particular crew can meet your schedule.
Next, ask for comparable work and speak with the references. The North Carolina GC board recommends reference checks and written project details. Board hiring guidance Use those topics to ask about missed handoffs, changes, and return work. Record what the reference says and the scope the sub performed.
Keep opinion separate from documents you reviewed.
Review credentials on their own. In North Carolina, a GC license belongs to its named legal entity. GC licensure itself does not require insurance. Board license FAQ Ask the applicable board about your jurisdiction and trade.
Send policy questions to your insurer or licensed insurance agent.
The ACORD certificate states that policy terms and exclusions control coverage. ACORD certificate specimen
For a North Carolina workers’ comp search, treat the result as a lead for follow-up. The Industrial Commission warns that its coverage database is not proof of insurance and may miss recent or unreported changes. Commission coverage notice
Request direct confirmation from the employer or insurer. Record the question, the answer, and the check date.
Finish with your decision and its conditions. Use award, hold, or decline as your own review labels. A completed sheet records the checks you made. Ask a construction attorney about contractual responsibility before signing a disputed scope or term.
Print note
Print one blank sheet per candidate. Use the section labels in the checklist to group your notes. Attach evidence separately and carry unresolved items forward. Keep private documents in your business records.
Carry the review into the award decision
Use the sub-vetting guide to plan the conversation. The prequalification guide explains how to compare candidate records before award.
For NC work, refer policy questions to the reviewer under the certificate-of-insurance statute. Send subcontracting liability questions under G.S. 97-19 to the insurer and construction attorney.
Return to the construction tools hub for the other quantity checks and printable records.