Which statement best describes stop notices on public projects?

• A. To ensure subcontractors are paid by directing the withholding of funds.
• B. To accelerate the project schedule.
• C. To hire additional subcontractors.
• D. To approve change orders.

Answer: (A)

Stop notices are a payment-protection tool on public projects. They let subcontractors or suppliers who aren’t paid instruct the project’s paying party to withhold a portion of the funds due on the project and apply those funds to satisfy the claimant’s unpaid bill. This mechanism ensures those who contributed labor or materials receive payment even if the primary contractor hasn’t paid. It’s not about speeding up the schedule, adding more subcontractors, or approving changes—those are project-management or contract-change actions, not the function of a stop notice.