Can Commissioning Authority be contracted through the design firm (architects) as part of the LEED certification contract (CxA would be an employee of the LEED consultant company) and not by the owner directly? The LEEDonline form requires an upload of "the contract between owner and CxA ensuring CxA involvement post-construction". Would it be accepted if the contract is between the architects and the CxA?
Yes, the CxA can be part of the LEED Consultant scope AND the LEED Consultant can be contracted through the architect. Just make sure that the scope is well defined for the commissioning and indicates there is a direct reporting relationship between the CxA and the Owner that does not have to go through any other party.