Rhode Island General Laws Title 37. Public Property and Works § 37-16-27. Application to sureties

(a) If a contractor principal on a bond furnished to guarantee performance or payment on a construction contract and the claimant are parties to a written contract with a provision to submit to arbitration any controversy thereafter arising under the contract, or subject to arbitration as provided in § 37-16-2(b), the arbitration provisions shall apply to the surety for all disputes involving questions of the claimant's right of recovery against the surety. Either the claimant, the contractor principal, or surety may demand arbitration in accordance with the written contract or as provided in § 37-16-2(b) if applicable in one arbitration proceeding, provided that the provisions of § 37-16-3 shall be applicable to any demand for arbitration. The arbitration award shall decide all controversies subject to arbitration between the claimant, on the one hand, and the contractor principal and surety on the other hand, including all questions involving liability of the contractor principal and surety on the bond, but a claimant must file suit for recovery against the surety within the time limits set forth in §§ 37-12-2 and 37-12-5. The arbitration shall be in accordance with this chapter and the court shall enter judgment thereon as provided therein.

(b) The arbitrator or arbitrators, if more than one, shall make findings of fact as to the compliance with the requirements for recovery against the surety, and those findings of fact shall be a part of the award binding on all parties to the arbitration.