Contract Practice Flashcards
What are the forms of JCT contract
Standard building contract Intermediate building contract Minor works building contract Design and build contract Management building contract Construction management contract Major Project construction contract
What are the forms of subcontract
Short form of sub contract
Contractors design
Sub-sub contract
What is a JCT minor works contract
is designed for smaller, basic construction where the works are simple in nature. For traditionally procured projects
What is a JCT intermediate works contract
is designed for construction projects involving all of the trades and skills of the industry but without specialist or complex building services installations.
What is a JCT construction management contract
is designed for construction projects where the employer appoints seperate trades to carry out the works, and a construction manager to oversee the works for a fee.
What is a JCT management building contract
is for use on construction projects where the client appoints a management contractor to complete the works. construction is completed under a series of seperate works contract
When were JCT building contracts established
1931
What are the forms of NEC contract
NEC4 Engineering & Construction NEC4 Design Build & Operate Contract NEC4 Engineering & Construction Subcontract NEC4 Framework Contract NEC4 Professional Servies Contract NEC4 Supply Contract
What are the options for NEC contracts
Option A: Priced contract with activity schedule
Option B: Priced contract with bill of quantities
Option C: Target contract with activity schedule
Option D: Target contract with bill of quantities
Option E: Cost reimbursale contract
Option F: Management contract
What are some differences between JCT and NEC
JCT offers prov sums, Nec does not,
JCT is a fixed price contract. Option B is, Options C&D are target cost,
JCT has relevant matters and relevant events, time and money are dealt seperatly. NEC contract has compensation event, time and cost are dealt with together
What are FIDC contracts
International federation of Consulting Engineers
What types of FIDC contracts are there
Green Book - Short form, less value that 500,000
Red Book - Conditions of contract for buiding and engineering
Yellow book - Conditions of contract for plant design and build
Silver book - Conditions for EPC / Turnkey projects
What is a letter of intent
a document expressing the intention to enter into a contract at a future date but creates no contractual relationship until that future contract has been entered into.
What is a comfort letter of intent
Expressing interest to act in a particular way at some point in the future or at the time of issuing the letter. Does not form a contract but may impose either or both parties to obligations in relation to payment.
What is a Instruction to proceed with consent to spend letter of intent
A letter with instruction to proceed and content to spend as if in a contract. Allow contractor to proceed before the contratc has been finalized. Legally binding but superseeded after main contract begins.
What are letters recognizing the existance of a building contract
also known as a letter of acceptance and is used by some forms of contract (FIDIC) to formally execute the contract.
What is included within a letter of intent
The parties, The works, The price (if agreed), Statement of intention, Insurances that are to be provided, Termination procedure, Dispute resoloution procedure.
What if time, quality or cost if missing from a letter of intent
Cost - the contractor will be entitled to a reasonable sum that reflects the value of the works “quantum meruit basis”
Time - reasonable time for the completion will be implied
Quality - the contractor must carry out the works with reasonable skill and care notwithsanding statuatory obligations.
What is a retention
a percentage of the amount certified as due to the contractor on an interim certificate that is deducted from the amount due and retained by the client
what percentage is a retention
typically between 3-5% unless stated otherwise in the JCT contract particulars
What are the advantages of a retention
funds rectifying defects,
incentive for contractors to complete the project on time without defects,
incentive for contractors to return for DLP,
offers the client protection against contractor insolvency.
What are the disadvantages of a retention
Contractor is not paid in full for satisfactory work,
5% can repersent a large portion or all of contractor profits,
A subcontractor who comepletes their works may not receive payment for months/ years until the project is complete
What alternatives to a retention were recomended in the pye tait review
Project bank accounts, Retention bonds, Performance bonds, Escrow stakeholdedr accounts, Parent company gaurentees, Retentions held in trust funds
What actions have been taken to improve retentions
2017 - pye tait review,
2018 - bill passed so retentions are held in third party scheme
2019 - persimmon homes let buys hold back a retention until snagging issues are dealt with
2019, build uk published a set of minimum standards for retentions
What is a bond
bonds are means of protection against the non-performance of the contractor.
what are the types of bond
Performance bond, Advance payment bond, Bid bond, Retention bond, Adjudication bond,
What is a performance bond
A performance bond is a form of insuring the client against the risk of the contractor not fufilling their contractual duties. Typically set at 10% of the contract value.
What is a advance payment bond
If the client decides to make an advance payment to the contractor a bond will be required to protect the client in the event of default by the contractor. This as an on demand bond.
What are bid bonds
Rare in the Uk, typically used on international projects submitted with a tender to secure commitment to the project. This as an on demand bond.
What are adjudication bonds
Emerged from PFI/PPP projects, a payable amount due upon the adjudicators decision.
What are retention bonds
the client agrees to pay amounts that would otherwise be held as a retention. The value of the bond decreases after PC.
What is a bondsman
a professional agent, agency or corporation who takes responsability for another persons obligations by signing a bond to that effect.
What is a surety
takes responsability for another persons obligations and may have to undertake payment to the client in the event of non-performance
What is an on demand and conditional bond
on-demand bond - the bondsman pays an amount of money set out in the bond immediately.
Conditional bond - requires the client to provide evidence that the contractor has not performed before the amount stated in the bond is payed
What is a relevant event
Where a delay that impacts the completion date that is not caused by the contractor. This is addressed in section 2.20 of a JCT contract. The contractor may be entitled to an EOT or claim a loss of expense due to direct result of the delay.
What are some examples of a relevant event
Variations or instructions, Exceptionally adverse weather, Civil commotion or terrorism, Failure to provide information, Force majeure e.g. war or epidemic, National strikes, Changes in statuatory requirements,
What are some specified perils under JCT
Fire, Explosion, earthquakes, flooring, aircraft crash
What is the test for exceptionally adverse weather
The contractor has to prove that the weather had been worse than of a specified number of years previous, typically 10.
What are relevant matters
Where the client is responsible for an item that materially affects the progress of the works. This is addressed in section 4.17 of a JCT contract. A relevant matter does not always result in a delay or an EOT
What are some relevant matters
Failure to give the contractor posession of the site,
Failure to give the contractor access to the site,
Delays in receiving instruction,
Issues relating to CDM,
Discrepencies in the contract documents,
Failure of the client to supply goods or materials,
What did the case Balfour beatty v chestermount properties demonstrate
Actual delay is required for a relevant event event. Hypothetical delays are not accepted in court.
What are the JCT insurance options
There are three insurance options. Options A and B are for new buildings and Option C is for works involving existing structures.
What is JCT Option A insurance
For new builds option A requires the contractor to take out and maintain joint names all risks insurance of the works.
What is JCT Option B insurance
For new builds option B requires the employer to take out and maintain joint names all risks for the insurance of the works.
What is JCT Option C insurance
Options C reqiuires the employer to take out and maintain joint names specified perils insurance in respect of the existing structures and contents and all risks insurance of the works.
The contractor is not liable for any damage to the existing structure even if they are negligent.
What are Collateral Warrenties
Collateral warranties are used as a supporting document to a primary contract where an agreement needs to be put in place with a third party outside of the primary contract.
What are some challenges with Collateral warranties
JCT does not issue a Consultant Collateral Warranties. However, they do have a range of collateral warranties for contractors/Subcontractors/Employers/Tenants/Purchasers. It has been noted that clients often claim that industry-standard warranties favor contractors and designers.
Onerous terms that designers or contractors are unable to agree to as their insurers will not provide cover. As a consequence many collateral warranties are bespoke.
On large projects with many consultants and sub-contractors and multiple occupants, there can be a great number of warranties. The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act can offer a way around this difficulty by allowing the primary contracts to confer benefits upon third parties even though they are not a party to that contract.
What is Parkwood Leisure Limited v Laing
A collateral warranty constituted a construction contract for the purposes of the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.
Not all collateral warranties will be construed as construction contracts for the purposes of the Act; that depends on the wording of the warranty
What is the JCT suite of Collateral Warranties?
JCT does not issue a Consultant Collateral Warranties. However, their suite of collateral warrenties include; Contractors/Subcontractos/Employers/Tenants/Purchase
What is a novation agreement
A novation agreement is the process whereby contractual rights and obligations (i.e both benefits and burdens) of a contract are transferred from one party to another.
In building design and construction, novation normally refers to the process by which design consultants are initially contracted to the client, but are then ‘novated’ to the contractor.
This is usual in design and build projects, where the design team is appointed by a client to carry out initial studies or prepare a concept or detailed design. When subsequently a contractor is appointed to carry out or complete the design and construct the works.
What clauses are typically included in a novation agreement
- The parties - Client, Consultant, Contractor (typically)
- Definitions - Defining key terms so they are not open for interpirtation
- Affirmention of consultants apointments
- Warrenties and indemnity in favour of the contractor
- Release from obligations and claims
- Collateral warrenties in favour of the employer
- Governing law and third party rights
Blyth & Blyth Ltd v Carillion Construction Ltd (2001)
It is recomended that contractors enter collateral warrenties with design teams to protect themselves from pre-novation losses