JS Contract Practice Flashcards
Confidential Project Phase East, what was your advice to the Client on the LoI
My advice to the Client was to avoid using a letter of intent due to the contractual risk it puts the Client at, this included a Loi doesn’t have level of detail and also can lead to not entering contract and exposing client. Risks are there are no provision for LDs, no PC, no EOT, payment done on a quantum merit basis
Confidential Project Phase East, what was your advice to the Client in terms of the retention release?
My advice was that there was no PC certificate issued by the time the CM proposed half retention should be released, therefore half retention should not be released back to the contractor
What is a retention bond?
Retention Bond is a type of Performance Bond that protects the client after the completion of the contract. This provides a guarantee that the contractor (the Principal) will fix any issues after the job / project has finished (even after full payment has been made).
What happens with the retention bond at PC?
Similar to retention, the value of the retention bond would decrease
Can you tell me when the different types of retention are released?
First half of retention is released after PC and the second half after the certificate of making good defects.
Amazon AVOC why did you advise on a JCT intermediate rather than Standard
Size of the project and contract value and the different provisions included within each contract. This included third party rights, schedule 2 quotations, value of project 3% retention and gives full list of events and matters – complexity of the project needed detailed provisions
What are third party rights in a contract?
A right for a person outside of the contract to enforce the benefit of a term in the contract. They must be expressly identified in the contract and the provision must be a benefit to the third party. Can be named specifically or by class (tenant of a building).
What are third party rights an alternative to?
Collateral Warranties
What contract documents did you include in your Amazon IC contract?
Articles of Agreements, Conditions and Schedules, Schedule of Amendments, Drawings, Pricing Document, Specification.
On Amazon POP regarding payment dates, what did you advise your client?
I advised the Client that bank holidays were excluded from the timescales, however, weekends were included. I advised that should the, say due date fall on a bank holiday, it would be moved to the nearest working day, so the Tuesday.
How do payment timescales differ from JCT intermediate to JCT design and build?
The timescales are the same although may change due the amendments. The main difference is that a design and build contract, the contractor submitting their application will dictate the payment dates.
Can you tell me the payment timescales for a JCT IC contract?
IVD, +7=DD +5=PC + 14 = FDP -5 = PL
Can you describe the process for undertaking valuations in accordance with your firm’s quality management system procedural checklist?
Once the contractor’s application was received, a desktop check was undertaken to make sure there were no errors. I then met the contractor on site to view the works in person and took photos to substantiate my assessment.
How did you value materials off site?
I went to site to see that the materials were clearly labelled as the clients and were separate to other materials. I also ensured the items were listed in the contract and a vesting certificate was signed by both contractor and the client
Why would a vesting certificate be used on construction projects?
Items with long lead in times, space constraints on site, materials are of limited supply so buying in advance will ensure they are available.
What’s another form of protection you could use other than a vesting certificate?
Off site materials bond as weaknesses with vesting and supplier retention of title meaning they can still claim ownership in event of insolvency of main contractor
What happens if the EA or CA misses the latest date to issue a payment certificate
Main contractor can put in a valuation and this is deemed to be the value that is due
You mention the client wanted to use a LOI on BP project – what types of things might you expect to see in an LOI
Conditions of appointment, expiry date, spending cap, schedule of activities
What is a prolongation cost?
Contractual mechanism for recovery of extra costs that the contractor may incur as a result of a delayed event caused by the client. In this case, the trade contractor was delayed to late issuing of design from the design team.
Can you give me some examples of relevant matters?
Failure to give possession of site
Delays in receiving instructions
Discrepancies in the contract documents
Instructions relating to expenditure of provisional sums
Issues relating to CDM
Can you give me some examples of relevant events?
Variations
Adverse weather conditions
Civil commotion or terrorism
Failure to provide information
Statutory undertaker’s work