L3 - Contract Practice Flashcards
What’s the difference between CA and EA?
EA = D&B (also act as QS as QS not listed)
CA = SBC
What is 6.5.1. insurance?
Refers to clause 6.5.1. in JCT contract.
A requirement on the contractor to organise insurance both for themselves and the client.
This insurance provides cover should there be damage to a neighbouring property due to the works that are carried out, and the cause of which is not the result of negligence.
What does JCT DB say about retention?
3% if not stated.
What does JCT IC say about retention?
5% if not stated (95% valued)
2.5% after PC (97.5% valued)
What else did you learn about in Principles of Contract Law? (2)
Examples of the principles, such as:
Acceptance = must be unambiguous, written or oral
Capacity = must be over 18 OR must have ability to carry out works
What is a contract?
A legally binding agreement that recognises and governs the rights and duties of the parties
What’s a bilateral agreement?
a set of promises that each party has made to the other
What’s a unilateral agreement?
only one party will make a promise to do something if the other party actually does something stipulated by the former
What are the 6 principles of contract law?
- Offer
- Acceptance
- Intent
- Consideration
- Capacity
- Legality
What is NEC3 for?
Used for the appointment of a contractor for engineering and construction work, including any level of design responsibility.
It is a suite of construction contracts intended to promote partnering and collaboration.
What are the options under NEC?
I have never used NEC however know the options are:
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 reimbursable contract.
Option F: Management contract.
Option G: Term contract
What are the contract documents required under NEC?
- The form of agreement.
- Conditions of contract.
- Contract data
- Prices, activities schedules and bill of quantities.
- Works information (describing what is to be done on the site).
- Site information
What are the core clauses under NEC? (9)
- General terms.
- Contractor’s main responsibilities.
- Time.
- Testing and Defects.
- Payment.
- Compensation events.
- Title.
- Risk and insurance.
- Termination.
What are Z clauses?
Used to amend standard form NEC contracts. They can be inserted into NEC contracts as a means of adding conditions or amending wording.
Are you aware of any other forms of contract aside from JCT/NEC?
- FIDIC
- ACA
- Complex Projects Contract 2013’ or ‘CPC 2013’.
What are the different FIDIC contract suites?
- FIDIC Red Book (Conditions of Contract for Construction)
- FIDIC Yellow Book (Conditions of contract for Plant & Design-Build)
- FIDIC Silver Book (Conditions of Contract for EPC Turnkey Projects)
What are the differences between JCT DB 2011 and 2016 in terms of payment?
- Contractor in 2016 must submit interim application 7 days prior to due date. (Interim Valuation Date)
- Sub-contractors/sub-sub-contractors (as relevant) must submit their payment application 4 days before the Interim Valuation Date.
- Interim payments would occur monthly prior to practical completion and every two months post practical completion. In the 2016 Edition, interim payments will continue on a monthly basis after practical completion.
What are the differences between JCT DB 2011 and 2016 in terms of insurances?
Under Option C the Employer maintains insurance of the existing structures and contents. Where the Employer is a tenant, home owner or other domestic employer, it is often difficult for the Employer to take out the required insurance. JCT 2016 deals with this by allowing the parties to agree to alternative insurance arrangements.
Are there any other differences between JCT DB 2011 and 2016?
JCT standard forms include provisions for performance bonds and parent company guarantees
JCT 2016 provide a time limited procedure for the prompt assessment of any loss and expense applications by the Contractor. The architect/contract administrator must now assess the claim within 28 days of receipt (14 days from any update). Under JCT 2011 there was no such time limit.
What’s the difference between a Contractr Administrator and Employer’s Agent?
CA = SBC
EA = DB
What’s the difference between the payment timeline in JCT DB 2011 and JCT IC/SB 2011?
SB/IC has Contractor’s Interim Application for Payment date
DB = Interim Application can be submitted as late as the due date
What guidance note does RICS publish on payment timelines?
Guidance Note - RICS Interim Valuations and Payments 2015
What is the payment cycle in JCT DB 2011?
14 days
What is the payment cycle in JCT DB 2016 or SBC?
21 days
What is the payment timeline in JCT SBC 2016?
Valuation period (7 calendar days before due date)
Due Date
Interim certificate issue (5 calendar days after due date)
Pay less notice issue (deadline is 5 days before Final Date for Payment)
Final date for payment (14 days after due date)
What guidance is publsihed on contract selection?
SS - Appropriate JCT contract 2016
What provisions are in JCT SBC 2016? (17)
- CA, QS, Clerk of Works
- NO design responsibility
- NO contractor’s risk for ground conditions
- Sections
- EoT full list of events
- Detailed rules for valuation
- Quotation provision for variations
- CoP covering testing of other work
- Inspection and testing provided for
- Advance payment & advance payment bond
- Retention & retention bond
- Bond in respect for payment for off-site materials
- Loss and expense expressly provided for
- NO Stage Payments - detailed provision
- All 3 insurances
- 3rd party rights + Collateral Warranties
- Arbitration agreement provided for
What provisions are in JCT DB 2016? (17)
- EA (NO QS)
- Design responsibility
- Silent on ground conditions @ contractor’s risk
- Sections
- EoT full list of events
- Detailed rules for valuation
- Quotation provision for variations
- CoP covering testing of other work
- Inspection and testing provided for
- Advance payment & advance payment bond
- Retention & retention bond
- Bond in respect for payment for off-site materials
- Loss and expense expressly provided for
- Stage Payments - detailed provision
- All 3 insurances
- 3rd party rights + Collateral Warranties
- Arbitration agreement provided for
What provisions are in JCT IC 2016?
- CA, QS, Clerk of Works
- NO design responsibility
- NO contractor’s risk for ground conditions (ICD silent)
- Sections
- EoT full list of events
- Detailed rules for valuation
- NO Quotation provision for variations
- NO CoP covering testing of other work
- Inspection and testing provided for
- Advance payment & advance payment bond
- Retention, NO bond
- Bond in respect for payment for off-site materials
- Loss and expense expressly provided for
- All 3 insurances
- Collateral Warranties
- NO 3rd party rights
- Arbitration agreement provided for
What provisions are (are not) in JCT MW 2016? (9)
- NO QS
- NO contractor’s risk for ground conditions
- NO sections
- NO EoT full or restricted list
- NO provisions for testing/opening-up
- Retention on payments
- NO to all bonds/advance payments, off-site materials etc
- NO provisions for warranties/3rd party rights
- Arbitration agreement provided for
What did the unadulterated JCT DB contract say about interim payment applications?
There was no “interim application for payment” date, the contractor could have submitted up to or on the Due Date
Why was the contract amended to allow for a 7-day window?
To give enough time for myself, the QS, to receive, review and return my recommendation prior to the EA issuing his Payment Notice
What’s the difference between contract particulars and amendments?
Contract Particulars “fill the blanks”. The Contract, clauses are already fixed.
Amendments change the clauses, fundamentally changing the contract
Why are contracts amended?
To suit clients needs, many clients have amendments they use on all projects
To change the balance of risk to the benefit of the client or contractor
What’s the structure to a JCT contract?
Agreement Recitals Articles Contract Particulars Attestation Conditions
What are the sections in Conditions? (9) DCCPCIATS
1.1 Definitions
1.2 Interpretation
2 Carrying out the works
3 Control of the Works
4 Payment
5 Changes
6 Injury, Damage and Insurance
7 Assignment, Performance Bonds and Guarantees, Third Party Rights and Collateral Warranties
8 Termination
9 Settlement of Disputes
What are the insurance options in JCT 2016?
A - New Buildings - All Risks Insurance of the Works by the Contractor
B - New Buildings - All Risks Insurance of the Works by the Employer
C - Joint Names Insurance by the Employer of Existing Structures and Works in Extensions to them
What is Insurance Option A?
- New Buildings
- Contractor takes out joint names policy for all risk insurance for the works OR include them on that basis on their Annual Construction policy
What does Insurance Option B - New Buildings - All Risks Insurance of the Works by the Employer entail?
- New Buildings
- Employer takes out joint names policy for all risk insurance for the works OR include them on that basis on their Annual Construction policy
What are articles in a Contract?
- Set out what is agreed between the parties
- Contractor’s obligations (1) and Contract Sum (2)
- Identifies CA/EA
- Identifies QS
- Identifies principal designer
- Identifies Contractor
- Reference to adjudication/arbitration in event of dispute
What are recitals in a Contract?
- Introductory statements at the begining of a contract
- First Recital - name of project + address
- Scene setting, explanatory in nature
What do Contract Particulars in a Contract do?
- Sets out aspects of Contract that are particular to the project, fills in the blanks
e. g. where the ERs/CPs/CSA can be found, drawing references, key dates, sections, payment method, insurance option. - It is a schedule of variables for the agreement and conditions
What is Attestation in a Contract?
What are the options?
The attestation is the process of confirming that something is correct or genuine or that a particular requirement has been met. It may be completed:
- Under seal (signed by both parties, witnessed & made clear it is executed as a deed)
- Under hand (just signed by both parties)
What does “insurance option C - Joint Names Insurance by the Employer of Existing Structures and Works in Extensions to them” entail? What is C1?
- Used for alternations of or extensions to existing structures
- Employer takes out Joint Names Policy for All Risk Insurance for the Works
C1 = If you look at Schedule 3 Insurance Option C the Employer is asked to take out 2 insurances one for Existing Structures (C1) and the other for the Works (C2). The drafting of these clauses assumes that the Employer owns the freehold of the building where the Works are being undertaken and that it has an insurable interest that it wants to protect.
However the Employer may not own the freehold and may hold it under a leasehold interest and the Landlord may therefore insure. In that case the standard Option C obligations may be inappropriate (ie the Employer may not want to or be able to insure the Existing Structures) in which case Option C could be amended to state that the Employer will not insure the Existing Structures but it will insure the Works.
The document that amends Option C is the C1 Replacement Schedule.
Who’s responsible for personal injury or death caused by carrying out the works in JCT DB 2016?
Contractor
Who’s responsible for loss, injury or damage to property caused by carrying out the works in JCT DB 2016?
Contractor
Why are insurances joint name?
Insured parties are unable to claim against one another in respect of an insured loss, as they are considered to be one-and-the-same for the purposes of the insurance.
What are the advantages of joint name insurances?
- neither party needs to take out its own insurance policy, which can lead to dual insurance, unnecessarily increasing the project’s total insurance cost
- it can help avoid costly litigation between the jointly-insured parties who may otherwise try to claim against the other
- The insurer has no rights of subrogation
What’s subrogation?
When an insurance company pursues a third party for damages, it is said to “step into the shoes of the policyholder,” and thus will have the same rights and legal standing as the policyholder when seeking compensation for losses.
What are the implications of waivering the rights to subrogation in an insurance policy?
- No fault claims, so sub-contractor can claim on insurance and the main contractor won’t be sued by sub-contractor’s insurer
- Higher insurance cost
What’s the role of a QS in a JCT DB project?
Not in the contract.
QS acts as a third party validator
Who would advise client on making amendments?
- Ideally no amendments will be made, contracts are designed to be balanced in terms of risk for their procurement route
- Client’s may have their own
- Amendments must go through Lawyers
Have you ever put a contract together?
JCT ICD 2016 - Central London Office Fit Out
JCT DB 2016 - West London Academy
Do you advise on LDs/insurances?
No
- LDs are based on employer’s loss of income/expense in delay, I do not know what that is
- Insurance company to advise on insurances
What are LDs?
Liquidated Damages
Not a penalty. If the contractor does not complete works by agreed PC date, they are to compensate the Employer based on the actual loss of income the Employer would experience.
Generally £X/week
What’s sectional completion?
When a project has different completion dates for different sections of the works. PRE AGREED.
This is common in large projects.
What considerations should you make when incorporating sectional completion into a contract?
- Liquidated damages must be specific to each section
- Retention/retention release must be specific to each section
- EoT clarifications required, i.e. if EoT is required on section 2 will it impact section 3?
- Sectional completion must be specified in EXPRESSED TERMS in the Contract
What happens with regards to commissioning and O&M manuals at the end of a sectional completion?
These items may be left outstanding until practical completion of the whole site.
What are the key considerations for a Contractor for sectional completion?
- Logistics
- Protection of completion sections
- Insurance for all sections at all times
- H&S measures dealing with the risk of construction adjacent to occupied areas
What are the three main types of sub-contractor?
- Domestic sub-contractor
- Nominated sub-contractor
- Named sub-contractor
What is partial possession?
Handing over part of the site before official completion. NOT PRE AGREED