NEC4 Slides
NEC4 Slides
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NEC4 OBJECTIVES
The NEC stated that it had 3 objectives in
drafting NEC4:
Provide greater stimulus to good management
Support new approaches to procurement which
improve contract management
Inspire increased use of NEC in new markets and
sectors
As the NEC4 User Guide states “It was to be
evolution, not revolution”
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HOW HAS THE DRAFTING SOUGHT TO
ACHIEVE THOSE OBJECTIVES?
Greater stimulus to good management – e.g.
Refinements to the early warning and programme
provisions including ‘treated’ acceptance of the programme
Incentivising Scope improvements via whole life cost
provisions (X21) and the cost incentives of the new
Contractor’s proposals provisions (cl 16)
Requirement for the Project Manager, when replying to a
communication, to give reasons “with sufficient detail to
enable the Contractor to correct the matter” (cl. 13.4
Quality management system (new cl 40)
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HOW HAS THE DRAFTING SOUGHT TO
ACHIEVE THOSE OBJECTIVES?
Supporting new approaches to procurement - e.g.
Overhaul of X15 to be a D&B option
Incorporating ECI into a new secondary option X22
Use of new forms such as a multi-party Alliance
Contract and new DBO Contract
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HOW HAS THE DRAFTING SOUGHT TO
ACHIEVE THOSE OBJECTIVES? (CONT.)
New markets and sectors – e.g.
Minimising the differences between the ECC and other NEC
forms (PSC, TSC etc) to flatten the learning curve for new users
Providing enhanced guidance – e.g. 4 volumes of Users’ Guides
dealing with:
establishment of a procurement and contract strategy (Vol 1)
preparing an NEC contract (Vol 2)
selecting a supplier (Vol 3)
managing an NEC contract (Vol 4)
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KEY FEATURES OF ECC4
Basic structure and content unchanged
Numerous terminology changes (not otherwise of
major significance)
Project management refinements
Expanded in-contract cost finalisation mechanisms
Provisions for final assessment to become
conclusive
Incorporation of a party-led dispute avoidance
mechanism via senior representatives process
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TERMINOLOGY CHANGES
Many changes of style rather than substance e.g
Employer becomes Client
Works Information becomes Scope
Minimising differences between the various NEC
contracts
Changes to better reflect reality e.g
Risk Register is re-named the Early Warning Register
and risk reduction meetings become early warning
meetings
Narrowing of the definition of Subcontractor
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NEXT SESSIONS
Time and programme issues
Changes to the payment provisions
Other significant changes
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Programme & Planning implications
Paul Greenwell
NEC3 v NEC4
Paul Greenwell
Who is “against”?
Contractually agnostic?
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Introduction
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What is supposed to happen.
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The Omni-shambles.
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Does NEC4 help? (part 1 of 3)
3 - TIME
■ 31.2 – “A programme admitted for acceptance is in the form stated in the Scope.” –
- ‘You said P6 but we have only got MS Project. Is that OK?
■ 31.3 - PM failure to accept/not accept …… Is this a significant change?
■ 32.1 - Revised programme no longer requires effects of implemented compensation
events …. Or does it? (Refer to 62.2). Will this make Approval of the programme less
contentious? -
■ 31.2 - Time risk allowance v Time liability allowance – no change here.
■ 31.3 - Work information v Scope – Seems different but the definition is the same.
■ 36 – Acceleration – The Contractor can now propose acceleration rather than being
available only at the Instruction of the PM. The impact of acceptance by the PM is set
out within the clause (acceptance of an acceleration quotation includes acceptance of
the revised programme, whereas implementation of a CE quotation does not include
de facto acceptance of the revised programme.)
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Does NEC4 help? (part 2 of 3)
6 CE’s
■ 60.1 - New CE’s
■ (20) PM notifies that quote is not accepted – Can this be used to recover disruption /
management time due to multiple quotation requests?
■ (21) Additional CE’s in Contract Data (not in Z clauses).
■ 61.4
■ “…has not been notified within the timescale.” Added to list of reasons not to change
price and roles. Various switch arounds of assumptions but no apparent changes.
■ 62.2
■ Prospective programme changes remain – impacted programme approach remains
unchanged but see 63.5 below.
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Does NEC4 help? (part 3 of 3)
63 Assessing CE’s
■ 63.1 - The dividing date brought to prominence.
■ “dividing date is” - Date of communication of instruction, notification, certificate, change
of earlier decision.
■ 63.5 – States that the delay to Completion Date due to CE should be measured
against the Accepted Programme current at the dividing date – as previously in 63.3
BUT
…and this is the exciting bit…
■ 63.5 adds the words:
“When assessing delay only those operations which the Contractor has not completed
and which are affected by the compensation event are changed.”
■ 63.8 – The assessment of the effect of a CE includes risk allowances for cost and
time …where these are not CE’s – change of definition.
■ 63.9 – New – the assumption that the Accepted Programme can be changed has
been deleted from 63.9.
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64 Project Manager assessment
■ 65 – Proposed instructions.
■ New – PM may instruct quotation for a proposed instruction.
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And finally….
Key points
■ 31.2 - Submit in the form stated
■ 31.3 - If Project Manager does not notify acceptance – route to acceptance set out.
■ 32.1 – Removal of CE identification in Approved Programme. Will this make approval less
controversial?
■ 63.5 - The dividing line is defined and the limits to impacting as planned programmes may
be clearer:
■ “When assessing delay only those operations which the Contractor has not completed and which are
affected by the compensation event are changed”.
■ Which I take to mean – actual dates remain as actual and impacting of CE starts from that point
(the dividing line?).
■ Therefore when implementing 62.2 – “…the programme for remaining work is altered” only for work
not completed. The Impacted programme proceeds from an As built base not Baseline or last
Approved Programme (whenever that was).
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Is NEC4 better than NEC3?
Marginally
More rearranged
Thank you.
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A final thought
If we rail against NEC4 we are as fish who are angry with the sea.
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25
Changes to Payment Provisions
Nicola Ellis – Special Counsel
INTRODUCTION
Application for Payment
Final Assessment
Defined Cost
Schedule of Cost Components
Short Schedule of Cost Components
Compensation Events
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APPLICATION FOR PAYMENT CLAUSE 50.2
Contractor submits application for payment
before assessment date:
sets out the amount due
include details of how the amount was assessed
in the form stated in the Scope.
Project Manager considers application in
assessing the amount due.
No timeframe but consider giving Project
Manager sufficient time to consider the
application.
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APPLICATION FOR PAYMENT CLAUSE 50.4
If no application is submitted, the amount due is
the lesser of:
“the amount the Project Manager assesses as due at
the assessment date assessed as though the
Contractor had submitted an application before the
assessment date, and
the amount due at the previous assessment date.”
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APPLICATION FOR PAYMENT CLAUSE 50.4
No application, no increase in the amount due.
The amount due may decrease, e.g. delay
damages.
Discourages the Contractor from not making an
application in such circumstances.
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TIMING OF ASSESSMENT DATES
Assessment dates are at the end of each
assessment interval until the Defects Certificate
or a termination certificate (50.1)
No additional assessment at Completion.
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FINAL ASSESSMENT CLAUSE 53.1
Project Manager assesses final amount due, if
any, no later than:
4 weeks after the Defects Certificate or
13 weeks after a termination certificate.
Project Manager gives details of how the amount
is assessed.
Payment is made within 3 weeks of the
assessment or any other date stated in the
Contract Data
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FINAL ASSESSMENT CLAUSE 53.2
If the Project Manager does not assess within
the times stated, the Contractor issues its own
assessment to the Client.
The Client may agree and then pay within 3
weeks or such other time stated in Contract
Data.
No requirement for a default notice to the Project
Manager.
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FINAL ASSESSMENT CLAUSE 53.3
Assessment (by Project Manager or Contractor)
is conclusive.
What if the final amount is not agreed?
A Party must take action in accordance with the
relevant dispute resolution option selected.
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FINAL ASSESSMENT CLAUSE 53.3
If W1/W2 are selected, a Party:
refers to Senior Representatives within 4 weeks of the
assessment,
refers any issues still not agreed to Adjudicator within
3 weeks of list of issues not agreed (or when it should
have been produced)
refers Adjudicator’s decision to the tribunal within 4
weeks of decision.
If W3 is selected, a Party refers to Dispute
Avoidance Board, and then the tribunal within 4
weeks of a recommendation.
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FINAL ASSESSMENT CLAUSE 53.4
Final amount due is changed to reflect:
any agreement between the Parties,
decision of the Adjudicator or DAB unless referred to
tribunal within 4 weeks.
A changed assessment is conclusive of the final
amount due.
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Y(UK)2: HOUSING GRANTS, CONSTRUCTION
AND REGENERATION ACT 1996
Y2.2 – includes when the final amount becomes
due:
If Project Manager assesses after Defects Certificate,
5 weeks after Defects Certificate,
If Contractor assesses after the Defects Certificate,
one week after its assessment,
If Project Manager assesses after termination
certificate, 14 weeks after the termination Certificate.
Above assessments will be payment notices.
Notified sum may be zero
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Y(UK)2: HOUSING GRANTS, CONSTRUCTION
AND REGENERATION ACT 1996
Y2.4 – if the Client terminates for R1-R15
(insolvency), R18 (Contractor default) or R22
(Corrupt Acts) and a certified payment is
outstanding, it is paid unless:
Client notifies Contractor it intends to pay less or
any of R1-R15 occurred after the last date on which
the Client could have notified that it intended to pay
less.
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ACCEPTANCE OF THE DEFINED COST
(CLAUSE 50.9 OPTIONS C, D, E AND F)
Contractor notifies Project Manager when part of the
Defined Cost has been finalised and makes available
any records. Project Manager must review records and
respond within 13 weeks.
If required, the Contractor provides further records or
corrects errors within 4 weeks and Project Manager
reviews and responds within 4 weeks.
Treated as accepted if Project Manager does not notify
within time stated.
Proactively deals with Defined Cost rather than leaving
the Contractor’s records open indefinitely.
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DEFINED COST
Options A and B, Clause 11.2(23)- all cost goes
through the Short Schedule of Cost
Components, including in respect of
Subcontractors.
Options C, D and E, Clause 11.2(23) - all cost
goes through the Schedule of Cost Components,
including in respect of Subcontractors.
Option F, Clause 11.2(25) – amounts paid to
Subcontractors without paying/retaining twice
and the prices stated in the Contract Data.
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FEE
11.2(10) - Single fee percentage replaces
subcontracted fee percentage and direct fee
percentage.
Includes all costs not in Defined Cost together
with profit and risk allowances.
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OTHER MAIN OPTION CHANGES
Prices (Options E and F) – forecast Defined
Cost for the whole of the works. Common
amendment for clarity.
Disallowed Cost (Options C, D, E and F) -
costs incurred only because the Contractor did
not notify of preparation for and conduct of
proceedings against a Subcontractor
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SCHEDULE OF COST COMPONENTS
Options C, D and E.
No option to use SSCC for CEs.
4 – Payments to Subcontractors without taking
account of amounts paid or retained which
would result in the Client paying or retaining
twice.
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SCHEDULE OF COST COMPONENTS
5 – Charges
Deletion of Working Area overhead.
6 and 7 - removal of overhead percentages for
manufacturing and fabrication, and
design.
Replaced with people rates in the Contract Data
applied to total time spent outside of the Working
Areas.
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SHORT SCHEDULE OF COST
COMPONENTS
Only Options A or B.
Payments to Subcontractors
People Rates applied to time spent within
Working Areas
Replicates ‘charges’ section in SCC
No people overhead
Rates for people instead of overhead
percentages for manufacture and fabrication and
design (as in SCC).
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COMPENSATION EVENTS
New compensation events:
60.1(20) – Quotation for a proposed instruction which
is not accepted
60.1(21) – Additional compensation events stated in
the Contract Data
Clause 63.1 introduces a ‘dividing date’
for events arising from the Project Manager or
Supervisor, the date of the communication
otherwise the ‘dividing date’ is the date of the
notification of the compensation event
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PROPOSED INSTRUCTIONS CLAUSE 65
Project Manager may instruct the Contractor to
submit a quotation for a proposed instruction
If the Project Manager does not reply to a
quotation, it is not accepted.
60.1(20) CE is given for quotation which is not
accepted.
Cost of preparing quotations for CEs is no longer
excluded under Options A and B.
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SCOPE CHANGES
Clause 16 Contractor’s Proposals
Contractor may propose changes to the Scope to
reduce cost.
If it is accepted, it is treated as a CE and the Prices
are reduced (using the value engineering percentage
for Options A and B).
X21 Whole Life Cost
the Contractor may propose a change to reduce the
cost of operating and maintaining an asset.
If accepted, not a CE.
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Further significant changes
Inga Hall – Special Counsel
NEW CLAUSES
Corrupt Acts (cl 11.2(5) and 18)
Assignment (cl 28)
Disclosure/publicity (cl 29)
Quality Management System/Plan (cl 40)
Undertakings to Client or Others (X8)
BIM (X10)
Whole Life Cost (X21)
ECI (X22)
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NEW CLAUSES: CORRUPT ACTS
Corrupt Acts
New defined term (cl 11.2(5))
Defined generically rather than with reference to
specific legislation (e.g Bribery Act) to be jurisdiction-
neutral
Z-clause amendment likely to tighten definition
Contractor must not do a Corrupt Act and must take
action to stop a Subcontractor’s/supplier’s Corrupt Act
of which it is or should be aware (cl 18.1, 18.2)
Obligation to flow this down into subcontracts (cl 18.3)
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NEW CLAUSES: ASSIGNMENT
New assignment clause (cl 28):
Either Party notifies the other if they intend to assign
the contract or any rights under it
Only qualification is that the Client may not assign if
the receiving party “does not intend to act in a spirit of
mutual trust and co-operation” – how would the Client
know?
Neither cl 28 or 29 covered in User Guide
Z-clause amendment likely to add ‘usual’ additional
qualifications re restrictions on Contractor’s right to
assign, notice requirements, and numerical limit
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NEW CLAUSES: DISCLOSURE & PUBLICITY
New disclosure and publicity clause (cl 29):
Neither Party to disclose “information obtained in
connection with the works except when necessary to
carry out their duties..” (cl 29.1)
Contractor only to publicise the works with the Client’s
agreement (cl 29.2)
Both very limited provisions, expansion via z-clause
amendment is likely e.g
Defined categories of information
Sources of information
Necessary exclusions (public domain, professional advisers,
employees etc.)
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NEW CLAUSES: QMS
Section 4 (Defects) now begins with a new quality
management system clause:
Contractor obliged to operate a QMS – detailed requirements to
be included in Scope (cl 40.1)
Scope could say no QMS needed but unlikely – most contractors
would operate one anyway
Quality policy statement and quality plan to be provided to the
Project Manager for acceptance within time scales set out in
Contract Data (cl 40.2) – obligation regardless of whether the
Scope requires any particular form of QMS
The Project Manager can instruct the Contractor to correct a
failure to comply with the quality plan (not a CE) (cl 40.3)
Implications of failure to comply with acceptance process not
clear – Disallowed Cost?
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NEW CLAUSES: X8 UNDERTAKINGS
NEC4 now includes a collateral warranties
option:
The undertakings to Others are set out in the Contract
Data (X8.1)
Contractor obliged to arrange for Subcontractor
undertakings to Others and to the Client (X8.2 and
8.3)
Bespoke forms to be included in Scope (no NEC4
forms)
Required to be completed within 3 weeks, but no
sanction if not (likely Z-clause amendment)
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FURTHER SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO
EXISTING CLAUSES
Design and intellectual property rights
Subcontractors
Defects
Liabilities and insurance
Termination
Dispute resolution
Secondary Options
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DESIGN AND IPR
No substantive changes to clauses 20 – 23
New IPR provisions - Not centrally contained in one clause
Cl 22.1
new obligation for Contractor to obtain equivalent rights from Subcontractors
for Client to use Subcontractor’s material
stops short of licence requirements often included via Z-clauses
Cl 74.1
new provision stating that the Contractor has the right to use material
provided by the Client - but only to Provide the Works - and that the
Contractor may make this right available to a Subcontractor
X9 Transfer of Rights
transfer of Contractor’s rights over design materials to Client
Extensions and carve outs to basic position set out in Scope – clause only
as good as content of Scope
Obligation on Contractor to arrange equivalent transfer from Subcontractors
X15 RSC provisions
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DESIGN AND IPR (CONT.)
X15 reasonable skill and care standard has
shifted
No single-point design responsibility drafting,
often added as an additional secondary option
via Z-causes
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SUBCONTRACT ISSUES
Clearer definition of who a Subcontractor is
(11.2(19) to remove ‘routine’ suppliers
Tightening of the Project Manager approval
process in cl 26 i.e. all subcontract documents
(except pricing information) now to be provided
for review, not just conditions of contract
No change to the list of express reasons for non-
acceptance, and Z-clauses expanding that list
are common
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DEFECTS
QMS obligations (cl 40)
Greater clarity over when the Defects Certificate
is issued (cl 44.3)
NEC3- at the later of the defects date and the end of
the last defect correction period
NEC4 – at the defects date if there are no notified
Defects or otherwise at the earlier of
the end of the last defect correction period and
the date when all notified Defects have been corrected
Contractor on the hook until all notified Defects in fact
corrected, rather than being ‘timed out’
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RISKS V LIABILITIES
NEC3 approach:
Anything that was not an Employer’s risk (set out in cl 80.1 s.t Z-
clause amendment) was a Contractor’s risk (cl 81.1)
Nothing could fall between the gaps
NEC4 approach:
Terminology changes to “Client’s liabilities”
Scope of cl 80.1 largely unchanged other than fault/design fault
provision expanded
Matters which are Contractor’s liabilities now listed in cl 81.1 – a
non-exhaustive list
User Guide gives no guidance on the new approach
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LIABILITIES AND INSURANCE
The Contractor’s liabilities (unless stated in the
Contract Data as being Client’s liabilities) listed
in cl 81.1 are liabilities typically covered by
insurance i.e.
Claims and proceedings arising in connection with the
Contractor Providing the Works
Loss of, or damage to the works, Plant, Materials and
Equipment
Property loss or damage
Death or bodily injury
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LIABILITIES AND INSURANCE (CONT.)
Cl 81.1 does not contain any ‘catch all’ provision
regarding other liabilities – Clients likely to seek to
address perceived gap via Z-clause amendment
NEC4 removes reference to “indemnity” with the NEC3
cl 83.1 mutual indemnity provision replaced with
“recovery of costs” provisions
Cl 82.1 – Contractor to pay any cost which the Client has paid
(or will pay) as a result of an event for which the Contractor is
liable
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LIABILITIES AND INSURANCE (CONT.)
Cl 82.2 – Client to pay any cost which the Contractor has paid
(or will pay) to Others as a result of an event for which the Client
is liable – Contractor’s own costs will be recovered through the
CE mechanism
“any cost” reference in cl 82.1 and 82.2 less clear than NEC3
indemnity reference to “claims, proceedings, compensation and
costs” – likely to be narrowed by amendment
Cl 82.3 – NEC3 reduction for contributory fault provision remains
NEC3 cl 82.1 positive obligation on the Contractor to promptly
replace/repair damage to the works etc. until issue of the Defects
Certificate has been deleted
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INSURANCE PROVISIONS
Insurance provisions largely unchanged other than:
New obligation on the Client to provide stated insurances (under
NEC3 only the Contractor had an express obligation to do so) –
cl 83.1
Reference now made to the strength of the insurer’s commercial
position as a factor which the Project Manager can take into
account in accepting insurances – a common Z-clause
amendment (cl 84.1, 86.1)
Reference to PI cover now included in X15
NEC3 cl 85.4 deleted i.e. that any amount not recovered from an
insurer was borne by the party who bore the risk of the event –
significant in the context of the liability gap which potentially now
exists in NEC4 between Client’s liabilities (cl 80.1) and
Contractor’s liabilities (cl 81.1)
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TERMINATION
Termination provisions also largely unchanged,
other than:
NEC3 Employer’s termination for convenience right
(NEC3 cl 90.2) deleted and replaced with a
Secondary Option clause (X11) but procedures and
amounts due unchanged
Termination for a Corrupt Act in certain circumstances
included as a new reason (cl 91.8, R22)
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DISPUTE RESOLUTION (W2)
Provision made in W2.1 for referral to Senior
Representatives if the Parties agree
Process is drafted tightly re length of
submissions and time period allowed for this
stage (W2.1(2), (3))
Not disclosable in any subsequent proceedings
Equivalent provisions also included in W1 and a
new W3 (Dispute Avoidance Board) included –
not applicable for Construction Act contracts
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SECONDARY OPTION CHANGES
X4 – PCG
reference included to PCG coming from the ultimate parent (a common Z-clause
amendment)
scope for the Contractor to proposed alternate mid-structure guarantor instead
X12 – Partnering
now called “multiparty collaboration”
A ‘softer’ in-contract alternate to new Alliancing Contract approach?
X15 – RSC
appears to reverse burden of proof:
NEC3 – Contractor not liable for design defects if he could prove that he used
“reasonable skill and care to ensure that his design complied with the WI”
NEC4 – Contractor not liable unless it failed to carry out design using “the skill and care
normally used by professionals designing works similar to the works”.
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SECONDARY OPTION CHANGES (CONT.)
X15 – RSC (cont.)
may not be consistent with standard PI insurance obligations
‘professionals’ an ambiguous term: cf engineer, architect, D&B builder
Additional provisions at X15.3-X15.5:
Contractor can use material it created under the contract on other projects
unless Scope says otherwise or ownership transferred under other IPR
provisions (X15.3)
New obligation for the Contractor to retain design documents for the period
of retention (X15.4) – linked to common Z-clauses re Minimum Record
obligations and audit rights
PI insurance obligation included at X15.5 (commonly addressed as a Z-
clause amendment to insurance provisions) – not expressly linked to other
Section 8 insurance obligations
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SECONDARY OPTION CHANGES (CONT.)
X16 – Retention
New X16.3 providing for a retention bond if stated in
the Contract Data
Not expressly stated to be in lieu of retention sum, but
clearly the intention
No form of retention bond provided by NEC
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Z CLAUSES STILL LIKELY TO BE NEEDED?
To further develop new provisions e.g
assignment
To address issues which remain unchanged in
NEC4 e.g
Contract Date definition and linkages to a form of
agreement and order of priority clause
Construction-standard warranties and undertakings
regarding deleterious materials, integration with other
works etc.
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