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ENGINEERING CONTRACTS
ENGINEERING CONTRACTS
• Engineering contracts aim to serve a purpose of
building a legal relationship that involves exchange
of goods or service for an agreed consideration
• What stand out from other commercial contracts is
the engineering or technical requirements.
ENGINEERING CONTRACTS
• Engineering contracts calls for a need for negotiation
among parties;
• This essentially is for the purpose of ironing out areas of
the contract to facilitate smooth discharge of obligation
from both parties
• A team with skills in management, technical, financial and legal
evaluates the risks and reward of the contracts. There are four
functions of engineering contracts
1. Planning 2. Achievement of mutual understanding and expectations 3. Financial
management and controls 4. Risk management and allocations
STRUCTURING CONTRACTS
In most Engineering contracts there is a tripart relationship
which has a direct and indirect characteristic between Client,
Client Representative/Engineer (commonly referred as Project
Manager) and the Contractor.
• Direct Relationship
➢ Between Client and Project Manager/Engineer and between Client and
Contractor
• Indirect Relationship
➢ Between Contractor and Project Manager/Engineer
STRUCTURING CONTRACTS
In each Respective Contract there are rights and
obligation for each party to the contract. However, due
to the nature of the Engineering Contract, its
structuring has accommodated the obligations that arise
from the indirect relationship between the Contractor
and the Project Manager/Engineer
Parties to the Contract
Employer Contractor
Project Manager
RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS
OBLIGATIONS RIGHTS
6
STRUCTURING CONTRACTS
➢Change and Variation in Engineering Contract are very common concepts.
➢Nevertheless, there are Changes that are beyond the allowance given in the
condition of Contract thus they require an addendum by consent of both parties.
❖Caution has however been given to the contracts that permit changes/variations
Variation Limit
➢To avoid extreme changes that may have either positive or negative impact to both
the Client and Contractor
➢In addition to setting limit, there is a need to define clearly what is to be termed
as variation and how it should be treated.
➢Most variations/changes are only binding when they have been supported by
appropriate instructions and given approval by authorized personnel.
STRUCTURING CONTRACTS
• Waiver in engineering contract is when there is relaxation of terms of
the contract, however, the same is not to be taken lightly and most
engineering contracts have conditions that does not allow for a waiver.
• Contracts are made for purpose of performance. This therefore call for
steps involved in deliverables. And the most important requirement set
in Conditions of Contract is “Testing and Inspection”
• Testing and inspection is done to confirm achievement of requirement
and specification given.
• For Engineering Contracts when tests and inspection do not meet the
requirements then the contractor is obligated to redo
PRICE
▪ Price: The sum amount of money that has to be paid to acquire a given
service or product.
▪ A price doesn't need to be a selected figure or sum, but it does need
to have a component of certainty.
▪ Subsequent methods of payments that could be used are as :
1. Fixed payment.
2. ‘Cost plus’ Basis.
3. Calculated agreed rates or B.O.Qs and Measurement of labor.
4. Reasonable Remuneration for goods provided or services rendered.
3
PAYMENT TERMS
• Payment terms: Are the conditions of the payment part of work,
typically specified by the Employer to the Contractor.
CONDITIONS OF PAYMENTS
1. One Payment or series of stage payments.
2. If its Stage payments, the ‘milestones’ for every stage payment.
3. The Currency of payment .
4. The tactic of payment.
5. How each payment is to be secured in favor of the employer.
RETENTION MONEY
• The basic idea is for the Employer to have some kind of security for
performance towards the contractor.
• The employer 'retains' some of the price money until a stated date or
period after delivery or completion has elapsed.
• The amount might be 5%-10% of the actual price quoted.
• One way of creating a retention fund is simply by providing for the stage
payments.
• The last stage payment will be retained by the employer until a specific
period of time has elapsed.
PERFORMANCE BONDS OR GUARANTEES
• A performance bond or guarantee is a financial guarantee for
due performance of the contract.
• Contractor may want to negotiate an alternative form of
security against defective performance by the employer.
• Employer holding a performance bond or guarantee has a form
of Security against defective Performance by the contractor.
• Contractors usually seek to use the guarantee as a substitute
for retention money.
Risk and Delivery
4
Risk and Insurance
• One among the important functions in preparing for
engineering contracts is that the assessment of the risks.
• The parties are supposed to be conscious on the risks of
packaging, transport, storage, security, and other areas.
• Both parties may have insurance, but it should be clear which
party's insurer is susceptible to pay if a loss should arise.
• It’s important to understand who bears the danger due to the
laws of 'subrogation', which permit an insurance firm to
form use of the rights of the insured party if a claim arises
and is settled with the insured.
Where does the risk in goods lie?
• The incidence of risk depends upon what the contract
between the two parties actually provides.
1) Unless otherwise agreed, the goods remain at the seller's
risk until is transferred to the buyer, but when the property
in them is transferred to the buyer the goods are at the
buyer's risk whether delivery has been made or not.
2) But where delivery has been delayed through the fault of
either buyer or seller the goods are at the risk of the party
at fault as regards any loss which might not have occurred
but for such fault.
Terms about delivery
• Delivery terms are used to specify goods delivery:
• There are three basic ways in which terms about delivery can
be set out in a contract.
a) The parties can make arrangements, using their own form
of wordings, setting out their own positions as agreed.
b) Alternatively, the parties may make use of expressions (and
corresponding abbreviations) recognized by law.
c) Alternatively, the parties may wish to make use of and to
refer to INCOTERMS in their contract
Delivery and Inspection
•A committee should inspect and count the goods in order to ascertain
whether they are correct and complete in accordance with the
agreement
• In case of a technical or scientific test or experiment, an
expert or qualified person in respect of the goods may be
invited for consultation, or the goods may be sent to that
qualified person for test.
• A committee refuses to accept delivery by making a written
dissenting opinion, the committee shall submit it to the
accounting officer for consideration and decision
Program of Work
A programme must be submitted by the contractor. Engineering contract need
program of work so as to;
➢ To monitor progress of the work.
➢ To control and maintain site facilities.
➢ Interaction of the programme with terms of payment.
➢ Interaction of employers and contractors’ duties.
➢ Interface between the work of one contractor to the work of another contractor
➢ Contractors are obliged to carry out work according to the programme and no changes
whatsoever without the consent of the engineer
Failure of Contract Performance
FORCE MAJEURE
• Circumstances beyond the control of the parties. Disruption of the performance of a contract that do not
radically change it or make it impossible or illegal e.g. bad weather, failure of public utilities etc.
FRUSTRATION
• This occurs due to radical changes in circumstances, beyond the control of either parties in which the
implementation of the contract is impossible or illegal e.g. death of one of the parties, outbreak of war or
destruction of the subject matter of the contract.
BREACH OF CONTRACT
• Occurs when one party makes it impossible to perform the contract by missing a crucial deadline. This
would be self-induced hence the party responsible would be liable to pay for damages.
SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION OF ENGINEERING CONTRACTS
SUSPENSION
Suspension by the contractor involves breach as it would mean failure to
adhere to a programme. Clear provisions for suspension should be identified
by the contactor before the contract is made.
Suspension by the employer involves breach since it undermines the
performance of duties and incurs extra costs for the contractor.
TERMINATION
Engineering Contracts allow for termination by one party thus depriving the other party the right
to terminate the contract, leaving the party to rely on breach of contract putting the party at a
disadvantage. GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION
CONTRACTOR Employer
1.Insolvency of the Contractor Insolvency of the Employer
2.Failure to work as stipulated by the contract Failure to make payments as specified in the contract
3.Negligence of the contract Interfering with the issue of any certificate by the
Engineer
4.Assigning the contract and Suspending the Execution
of work
Replacing the Engineer against reasonable objections
by the Contractor.
Quality & Fitness for Purpose
• The main objective of engineering contract is to have defect free equipment, plant or works which are
specified, fit and free from abnormalities and performed the required standards.
• The specifications of the equipment or works required should be up to a certain standard that is
acknowledged by the engineer in a specific field. It is not just simply a matter of legal content,
documentation and information in the relevant contract.
• Nor is it a matter of commercial, tactical and experienced expertise. Therefore, it is a collection of all
the things a legal and commercial scene in which several ideas intersect and interrelate.
• Note the main aim of this is to show where the responsibilities lie and to explain and clarify the issues if
a problem should occur, who is responsible and what is to be done.
SETTING THE COMMERCIAL SCENE
• The matter of quality and fitness should be any legal action. Making sound decisions, where both
parties set the commercial scene, the following issues should be reflected in contract:
a) The feasibility of the project in terms of technicality
b) The viability of the project in terms of it being commercial.
c) Choice of competent, adequate and reliable contractor
d) Clear directions and specifications
e) Clarity of the responsible parties and the responsibility of parties
f) Early identification of defects and deficiencies and a system for eradication of risks
g) Commercial and Financial leverage through the system of payment and/or security
Quality and fitness for purpose, is simplified in the method of kaleidoscope
Express terms: these are in the
contract documents except where
the contract is made orally.
Implied terms: these are to be
found in the number of acts of the
parliament they are often referred
to as statutory rights and found in
common law
LIABILITIES, EXCLUSIONS AND INDEMNITIES
❑Contract liability is the liability that one party of a contract shoulders
on behalf of another party. the form of liability known as “defects
liability” was looked at.
❑Defect’s liability arises out of a contract existing between two
parties, this means defects liability is contractual in nature.
o Where end user is given a warranty by a manufacturer, the end user
who does not buy directly from the manufacturer the liability is still
contractual, the warranty is enforceable.
❖Defect’s liability is not the only liability that can arise, and the conditions of
each contract should also take account of the other forms of liability.
❖Some of these liabilities may cause death or personal injury to employees or to
third parties.
❖Not only should engineering contracts deal with such liabilities but should also
provide for the taking out and maintenance of the policies of insurance.
For example, breaking a term of the contract by either party, and thereby causes
loss or damage to the other party such as physical destruction of property their
liability may take two possible forms:
✓ The first will be breach of contract which will be the more obvious whereby
there will have been a breach of one or more specific undertakings to take due
to care and the skill.
✓ The other form of liability may exist side by side with the last and the second
form is what is known as “liability in tort”. Consider principal of tort liability
(class reading and discussion)
NEGLIGENCE
Negligence is the one that occurs for frequently and often. Wherever there is an
incident causing personal injury or death, loss off, or damage to property, it arises.
Wherever any person is in a position in which care is expected of them so as not to
cause such a commotion, it arises. This is known as the “duty of care” and has no
relationship at all to the law of contract. It exists simply because the possibility of
injury loss or damage can be foreseen by reasonable people.
Negligence, nuisance, defamation, breach of statutory duty etc are
several different forms of tort or civil wrongs and liability in tort. The
different kinds of tots have grown up separately and each have their own
rules but, in each case, a failure by one person to take care to avoid
injury loss or damage to the other is where the liability come from.
Intellectual Property rights
Intellectual Property is the asset value involved in a commercial transaction. Terms of a contract
should be concerned with the creation of and protection of intellectual property.
Intellectual Property rights capable of being created by Contract.
These are relevant in engineering contracts to keep secrecy of agreements, obligations of
confidence, agreements not to compete and similar agreements.
For a purchaser it helps keep the developments a secret from competitors whilst for a Contractor
it helps keep details of contract e.g. price, secret so that contractor’s bargaining power over
different purchasers is not reduced.
Intellectual Property rights
Intellectual Property rights NOT created by Contract
This is found in the security(indemnity) clause of an engineering contract.
It occurs when one party provides documents to the other of which are to be
made. If these documents infringe the intellectual property right of a third party,
the third party might take action against either or both the contractor or
purchaser. The indemnity clause would place the costs and legal liability on the
party responsible for causing the situation. (class reading and discussion)
MULTIPARTITE ARRANGEMENTS
These are agreements in which multiple parties are involved. This is
allocation and level at which obligations should be carried out by the
parties involved, communications, chain of instructions and how to
handle liabilities in these types of contracts. Multipartite involve
AGENCY, SUBCONTACTING AND FREE ISSUE
AGENT
An agent as perceived by law, is just a channel between the seller and the
buyer, or between an employer and whole-seller. An agent has no contractual
obligations in the issues of warranty and liabilities involved with the products/
items being delivered.
An agent is just the means facilitating the contract between the seller and
the buyer. If there happens to be any issues with warranty and liabilities of
the items supplied, the seller or manufacturer will be directly responsible,
the agent will not be liable.
The form of tender usually indicate commissions or gratuities of fees to be paid to
agents (Read form of Tender)
• SUBCONTRACTOR
The relationship is such that, the employer is in a contractual
relationship with the main contractor, and the later is again in a
contractual relationship with the subcontractor.
In such contracts the employer is in no means supposed to give
instructions to the subcontractor, and if it happens the employer will be
liable for any damages that may occur as result, more in some cases the
employer might even be obligated to pay the main contractor
compensatory damages if any.
NOMINATED SUB-CONTRACTORS
An employer may direct or instruct the main contractor to pick a
certain sub-contractor. This sub-contractor is therefore referred to as
the nominated subcontractor.
In this case scenario, if there happens to be a collateral contract
between the sub-contractor and the employer then the main
contractor is revealed of any liabilities that may happen, on the other
hand, if there is no collateral contract the main contractor remains
responsible.
Under normal circumstances the warranty of items purchased is always
granted to the main contractor of the works and not the end user
(employer). (Discussion on performance security and engaging domestic sub-contractors)
• FREE ISSUE
The free issue creates a direct relationship between the seller/manufacture
and the employer. In this case, the employer obtains good straight from the
seller / manufacturer and issues them to the contractor, either to be used
for the works or during the course of work under contract.
ADVANTAGES OF FREE ISSUE
• With free issue, the employer has a commercial advantage of obtaining
the goods at a lower price considering a higher purchasing power he has.
• Moreover, with free issue the employer has an advantage of obtaining
goods at the exact standard that they require
• Warranty issues become less complicated.
CONSEQUENCES OF FREE ISSUE
•The contractor will not be liable in case of any liabilities of
the goods/items under free issue.
•The employer might in some cases be liable for any issues of
delays or additional costs of the contract that are related to
the free issued goods/items.
Break of responsibility chains in contracts
• The chain of responsibilities in contracts is such that; the employer
instructs the main contractor; the main contractor instructs the sub-
contractor and the sub-contractor instructs the sub sub-contractor.
• This chain of commands and responsibilities creates the order work and
thus the chain of liability in the same manner.
• Major reasons for these break-ups being insolvency between parties
and inequality or incompatibility of terms.
Bonds
Classification of bonds
What are bonds? Why Bonds?
Bonds and guarantees are provided in order to ensure some form of
security to the employer/purchaser. Bonds are mainly classified based
on their functions. i.e.,
1. Tender / Bid bonds these bonds provided in the stages of tenders,
they are usually a small fraction of the tender mount, in most cases
between 1% to 2.5% of the contract value, they can rarely be up to 5%
of the contract value at maximum. The function of this bond is to
ascertain the purchaser with the ability of the contractor to enter other
form of bonds in the contract, when needs be.
Classification of bonds
2. Advance payment or down payment bond is another type of bond.
This is usually paid to the contractor by the purchaser / employer and
it is usually refundable when the contactor becomes insolvent. The
function of this bond is mainly to enable the contractor to kickstart the
work.
3. Performance bonds. These are also known as the classic bonds. The
function of this bond is to provide security for the obligations of the
contractor. This bond may very through a wide range, but normally
between 5% to 15% of the contract value. The goal is to enable the
purchaser to pay a new contractor when the existing contractor
defaults.
How bonds work
• The bond is attached with the contract and the contractor is obligated to fulfill and
submit within a given time, usually seven to 28 days. A bond is a material obligation
and failure to meet this obligation often results into termination of contract.
Things to take note of when making engineering contracts
• A good contract must specify when, where and which goods/items will be free
issued (if any), it must as well put clarity to procedures of dealing with defects of
the goods/items issued whenever needs be.
• Engineers should be keen enough to differentiate between a later of comfort and a
bond / guarantee as they are provided by parent company for their subsidiaries. A
letter of comfort has got no legal value, latter of comfort serves more as a
reference later and gives no guarantee of the contract to be served. Comfort
letters (also called letters of awareness, letters of support, letters of responsibility
and letters of patronage) are a hybrid between a guarantee and making no
commitments at all.
DRAFTING
ENGINEERING
CONTRACTS
1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
2. WORDS, SENTENCES AND
PUNCTUATION
3. ARRANGEMENT AND FORM OF
DOCUMENTS
4. CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT
5. SPECIFICATIONS
6. PAYMENT DOCUMENTS
7. MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS
5
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
In engineering contracts, the contract document is a combination of four (4) major
key documents, that is Conditions of Contract (General and Specific), Specifications,
Drawings and Bills of Quantities or Schedule of rates.
Documents however may vary depending on the type of contract. In this regard,
drafting an Engineering Contract requires skills in the engineering field to describe
the engineering requirement and the other is legal for the purpose of incorporating
the appropriate information that carry legal weight and thus legal relationship.
Drafting contract has not been an easy task even for engineers with high
understanding of the legal field. The key is to have understanding of construction
law. The draftsman needs to take extra care in intention of parties to contract.
Expressed intention in the contract carry weight than what parties think or desire
from contract. Thus, expressed intentions should be put in avoiding use of wording
that may result to alternative interpretations.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
There are five basic rules to follow in drafting;
➢ prepare a contract list with sections and subsections that can be amended over
time to fit all requirements
➢the section and subsection list should be in an orderly flow that a reader can be
able to understand.
➢addition or omission of items in contract clauses especially those adapted from
standard document should be done after careful consideration of its impact to
the overall contract during its implementation.
➢wording of all the documents should use the clearly known technical and legal
language (its important to retain familiar concepts and technical terms)
➢the use of clear and accurate language.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Do’s and Don'ts
➢refrain form the use of words that can be interpreted
differently
➢Selection of words used should be based entirely by
what the content is to address
➢It is important to have logical arrangement of various
document in a contract
➢it is essential to check thoroughly the drafted contract
for signs of errors and ambiguities.
WORDS, SENTENCES AND PUNCTUATION
➢Avoiding ambiguity in the document is very essential and care is given in the
use of grammar.
➢Don’t always follow the “correct” grammar however in the context they are
used they make clear sense.
➢English language is rich of words and phrases may mean one thing and
totally different thing. Th technical words do not have more than one
meaning, those for legal however do not share the same facts
• The legal technique in writing requires a sentence to start with Case,
followed by Condition and Legal subject and concluded by Legal action.
• NOTE: it is key to use short sentences. Simple and straight to the point
sentences are important and they avoid ambiguity.
WORDS, SENTENCES AND PUNCTUATION Cont.
• Avoiding repetition of words and phrases.
• consistency of terminologies during drafting of contract document is very
important, the meaning of words and phrases should not change midway unless for
the entire purpose of changing the word is to alter its meaning in which care
should be taken not to confuse the reader of which is the desired meaning of the
particular word.
• Were there is generalized statement in an Engineering Contract, a further
clarification should be provided within the contract to give emphasise and guide
the user accordingly.
WORDS, SENTENCES AND PUNCTUATION Cont.
• when drafting engineering contracts, qualifying two or more nouns
should be in a way that it does not result in ambiguous statement that
will call for more than one interpretation
• nouns should only be repeated where the use of their pronouns will
bring ambiguity.
• pronouns are used, the use of masculine and feminine should be used
in referring to nouns and in ways that have in years been logically
accepted.
• In legal documents, capital letter is used in each word in the phrase
for defined phrases or words. And where there is use of un-defined
words, the words are written in italic
WORDS, SENTENCES AND PUNCTUATION Cont.
• The use of “shall” and “will” in legal context carry different weight in
meaning. Whereas, “shall” is used for more directive that must be
adhered to compared to the use of “will” that gives a remote
allowance for alternative.
• Draftsman should take caution when referring to period of time.
• In most cases the words “from” are used to indicate the beginning of certain
activity, however literature defines the use of “from” in time means starting the
next day whereas the date mentioned in the word from is not counted. Therefore,
it is more desirable to use phrases like “on and from” or “commencing with” to
include the desired dates.
• The use of days and weeks is more appropriate than the use of months as with
months there are some variations from 28 days to 31days in a month.
WORDS, SENTENCES AND PUNCTUATION Cont.
• Punctuation is very important in giving required meaning to the sentence.
Punctuation like colon, semicolon and dash have been used for defined reasons.
• Colon is usually used to indicating the commencement of item enumeration
within a sentence, a mathematical symbol for ‘is to’ …
• Semicolon have been used to connect two related requirements that would
otherwise be seen as not connected.
• Dash is used at commencement of item enumeration and maybe used with
colon or on its own.
• Other punctuation marks like Commas, Brackets, Inverted Commas, and Hyphens
are used with the same rules applied in English writing.
WORDS, SENTENCES AND PUNCTUATION Cont.
• In engineering contracts, there are phrases that have Provisos, Exceptions,
Conditions, and Qualifications. These are used where there is an alternative,
where a general rule needs to be varied or modified in its application. To avoid
the risk of ambiguity, exceptions or conditions or qualifications should appear
as closely as possible to the matters to which they refer.
• In drafting engineering contracts, references to other contract documents is
inevitable, thus when doing cross referencing descriptions are referred to the
appropriate Condition or Sub-conditions of if the reference is made from
Conditions of Contract; Clauses or Sub-clauses are used when referring to
Specifications and Items are used when referring to Bills of Quantities or
Schedule of Payments.
ARRANGEMENT AND FORM OF DOCUMENTS
Order and Logic
• Avoid ambiguities and discrepancies
• Ease of readability of a document
• Each document and section of a document should be strictly limited
to the topics and matters intended to be addressed therein document
or section.
• The order of handling the varied topics in each document should
conform with the natural logic appropriate thereto document.
• Arrangement of a document depends upon the nature of the
document and the view point of the draftsman.
• Arrange documents forming contract of your choice and discuss effect in case of
changes)
CONDITIONS
OF CONTRACT
Purpose of Conditions of Contract
“Conditions of Contract” defines the parties and their responsibilities to
every other also as their responsibilities for various aspects of the contract.
FUNDAMENTAL LOGIC OF A CONTRACT
Basic logic of the contract must be as follows:
A. Definition of the parties to the contract
B. Duties of the project manager/engineer and his staff
C. Description of works
D. Duties and responsibilities of the contractor
E. Duties and powers of the employer
F. Payments by the employer
G. Settlement of disputes
Commencement and Programme
▪ An important aspect of commencement of any contract is that the contract
planning by the Contractor. This section covers only matters connected with
commencement and programme and will be limited to the following:
a) The commencement of labor and therefore the formal Project manager’s order to
commence
b) The delivering of the location by the Employer and its taking up by the
Contractor.
c) Submission by the Contractor of his programme and of his method of
construction and therefore the project manager’s consent to them.
General Obligations
The general obligation mentioned are those
of the Contractor and isn't intended to
incorporate any of the obligations of the
Employer, but the obligations from the
contractor depends on the wants of the
employer. Variety of basic items common to
most construction contracts:
• Sufficiency of tender.
• Contractor to supply all things required.
• Design by Contractor (where required).
• Safety of operations.
• Quality of the work.
• Sub-contracting.
• Setting out.
• Information to be provided to the PM.
• Patent rights and royalties.
• Materials arising from site clearance and
excavation.
• Transport of outstanding loads.
• Care of the Works.
• Damage to persons and property.
• Insurance.
• Facilities for other works.
Contract Price and Liquidated Damages
▪ This section is concerned with payment to be made by the Employer. Contra-
charges and liquidated damages include deferred payments or payments made
by the Employer to other parties on behalf of the Contractor.
▪ Payments fall into three headings:
a) The Tender Price.
b) Additional payments or reductions resulting from Project Manager’s
instructions or from actions arising from the operation of particular clauses
of the Conditions of Contract.
c) Contra-charges which the Employer is entitled to form in accordance with
the Contract
Certificates and Disputes
The certificate requirements fall under four categories:
a) Payment certificates.
b) Completion certificates and maintenance certificates.
c) Certificates for extension of your time for completion.
d) Certificates associated with various remedies included within the Conditions.
The settlement of disputes that are available to be used on engineering contracts.
These are;
• Arbitration.
• Expert award.
• Conciliation.
SPECIFICATIONS
PURPOSE AND CATEGORIES OF SPECIFICATIONS
The purpose of the specification is to limit the Contractor's methods, materials,
and craftsmanship, either by laying down specific techniques, materials, or
workmanship or by limiting the usage of specific methods.
A specification's provisions can be classified into four categories: -
• General requirements, which include administrative provisions.
• Materials.
• Workmanship.
• Special requirements for manufacturing or construction.
STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS
There are four distinct types of Standard Specifications.
• Company Standard specifications and Clauses
• National Standard contract Specification issued by Government Departments
• Specifications prepared by National Standards organizations
• Codes of Practice prepared by National Standards organizations or co-ordinating
organizations.
Many large industrial and professional organizations have standard specifications.
However, they may need to be updated or overridden by specific needs in many
cases.
MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS
NOT included in contract documentation. Manufacturers have specialized knowledge in
relation to the items they create, and as a result, elements of their documentation are
frequently incorporated into contract specification provisions.
They generally fall into 3 categories: -
• Descriptions and properties of the products
• Recommended clauses to be used in contract specifications
• Instructions for use or erection of the product
GENERAL SECTION
It's common to include a "Definition’s clause" at the start of the General section to
define terminology that appear throughout the Specification. When definitions relate
solely to one portion of the Specification, they may be more conveniently supplied at the
start of that part, eliminating the need for a generic "Definitions" clause. The Logical
basis mainly consists of: -
• Detailed descriptions of the Works
• Definition of the Site
• Specific general requirements for design and construction.
• Administrative requirements.
Payment documents
Payment documents
• Payment documents are forms and contents of schedules, payments and bills that
may differ with the type, character and scope of work, including the type of
contract, which represents financial provisions in detail as part of contract
documentation.
• With respect to payment provisions, contracts can be classified into two main
types:
• 1)Lump sum contracts
• 2)Measure and value contracts
Lump sum contracts
• These are contracts which the contractor is paid by the employer in lump sum for the whole of
the work which was initially described in the contract.
• In accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract, this lump sum is subjected to
adjustments in respect to the variations of the work. These are most common in building work,
mechanical and electrical engineering work and can be used where quantities of various types
of work cannot be fixed or initially accurately defined in some civil engineering work.
• For civil and building engineering works a tender lump sum is usually attached with detailed
bills of quantities which represent all the individual items for work such as material and
equipment supply and of general preliminary work.
Measure and value contracts
• This is the type of contract where the contractor is paid by the employer for the quantity of work carried
out, as weighed and valued in the respected manner, subject to deduction of contra charges as stated and
defined in the contract.
• This type of contract is mostly used by civil engineers and includes bills of quantities in the documentation.
• The bills are used to weigh, measure and value the work carried out in order to arrive at the final contract
sum.
• This can also be used for interim payments, in this type of contract, authorised variations in the works are
valued and measured in accordance with the tender bill items in course of the contract.
BILLS OF QUANTITIES
• Bills of quantities are defined as a list of items giving brief ascertaining
descriptions, particulars and an estimated quantity of work comprising the
execution of the work to be performed.
• Bills of Quantities in a standard format consist of columns with headings for item,
description, unit, quantity, rate and amount.
• First Column is for numbering and listing the item.
• The Second column contains descriptions of items of work, together with headings
and subheadings relating the items to relevant parts of the works.
• Columns 3 and 4 the unit of measurement and quantities of work so that
tenderers can insert the rate and extend amounts in column 5 and 6 respectively.
ITEM TASK/DESCRIPTION UNIT QUANTITY RATE/PRICE AMOUNT
Payment for variations
• Variation something that is slightly different from the usual form or arrangement.
• It is, important to include, within the contract documentation, as much data
concerning the prices for various items of the work as will enable as many as
possible of the variations to be valued at rates Setout in the contract.
• Where bills of quantities or schedules of rates from part of the contract
documentation the prizes and rates in this will be used for valuing those
variations which consists of work similar to the items in the bill or in the
schedule. Items that are dissimilar and the effects of any disruption or
abnormalities to the contract work will still have to be negotiated.
• Project managers' variation orders may have given rise to many serious disputes
incorporating bills of quantities for payments for works involved, hence why it is
advisable to include within the contract documentation as much data concerning
prices for variation items of work.(read and discuss variation order: PPA and PPR)
MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS OTHER CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, BONDS AND
GUARANTEES
Formal Tender
➢Engineering contracts are based upon or referred to, even when the terms of
the contract have been negotiated between the employer and a single
contractor is what is known as formal tender.
➢A big sum of engineering contracts are the results of competitive tendering
based upon documents issued by the employer which include a standard tender
form for submission of the formal tender.
➢Negotiation Report: The agreement reached after negotiation of contract
➢A number of standard conditions have tender forms annexed to them (ICE
conditions, FIDIC Civil and FIDIC M&E conditions) which relates specifically to
those conditions and in each case, there is an appendix which forms part of the
tender setting out specific particulars of matters which are dealt with only in a
general way in the conditions.

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Engineering Contract for project managers..pdf

  • 2. ENGINEERING CONTRACTS • Engineering contracts aim to serve a purpose of building a legal relationship that involves exchange of goods or service for an agreed consideration • What stand out from other commercial contracts is the engineering or technical requirements.
  • 3. ENGINEERING CONTRACTS • Engineering contracts calls for a need for negotiation among parties; • This essentially is for the purpose of ironing out areas of the contract to facilitate smooth discharge of obligation from both parties • A team with skills in management, technical, financial and legal evaluates the risks and reward of the contracts. There are four functions of engineering contracts 1. Planning 2. Achievement of mutual understanding and expectations 3. Financial management and controls 4. Risk management and allocations
  • 4. STRUCTURING CONTRACTS In most Engineering contracts there is a tripart relationship which has a direct and indirect characteristic between Client, Client Representative/Engineer (commonly referred as Project Manager) and the Contractor. • Direct Relationship ➢ Between Client and Project Manager/Engineer and between Client and Contractor • Indirect Relationship ➢ Between Contractor and Project Manager/Engineer
  • 5. STRUCTURING CONTRACTS In each Respective Contract there are rights and obligation for each party to the contract. However, due to the nature of the Engineering Contract, its structuring has accommodated the obligations that arise from the indirect relationship between the Contractor and the Project Manager/Engineer
  • 6. Parties to the Contract Employer Contractor Project Manager RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS OBLIGATIONS RIGHTS 6
  • 7. STRUCTURING CONTRACTS ➢Change and Variation in Engineering Contract are very common concepts. ➢Nevertheless, there are Changes that are beyond the allowance given in the condition of Contract thus they require an addendum by consent of both parties. ❖Caution has however been given to the contracts that permit changes/variations Variation Limit ➢To avoid extreme changes that may have either positive or negative impact to both the Client and Contractor ➢In addition to setting limit, there is a need to define clearly what is to be termed as variation and how it should be treated. ➢Most variations/changes are only binding when they have been supported by appropriate instructions and given approval by authorized personnel.
  • 8. STRUCTURING CONTRACTS • Waiver in engineering contract is when there is relaxation of terms of the contract, however, the same is not to be taken lightly and most engineering contracts have conditions that does not allow for a waiver. • Contracts are made for purpose of performance. This therefore call for steps involved in deliverables. And the most important requirement set in Conditions of Contract is “Testing and Inspection” • Testing and inspection is done to confirm achievement of requirement and specification given. • For Engineering Contracts when tests and inspection do not meet the requirements then the contractor is obligated to redo
  • 9. PRICE ▪ Price: The sum amount of money that has to be paid to acquire a given service or product. ▪ A price doesn't need to be a selected figure or sum, but it does need to have a component of certainty. ▪ Subsequent methods of payments that could be used are as : 1. Fixed payment. 2. ‘Cost plus’ Basis. 3. Calculated agreed rates or B.O.Qs and Measurement of labor. 4. Reasonable Remuneration for goods provided or services rendered. 3
  • 10. PAYMENT TERMS • Payment terms: Are the conditions of the payment part of work, typically specified by the Employer to the Contractor. CONDITIONS OF PAYMENTS 1. One Payment or series of stage payments. 2. If its Stage payments, the ‘milestones’ for every stage payment. 3. The Currency of payment . 4. The tactic of payment. 5. How each payment is to be secured in favor of the employer.
  • 11. RETENTION MONEY • The basic idea is for the Employer to have some kind of security for performance towards the contractor. • The employer 'retains' some of the price money until a stated date or period after delivery or completion has elapsed. • The amount might be 5%-10% of the actual price quoted. • One way of creating a retention fund is simply by providing for the stage payments. • The last stage payment will be retained by the employer until a specific period of time has elapsed.
  • 12. PERFORMANCE BONDS OR GUARANTEES • A performance bond or guarantee is a financial guarantee for due performance of the contract. • Contractor may want to negotiate an alternative form of security against defective performance by the employer. • Employer holding a performance bond or guarantee has a form of Security against defective Performance by the contractor. • Contractors usually seek to use the guarantee as a substitute for retention money.
  • 14. Risk and Insurance • One among the important functions in preparing for engineering contracts is that the assessment of the risks. • The parties are supposed to be conscious on the risks of packaging, transport, storage, security, and other areas. • Both parties may have insurance, but it should be clear which party's insurer is susceptible to pay if a loss should arise. • It’s important to understand who bears the danger due to the laws of 'subrogation', which permit an insurance firm to form use of the rights of the insured party if a claim arises and is settled with the insured.
  • 15. Where does the risk in goods lie? • The incidence of risk depends upon what the contract between the two parties actually provides. 1) Unless otherwise agreed, the goods remain at the seller's risk until is transferred to the buyer, but when the property in them is transferred to the buyer the goods are at the buyer's risk whether delivery has been made or not. 2) But where delivery has been delayed through the fault of either buyer or seller the goods are at the risk of the party at fault as regards any loss which might not have occurred but for such fault.
  • 16. Terms about delivery • Delivery terms are used to specify goods delivery: • There are three basic ways in which terms about delivery can be set out in a contract. a) The parties can make arrangements, using their own form of wordings, setting out their own positions as agreed. b) Alternatively, the parties may make use of expressions (and corresponding abbreviations) recognized by law. c) Alternatively, the parties may wish to make use of and to refer to INCOTERMS in their contract
  • 17. Delivery and Inspection •A committee should inspect and count the goods in order to ascertain whether they are correct and complete in accordance with the agreement • In case of a technical or scientific test or experiment, an expert or qualified person in respect of the goods may be invited for consultation, or the goods may be sent to that qualified person for test. • A committee refuses to accept delivery by making a written dissenting opinion, the committee shall submit it to the accounting officer for consideration and decision
  • 18. Program of Work A programme must be submitted by the contractor. Engineering contract need program of work so as to; ➢ To monitor progress of the work. ➢ To control and maintain site facilities. ➢ Interaction of the programme with terms of payment. ➢ Interaction of employers and contractors’ duties. ➢ Interface between the work of one contractor to the work of another contractor ➢ Contractors are obliged to carry out work according to the programme and no changes whatsoever without the consent of the engineer
  • 19. Failure of Contract Performance FORCE MAJEURE • Circumstances beyond the control of the parties. Disruption of the performance of a contract that do not radically change it or make it impossible or illegal e.g. bad weather, failure of public utilities etc. FRUSTRATION • This occurs due to radical changes in circumstances, beyond the control of either parties in which the implementation of the contract is impossible or illegal e.g. death of one of the parties, outbreak of war or destruction of the subject matter of the contract. BREACH OF CONTRACT • Occurs when one party makes it impossible to perform the contract by missing a crucial deadline. This would be self-induced hence the party responsible would be liable to pay for damages.
  • 20. SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION OF ENGINEERING CONTRACTS SUSPENSION Suspension by the contractor involves breach as it would mean failure to adhere to a programme. Clear provisions for suspension should be identified by the contactor before the contract is made. Suspension by the employer involves breach since it undermines the performance of duties and incurs extra costs for the contractor.
  • 21. TERMINATION Engineering Contracts allow for termination by one party thus depriving the other party the right to terminate the contract, leaving the party to rely on breach of contract putting the party at a disadvantage. GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION CONTRACTOR Employer 1.Insolvency of the Contractor Insolvency of the Employer 2.Failure to work as stipulated by the contract Failure to make payments as specified in the contract 3.Negligence of the contract Interfering with the issue of any certificate by the Engineer 4.Assigning the contract and Suspending the Execution of work Replacing the Engineer against reasonable objections by the Contractor.
  • 22. Quality & Fitness for Purpose
  • 23. • The main objective of engineering contract is to have defect free equipment, plant or works which are specified, fit and free from abnormalities and performed the required standards. • The specifications of the equipment or works required should be up to a certain standard that is acknowledged by the engineer in a specific field. It is not just simply a matter of legal content, documentation and information in the relevant contract. • Nor is it a matter of commercial, tactical and experienced expertise. Therefore, it is a collection of all the things a legal and commercial scene in which several ideas intersect and interrelate. • Note the main aim of this is to show where the responsibilities lie and to explain and clarify the issues if a problem should occur, who is responsible and what is to be done.
  • 24. SETTING THE COMMERCIAL SCENE • The matter of quality and fitness should be any legal action. Making sound decisions, where both parties set the commercial scene, the following issues should be reflected in contract: a) The feasibility of the project in terms of technicality b) The viability of the project in terms of it being commercial. c) Choice of competent, adequate and reliable contractor d) Clear directions and specifications e) Clarity of the responsible parties and the responsibility of parties f) Early identification of defects and deficiencies and a system for eradication of risks g) Commercial and Financial leverage through the system of payment and/or security
  • 25. Quality and fitness for purpose, is simplified in the method of kaleidoscope Express terms: these are in the contract documents except where the contract is made orally. Implied terms: these are to be found in the number of acts of the parliament they are often referred to as statutory rights and found in common law
  • 27. ❑Contract liability is the liability that one party of a contract shoulders on behalf of another party. the form of liability known as “defects liability” was looked at. ❑Defect’s liability arises out of a contract existing between two parties, this means defects liability is contractual in nature. o Where end user is given a warranty by a manufacturer, the end user who does not buy directly from the manufacturer the liability is still contractual, the warranty is enforceable.
  • 28. ❖Defect’s liability is not the only liability that can arise, and the conditions of each contract should also take account of the other forms of liability. ❖Some of these liabilities may cause death or personal injury to employees or to third parties. ❖Not only should engineering contracts deal with such liabilities but should also provide for the taking out and maintenance of the policies of insurance. For example, breaking a term of the contract by either party, and thereby causes loss or damage to the other party such as physical destruction of property their liability may take two possible forms: ✓ The first will be breach of contract which will be the more obvious whereby there will have been a breach of one or more specific undertakings to take due to care and the skill. ✓ The other form of liability may exist side by side with the last and the second form is what is known as “liability in tort”. Consider principal of tort liability (class reading and discussion)
  • 29. NEGLIGENCE Negligence is the one that occurs for frequently and often. Wherever there is an incident causing personal injury or death, loss off, or damage to property, it arises. Wherever any person is in a position in which care is expected of them so as not to cause such a commotion, it arises. This is known as the “duty of care” and has no relationship at all to the law of contract. It exists simply because the possibility of injury loss or damage can be foreseen by reasonable people. Negligence, nuisance, defamation, breach of statutory duty etc are several different forms of tort or civil wrongs and liability in tort. The different kinds of tots have grown up separately and each have their own rules but, in each case, a failure by one person to take care to avoid injury loss or damage to the other is where the liability come from.
  • 30. Intellectual Property rights Intellectual Property is the asset value involved in a commercial transaction. Terms of a contract should be concerned with the creation of and protection of intellectual property. Intellectual Property rights capable of being created by Contract. These are relevant in engineering contracts to keep secrecy of agreements, obligations of confidence, agreements not to compete and similar agreements. For a purchaser it helps keep the developments a secret from competitors whilst for a Contractor it helps keep details of contract e.g. price, secret so that contractor’s bargaining power over different purchasers is not reduced.
  • 31. Intellectual Property rights Intellectual Property rights NOT created by Contract This is found in the security(indemnity) clause of an engineering contract. It occurs when one party provides documents to the other of which are to be made. If these documents infringe the intellectual property right of a third party, the third party might take action against either or both the contractor or purchaser. The indemnity clause would place the costs and legal liability on the party responsible for causing the situation. (class reading and discussion)
  • 32. MULTIPARTITE ARRANGEMENTS These are agreements in which multiple parties are involved. This is allocation and level at which obligations should be carried out by the parties involved, communications, chain of instructions and how to handle liabilities in these types of contracts. Multipartite involve AGENCY, SUBCONTACTING AND FREE ISSUE
  • 33. AGENT An agent as perceived by law, is just a channel between the seller and the buyer, or between an employer and whole-seller. An agent has no contractual obligations in the issues of warranty and liabilities involved with the products/ items being delivered. An agent is just the means facilitating the contract between the seller and the buyer. If there happens to be any issues with warranty and liabilities of the items supplied, the seller or manufacturer will be directly responsible, the agent will not be liable. The form of tender usually indicate commissions or gratuities of fees to be paid to agents (Read form of Tender)
  • 34. • SUBCONTRACTOR The relationship is such that, the employer is in a contractual relationship with the main contractor, and the later is again in a contractual relationship with the subcontractor. In such contracts the employer is in no means supposed to give instructions to the subcontractor, and if it happens the employer will be liable for any damages that may occur as result, more in some cases the employer might even be obligated to pay the main contractor compensatory damages if any.
  • 35. NOMINATED SUB-CONTRACTORS An employer may direct or instruct the main contractor to pick a certain sub-contractor. This sub-contractor is therefore referred to as the nominated subcontractor. In this case scenario, if there happens to be a collateral contract between the sub-contractor and the employer then the main contractor is revealed of any liabilities that may happen, on the other hand, if there is no collateral contract the main contractor remains responsible. Under normal circumstances the warranty of items purchased is always granted to the main contractor of the works and not the end user (employer). (Discussion on performance security and engaging domestic sub-contractors)
  • 36. • FREE ISSUE The free issue creates a direct relationship between the seller/manufacture and the employer. In this case, the employer obtains good straight from the seller / manufacturer and issues them to the contractor, either to be used for the works or during the course of work under contract. ADVANTAGES OF FREE ISSUE • With free issue, the employer has a commercial advantage of obtaining the goods at a lower price considering a higher purchasing power he has. • Moreover, with free issue the employer has an advantage of obtaining goods at the exact standard that they require • Warranty issues become less complicated.
  • 37. CONSEQUENCES OF FREE ISSUE •The contractor will not be liable in case of any liabilities of the goods/items under free issue. •The employer might in some cases be liable for any issues of delays or additional costs of the contract that are related to the free issued goods/items.
  • 38. Break of responsibility chains in contracts • The chain of responsibilities in contracts is such that; the employer instructs the main contractor; the main contractor instructs the sub- contractor and the sub-contractor instructs the sub sub-contractor. • This chain of commands and responsibilities creates the order work and thus the chain of liability in the same manner. • Major reasons for these break-ups being insolvency between parties and inequality or incompatibility of terms.
  • 39. Bonds
  • 40. Classification of bonds What are bonds? Why Bonds? Bonds and guarantees are provided in order to ensure some form of security to the employer/purchaser. Bonds are mainly classified based on their functions. i.e., 1. Tender / Bid bonds these bonds provided in the stages of tenders, they are usually a small fraction of the tender mount, in most cases between 1% to 2.5% of the contract value, they can rarely be up to 5% of the contract value at maximum. The function of this bond is to ascertain the purchaser with the ability of the contractor to enter other form of bonds in the contract, when needs be.
  • 41. Classification of bonds 2. Advance payment or down payment bond is another type of bond. This is usually paid to the contractor by the purchaser / employer and it is usually refundable when the contactor becomes insolvent. The function of this bond is mainly to enable the contractor to kickstart the work. 3. Performance bonds. These are also known as the classic bonds. The function of this bond is to provide security for the obligations of the contractor. This bond may very through a wide range, but normally between 5% to 15% of the contract value. The goal is to enable the purchaser to pay a new contractor when the existing contractor defaults.
  • 42. How bonds work • The bond is attached with the contract and the contractor is obligated to fulfill and submit within a given time, usually seven to 28 days. A bond is a material obligation and failure to meet this obligation often results into termination of contract. Things to take note of when making engineering contracts • A good contract must specify when, where and which goods/items will be free issued (if any), it must as well put clarity to procedures of dealing with defects of the goods/items issued whenever needs be. • Engineers should be keen enough to differentiate between a later of comfort and a bond / guarantee as they are provided by parent company for their subsidiaries. A letter of comfort has got no legal value, latter of comfort serves more as a reference later and gives no guarantee of the contract to be served. Comfort letters (also called letters of awareness, letters of support, letters of responsibility and letters of patronage) are a hybrid between a guarantee and making no commitments at all.
  • 43. DRAFTING ENGINEERING CONTRACTS 1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES 2. WORDS, SENTENCES AND PUNCTUATION 3. ARRANGEMENT AND FORM OF DOCUMENTS 4. CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT 5. SPECIFICATIONS 6. PAYMENT DOCUMENTS 7. MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS 5
  • 44. GENERAL PRINCIPLES In engineering contracts, the contract document is a combination of four (4) major key documents, that is Conditions of Contract (General and Specific), Specifications, Drawings and Bills of Quantities or Schedule of rates. Documents however may vary depending on the type of contract. In this regard, drafting an Engineering Contract requires skills in the engineering field to describe the engineering requirement and the other is legal for the purpose of incorporating the appropriate information that carry legal weight and thus legal relationship. Drafting contract has not been an easy task even for engineers with high understanding of the legal field. The key is to have understanding of construction law. The draftsman needs to take extra care in intention of parties to contract. Expressed intention in the contract carry weight than what parties think or desire from contract. Thus, expressed intentions should be put in avoiding use of wording that may result to alternative interpretations.
  • 45. GENERAL PRINCIPLES There are five basic rules to follow in drafting; ➢ prepare a contract list with sections and subsections that can be amended over time to fit all requirements ➢the section and subsection list should be in an orderly flow that a reader can be able to understand. ➢addition or omission of items in contract clauses especially those adapted from standard document should be done after careful consideration of its impact to the overall contract during its implementation. ➢wording of all the documents should use the clearly known technical and legal language (its important to retain familiar concepts and technical terms) ➢the use of clear and accurate language.
  • 46. GENERAL PRINCIPLES Do’s and Don'ts ➢refrain form the use of words that can be interpreted differently ➢Selection of words used should be based entirely by what the content is to address ➢It is important to have logical arrangement of various document in a contract ➢it is essential to check thoroughly the drafted contract for signs of errors and ambiguities.
  • 47. WORDS, SENTENCES AND PUNCTUATION ➢Avoiding ambiguity in the document is very essential and care is given in the use of grammar. ➢Don’t always follow the “correct” grammar however in the context they are used they make clear sense. ➢English language is rich of words and phrases may mean one thing and totally different thing. Th technical words do not have more than one meaning, those for legal however do not share the same facts • The legal technique in writing requires a sentence to start with Case, followed by Condition and Legal subject and concluded by Legal action. • NOTE: it is key to use short sentences. Simple and straight to the point sentences are important and they avoid ambiguity.
  • 48. WORDS, SENTENCES AND PUNCTUATION Cont. • Avoiding repetition of words and phrases. • consistency of terminologies during drafting of contract document is very important, the meaning of words and phrases should not change midway unless for the entire purpose of changing the word is to alter its meaning in which care should be taken not to confuse the reader of which is the desired meaning of the particular word. • Were there is generalized statement in an Engineering Contract, a further clarification should be provided within the contract to give emphasise and guide the user accordingly.
  • 49. WORDS, SENTENCES AND PUNCTUATION Cont. • when drafting engineering contracts, qualifying two or more nouns should be in a way that it does not result in ambiguous statement that will call for more than one interpretation • nouns should only be repeated where the use of their pronouns will bring ambiguity. • pronouns are used, the use of masculine and feminine should be used in referring to nouns and in ways that have in years been logically accepted. • In legal documents, capital letter is used in each word in the phrase for defined phrases or words. And where there is use of un-defined words, the words are written in italic
  • 50. WORDS, SENTENCES AND PUNCTUATION Cont. • The use of “shall” and “will” in legal context carry different weight in meaning. Whereas, “shall” is used for more directive that must be adhered to compared to the use of “will” that gives a remote allowance for alternative. • Draftsman should take caution when referring to period of time. • In most cases the words “from” are used to indicate the beginning of certain activity, however literature defines the use of “from” in time means starting the next day whereas the date mentioned in the word from is not counted. Therefore, it is more desirable to use phrases like “on and from” or “commencing with” to include the desired dates. • The use of days and weeks is more appropriate than the use of months as with months there are some variations from 28 days to 31days in a month.
  • 51. WORDS, SENTENCES AND PUNCTUATION Cont. • Punctuation is very important in giving required meaning to the sentence. Punctuation like colon, semicolon and dash have been used for defined reasons. • Colon is usually used to indicating the commencement of item enumeration within a sentence, a mathematical symbol for ‘is to’ … • Semicolon have been used to connect two related requirements that would otherwise be seen as not connected. • Dash is used at commencement of item enumeration and maybe used with colon or on its own. • Other punctuation marks like Commas, Brackets, Inverted Commas, and Hyphens are used with the same rules applied in English writing.
  • 52. WORDS, SENTENCES AND PUNCTUATION Cont. • In engineering contracts, there are phrases that have Provisos, Exceptions, Conditions, and Qualifications. These are used where there is an alternative, where a general rule needs to be varied or modified in its application. To avoid the risk of ambiguity, exceptions or conditions or qualifications should appear as closely as possible to the matters to which they refer. • In drafting engineering contracts, references to other contract documents is inevitable, thus when doing cross referencing descriptions are referred to the appropriate Condition or Sub-conditions of if the reference is made from Conditions of Contract; Clauses or Sub-clauses are used when referring to Specifications and Items are used when referring to Bills of Quantities or Schedule of Payments.
  • 53. ARRANGEMENT AND FORM OF DOCUMENTS
  • 54. Order and Logic • Avoid ambiguities and discrepancies • Ease of readability of a document • Each document and section of a document should be strictly limited to the topics and matters intended to be addressed therein document or section. • The order of handling the varied topics in each document should conform with the natural logic appropriate thereto document. • Arrangement of a document depends upon the nature of the document and the view point of the draftsman. • Arrange documents forming contract of your choice and discuss effect in case of changes)
  • 56. Purpose of Conditions of Contract “Conditions of Contract” defines the parties and their responsibilities to every other also as their responsibilities for various aspects of the contract. FUNDAMENTAL LOGIC OF A CONTRACT Basic logic of the contract must be as follows: A. Definition of the parties to the contract B. Duties of the project manager/engineer and his staff C. Description of works D. Duties and responsibilities of the contractor E. Duties and powers of the employer F. Payments by the employer G. Settlement of disputes
  • 57. Commencement and Programme ▪ An important aspect of commencement of any contract is that the contract planning by the Contractor. This section covers only matters connected with commencement and programme and will be limited to the following: a) The commencement of labor and therefore the formal Project manager’s order to commence b) The delivering of the location by the Employer and its taking up by the Contractor. c) Submission by the Contractor of his programme and of his method of construction and therefore the project manager’s consent to them.
  • 58. General Obligations The general obligation mentioned are those of the Contractor and isn't intended to incorporate any of the obligations of the Employer, but the obligations from the contractor depends on the wants of the employer. Variety of basic items common to most construction contracts: • Sufficiency of tender. • Contractor to supply all things required. • Design by Contractor (where required). • Safety of operations. • Quality of the work. • Sub-contracting. • Setting out. • Information to be provided to the PM. • Patent rights and royalties. • Materials arising from site clearance and excavation. • Transport of outstanding loads. • Care of the Works. • Damage to persons and property. • Insurance. • Facilities for other works.
  • 59. Contract Price and Liquidated Damages ▪ This section is concerned with payment to be made by the Employer. Contra- charges and liquidated damages include deferred payments or payments made by the Employer to other parties on behalf of the Contractor. ▪ Payments fall into three headings: a) The Tender Price. b) Additional payments or reductions resulting from Project Manager’s instructions or from actions arising from the operation of particular clauses of the Conditions of Contract. c) Contra-charges which the Employer is entitled to form in accordance with the Contract
  • 60. Certificates and Disputes The certificate requirements fall under four categories: a) Payment certificates. b) Completion certificates and maintenance certificates. c) Certificates for extension of your time for completion. d) Certificates associated with various remedies included within the Conditions. The settlement of disputes that are available to be used on engineering contracts. These are; • Arbitration. • Expert award. • Conciliation.
  • 62. PURPOSE AND CATEGORIES OF SPECIFICATIONS The purpose of the specification is to limit the Contractor's methods, materials, and craftsmanship, either by laying down specific techniques, materials, or workmanship or by limiting the usage of specific methods. A specification's provisions can be classified into four categories: - • General requirements, which include administrative provisions. • Materials. • Workmanship. • Special requirements for manufacturing or construction.
  • 63. STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS There are four distinct types of Standard Specifications. • Company Standard specifications and Clauses • National Standard contract Specification issued by Government Departments • Specifications prepared by National Standards organizations • Codes of Practice prepared by National Standards organizations or co-ordinating organizations. Many large industrial and professional organizations have standard specifications. However, they may need to be updated or overridden by specific needs in many cases.
  • 64. MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS NOT included in contract documentation. Manufacturers have specialized knowledge in relation to the items they create, and as a result, elements of their documentation are frequently incorporated into contract specification provisions. They generally fall into 3 categories: - • Descriptions and properties of the products • Recommended clauses to be used in contract specifications • Instructions for use or erection of the product
  • 65. GENERAL SECTION It's common to include a "Definition’s clause" at the start of the General section to define terminology that appear throughout the Specification. When definitions relate solely to one portion of the Specification, they may be more conveniently supplied at the start of that part, eliminating the need for a generic "Definitions" clause. The Logical basis mainly consists of: - • Detailed descriptions of the Works • Definition of the Site • Specific general requirements for design and construction. • Administrative requirements.
  • 67. Payment documents • Payment documents are forms and contents of schedules, payments and bills that may differ with the type, character and scope of work, including the type of contract, which represents financial provisions in detail as part of contract documentation. • With respect to payment provisions, contracts can be classified into two main types: • 1)Lump sum contracts • 2)Measure and value contracts
  • 68. Lump sum contracts • These are contracts which the contractor is paid by the employer in lump sum for the whole of the work which was initially described in the contract. • In accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract, this lump sum is subjected to adjustments in respect to the variations of the work. These are most common in building work, mechanical and electrical engineering work and can be used where quantities of various types of work cannot be fixed or initially accurately defined in some civil engineering work. • For civil and building engineering works a tender lump sum is usually attached with detailed bills of quantities which represent all the individual items for work such as material and equipment supply and of general preliminary work.
  • 69. Measure and value contracts • This is the type of contract where the contractor is paid by the employer for the quantity of work carried out, as weighed and valued in the respected manner, subject to deduction of contra charges as stated and defined in the contract. • This type of contract is mostly used by civil engineers and includes bills of quantities in the documentation. • The bills are used to weigh, measure and value the work carried out in order to arrive at the final contract sum. • This can also be used for interim payments, in this type of contract, authorised variations in the works are valued and measured in accordance with the tender bill items in course of the contract.
  • 70. BILLS OF QUANTITIES • Bills of quantities are defined as a list of items giving brief ascertaining descriptions, particulars and an estimated quantity of work comprising the execution of the work to be performed. • Bills of Quantities in a standard format consist of columns with headings for item, description, unit, quantity, rate and amount. • First Column is for numbering and listing the item. • The Second column contains descriptions of items of work, together with headings and subheadings relating the items to relevant parts of the works. • Columns 3 and 4 the unit of measurement and quantities of work so that tenderers can insert the rate and extend amounts in column 5 and 6 respectively. ITEM TASK/DESCRIPTION UNIT QUANTITY RATE/PRICE AMOUNT
  • 71. Payment for variations • Variation something that is slightly different from the usual form or arrangement. • It is, important to include, within the contract documentation, as much data concerning the prices for various items of the work as will enable as many as possible of the variations to be valued at rates Setout in the contract. • Where bills of quantities or schedules of rates from part of the contract documentation the prizes and rates in this will be used for valuing those variations which consists of work similar to the items in the bill or in the schedule. Items that are dissimilar and the effects of any disruption or abnormalities to the contract work will still have to be negotiated. • Project managers' variation orders may have given rise to many serious disputes incorporating bills of quantities for payments for works involved, hence why it is advisable to include within the contract documentation as much data concerning prices for variation items of work.(read and discuss variation order: PPA and PPR)
  • 72. MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS OTHER CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, BONDS AND GUARANTEES Formal Tender ➢Engineering contracts are based upon or referred to, even when the terms of the contract have been negotiated between the employer and a single contractor is what is known as formal tender. ➢A big sum of engineering contracts are the results of competitive tendering based upon documents issued by the employer which include a standard tender form for submission of the formal tender. ➢Negotiation Report: The agreement reached after negotiation of contract ➢A number of standard conditions have tender forms annexed to them (ICE conditions, FIDIC Civil and FIDIC M&E conditions) which relates specifically to those conditions and in each case, there is an appendix which forms part of the tender setting out specific particulars of matters which are dealt with only in a general way in the conditions.