Managing Construction Contracts

This book is an introduction to construction contract administration and management, covering the delivery and execution stage of a construction project and the various issues which the contract administrator needs to proactively manage. It can therefore be used as a contract administrator’s resource book covering what needs to be done (and why) to keep a construction project on track from a commercial and contractual perspective. It is particularly appropriate for students and new practitioners from varied construction professions and whilst it covers domestic (UK) projects, it will be particularly useful for those studying and working on international projects where terminology, procedures and legal systems may differ from the UK. The content is split into four parts and is subdivided into easy-to-read chapters replicating the timeline of a project during the construction stage: Part A covers initiating the construction stage, project delivery mechanisms, contract administration and health and safety management; Part B covers managing the construction stage, contractor performance and relationship management; Part C covers finalising the construction stage, project completion and close-out; Part D covers claims and disputes. Introduction to Construction Contract Management will be particularly useful for students enrolled on global construction programmes together with international distance learning students and non-cognate graduates starting out on an international career in construction contract administration and quantity surveying.

This book addresses the process and principles of contract management in construction from an international perspective. It presents a well-structured, in-depth analysis of construction law doctrines necessary to understand the fundamentals of contract management. The book begins with an introduction to contract management and contract law and formation. It then discusses the various parties to a contract and their relevant obligations, whether they are engineers, contractors or subcontractors. It also addresses standard practices when drafting and revising contracts, as well as what can be expected in standard contracts general clauses. Two chapters are dedicated to contract clauses, with one focused on contract administration such as schedules, payment certificates and defects liability, and the other focused on contract management, such as terminations, dispute resolutions and claims. This book provides a useful reference to engineers, project managers and students within the field of engineering and construction management.

Although the legal principles involved in construction contracts and their management and administration are an aspect of general contract law, the practical and commercial complexities of the construction industry have increasingly made this a specialist field. Recognizing this, Construction Contracts is a fully revised edition of the UK’s leading textbook on the law governing this area. Brought up to date with recent cases and developments in the law as it stands at July 2000, this new edition: takes full account of the effects of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, the Arbitration Act 1996, the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 and the changes in the legal system brought about by the Woolf reforms includes extended coverage of financial protection, construction insurance and tendering controls, as well as the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations has been revised to take account of changes to the common standard-form contracts, particularly the New Engineering Contract and the GC/Works family of contracts. Retaining the same basic approach as its successful predecessors, this important text introduces the general principles that underlie contracts in construction, illustrating them by reference to the most important standard forms currently in use.

This Second Edition focuses on the commercial issues of contracting, covering the lifespan of a contract in four stages: inception of need, bid and award, administration, termination. Written from the owners' perspective, it is appropriate for construction managers and contract administrators. New material includes the effects of the computer on construction management practices, the risks and rewards of cross-border contracts and the role of the lawyer.

The definitive contracting reference for the construction industry, updated and expanded Construction Contracting, the industry's leading professional reference for five decades, has been updated to reflect current practices, business methods, management techniques, codes, and regulations. A cornerstone of the construction library, this text presents the hard-to-find information essential to successfully managing a construction company, applicable to building, heavy civil, high-tech, and industrial construction endeavors alike. A wealth of coverage on the basics of owning a construction business provides readers with a useful "checkup" on the state of their company, and in-depth exploration of the logistics, scheduling, administration, and legal aspects relevant to construction provide valuable guidance on important facets of the business operations. This updated edition contains new coverage of modern delivery methods, technology, and project management. The field of construction contracting comprises the entire set of skills, knowledge, and conceptual tools needed to successfully own or manage a construction company, as well as to undertake any actual project. This book gives readers complete, up-to-date information in all of these areas, with expert guidance toward best practices. Learn techniques for accurate cost estimating and effective bidding Understand construction contracts, surety bonds, and insurance Explore project time and cost management, with safety considerations Examine relevant labor law and labor relations techniques Between codes, standards, laws, and regulations, the construction industry presents many different areas with which the manager needs to be up to date, on top of actually doing the day-to-day running of the business. This book provides it all under one cover – for the project side and the business side, Construction Contracting is a complete working resource in the field or office.

Nearly 100 of the most useful business forms and contracts for builders are gathered from builders across the country: sales and marketing forms, contracts, agreements, trade contractor specifications, checklists, orientation and quality control documents, and more. Documents can be downloaded from the CD and customized.

Risk, and the headaches that go wit it, have always been a major part of any construction project -- risk of loss, negative cash flow, construction claims, regulations, excessive changes, disputes, slow pay -- sometimes you'll make money, and often you won't. But many contractors today are avoiding almost all of that risk by working under a construction management contract, where they are simply a paid consultant to the owner, running the job, but leaving him the risk. This manual is the how-to of construction management contracting. You'll learn how the process works, how to get started as a CM contractor, what the job entails, how to deal with the issues that come up, when to step back, and how to get the job completed on time and on budget. Includes a link to free downloads of CM contracts legal in each state.

Understanding and Negotiating Construction Contracts The complexities of construction contracts are made easy with this thorough and readable guide Construction contracts can be complex for both owners and contractors. For contractors, negotiating fair and balanced commercial terms in contracts is just as important as properly managing projects; a properly negotiated contract can mitigate unnecessary risk and unnecessary risk transfer. This, in turn, reduces exposure to financial liability for the contractor and for avoidance of contract claims and disputes. Understanding and Negotiating Construction Contracts provides a comprehensive and readable introduction to the world of construction contracts. Providing, for example, coverage of the four most common types of contracts—lump sum/fixed-price, cost-plus, time-and-materials, and unit-pricing—it promises to reduce uncertainty and allow contractors to enter contractual negotiations with greater confidence to be able to achieve a fair and balanced contract. This updated new edition reflects the up-to-date best practices to understand how to better negotiate the commercial terms and conditions in construction contracts. Readers of the second edition of Understanding and Negotiating Construction Contracts will also find: Updated information on indemnity, insurance, and negotiation An all-new chapter with a contract analysis checklist Real-world examples drawn from small residential, retail, large commercial, and international projects Understanding and Negotiating Construction Contracts is essential for construction professionals and college students studying construction contracts and the liabilities arising out of them.

This book provides an overall understanding of construction contracts, explaining a range of topics with in-depth examples, allowing engineers, site managers, architects, contractors, and other construction professionals in search of information on construction contracts to find it in one place. The volume further serves as a learning tool and a reference guide for students and instructors. Adopting a primarily Canadian perspective, the book provides references from two Standard Contract Documents CCDC (Canadian Construction Document Committee) and FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers) and briefly describes other major contract documents used within USA and UK construction industries.

Construction Contract Administration for Project Owners is aimed at public and private owners of real estate and construction projects. The book is intended to assist owners in their contractual dealings with their designers and their contractors. Most owners are not primarily in the business of designing and building facilities. The fact that their primary business is not design and construction places them at a disadvantage when negotiating, drafting, and administering design agreements and construction contracts because their designers and contractors use these documents every day. This book is intended to assist owners to redress this imbalance by equipping owners to draft and administer contracts so as to protect their interests. The book is aimed at owner personnel with all levels of knowledge in the business of managing projects. It can serve as a comprehensive introduction to drafting and administering design agreements and construction contracts for beginners. For intermediate level personnel, it can serve as a manual to be read to enhance the reader’s skills in this area. For the sophisticated project management professional, it can serve as a resource to be consulted in connection with very specific issues as they arise on a project.