SECTION 1 — CONTRACT BASICS (JCT / NEC / FIDIC)
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Q: What is the role of a Contract Administrator?
A: To administer the contract impartially, issue instructions, certify payments, manage variations, and ensure compliance with contract terms. -
Q: What is the difference between JCT and NEC?
A: JCT is more prescriptive; NEC is proactive, collaborative, and uses early warnings and compensation events. -
Q: What is a contract notice?
A: A formal notification required by the contract to communicate claims, delays, or changes. -
Q: What is privity of contract?
A: Only parties to a contract can sue or be sued under it. -
Q: What is a condition precedent?
A: A requirement that must be met before a party gains an entitlement, such as a claim or payment. -
Q: What makes a contract valid?
A: Offer, acceptance, intention, consideration, and certainty of terms. -
Q: What documents form a typical building contract?
A: Conditions, drawings, specifications, schedules, pricing documents, addenda. -
Q: What is precedence of documents?
A: A clause that defines which document prevails if there is a conflict. -
Q: What is a deed vs a simple contract?
A: A deed requires no consideration and has a longer limitation period. -
Q: What is the difference between an instruction and a change order?
A: Instruction = direction by the CA.
Change = instruction altering scope for which the contractor is entitled to payment/time.
SECTION 2 — PROCUREMENT & TENDERING
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Q: What is the purpose of procurement?
A: To secure the most suitable contractor/supplier based on cost, quality, risk, and programme. -
Q: Name common procurement methods.
A: Traditional, Design & Build, Two-stage, Management Contracting, CM at Risk. -
Q: What is two-stage procurement?
A: Contractor engaged early to assist design, then a final negotiated sum later. -
Q: What is tender addendum?
A: A clarification or update issued during tender for bidders. -
Q: What is a tender query?
A: Contractor question during tender requiring client response. -
Q: What is a tender return analysis?
A: Comparison of bids to evaluate compliance, risk, and value. -
Q: What is a contract award recommendation?
A: Formal advice recommending which contractor should be appointed. -
Q: Why use a pre-qualification process?
A: To ensure only competent contractors are invited to tender. -
Q: What is a tender exclusion clause?
A: Statement that tenders may be rejected if non-compliant. -
Q: Role of CA during tendering?
A: Issue documents, answer queries, analyse tenders, advise client.
SECTION 3 — CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION DUTIES
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Q: What is a site instruction?
A: A written direction given by the CA to the contractor. -
Q: What is a confirmation of verbal instruction (CVI)?
A: Written confirmation of verbal direction on site. -
Q: What should the CA check before issuing an instruction?
A: Authority, cost impact, programme impact, necessity. -
Q: What is a variation?
A: Change to the scope, quality, quantity, timing, or sequence of works. -
Q: When can a variation be refused?
A: If it fundamentally changes contract scope or violates contract terms. -
Q: What should be included in an instruction?
A: Description, location, reason, reference, date, and impact request. -
Q: What is a contract programme?
A: The contractor’s planned sequence and timing of works. -
Q: Who owns float in a programme?
A: Generally the contractor, unless contract states otherwise. -
Q: What is an early warning (NEC)?
A: A notice that a risk may impact cost, time, or quality. -
Q: What is risk reduction meeting?
A: NEC meeting to tackle identified risks collaboratively.
SECTION 4 — PAYMENTS & VALUATIONS
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Q: What is an interim valuation?
A: Assessment of work completed to date for payment. -
Q: What is a Payment Notice?
A: Notice stating the amount the payer intends to pay. -
Q: What is a Pay Less Notice?
A: Notice reducing the amount due, giving reasons and calculations. -
Q: What is retention?
A: Sum withheld to ensure completion and remedy of defects. -
Q: What is practical completion?
A: Stage when the works are complete except minor defects. -
Q: What triggers final payment?
A: Issue of Final Certificate after final account is agreed. -
Q: What is the valuation of variations?
A: Based on contract rates, similar rates, market rates, or dayworks. -
Q: How are provisional sums valued?
A: Actual cost of work instructed, replacing provisional allowances. -
Q: What is measured works payment?
A: Payment based on remeasurement rather than fixed quantities. -
Q: What is daywork?
A: Labour, materials, plant priced by time sheets for unforeseen work.
SECTION 5 — DELAYS, TIME, EOT & DISRUPTION
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Q: What is an extension of time?
A: Additional time granted for delays not caused by the contractor. -
Q: What are contractor delay events?
A: Weather, variations, late information, force majeure, employer delay. -
Q: What is float?
A: Spare time in programme sequencing before delaying critical path. -
Q: What is concurrent delay?
A: Two simultaneous delays: one contractor‐risk, one employer‐risk. -
Q: What is critical path?
A: Longest sequence determining overall project duration. -
Q: What is a delay analysis method?
A: Impacted-as-planned, as-built vs planned, time slice. -
Q: What is disruption?
A: Reduced productivity due to events not extending time. -
Q: Evidence required for delay claim?
A: Programme updates, records, notices, productivity logs. -
Q: What is a notice of delay?
A: Formal notice triggering EOT entitlement assessment. -
Q: What are LDs (liquidated damages)?
A: Pre-agreed delay costs payable by contractor if works late.
SECTION 6 — VARIATIONS & CLAIMS
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Q: What makes a variation valid?
A: Issued by authorised person and within contract scope. -
Q: Types of variation?
A: Change in design, quantity, quality, method, sequence, or timing. -
Q: How do you value a change?
A: Contract rates → similar rates → build-up → dayworks. -
Q: What is a claim?
A: Contractor request for additional money/time. -
Q: What is substantiation?
A: Evidence supporting a claim (records, photos, logs). -
Q: What is a loss and expense claim?
A: Compensation for additional cost due to employer events. -
Q: What must a claim include?
A: Notices, cause, effect, entitlement, quantum. -
Q: What is “betterment”?
A: Contractor cannot claim for improved conditions that benefit them. -
Q: What is acceleration?
A: Measures taken to complete earlier—sometimes instructed, sometimes voluntary. -
Q: What is omitted work?
A: Work removed from contractor’s scope via variation.
SECTION 7 — QUALITY, DEFECTS & TESTING
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Q: What is a defect?
A: Work not in accordance with the contract. -
Q: What is the defects liability period (DLP)?
A: Period after completion when contractor must remedy defects. -
Q: What is a snagging list?
A: List of small items needing completion or correction. -
Q: What is latent defect?
A: A concealed defect discovered after DLP. -
Q: What is the CA role in quality control?
A: Inspect works, issue defects notices, ensure compliance. -
Q: What is remedial work?
A: Work done to correct defective construction. -
Q: What is a certificate of making good defects?
A: Confirms defects have been rectified. -
Q: What is performance testing?
A: Tests required to demonstrate system compliance. -
Q: What is non-conformance report (NCR)?
A: Report issued for work that doesn’t meet specification. -
Q: What is quality assurance?
A: Systematic processes to ensure quality (ISO standards).
SECTION 8 — COMMUNICATION & RECORDS
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Q: Why keep site records?
A: Evidence for payments, claims, delays, and disputes. -
Q: What are key project records?
A: Diaries, photos, RFIs, as-builts, notices, programmes. -
Q: What is an RFI (Request for Information)?
A: Query from contractor requiring design clarification. -
Q: Why are meeting minutes important?
A: Create an agreed record of decisions and actions. -
Q: What communication channels must follow contract rules?
A: Notices, instructions, applications, certificates. -
Q: What is a document control system?
A: System for managing project communications and records. -
Q: What are site diaries?
A: Daily logs of labour, weather, progress, delays. -
Q: What should a progress report include?
A: Programme status, risks, cost, quality issues. -
Q: Why is traceability important?
A: Ensures evidence is available for contract decisions. -
Q: What is project correspondence protocol?
A: Rules on writing style, formats, and communication routes.
SECTION 9 — RISK, INSURANCE & HEALTH & SAFETY
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Q: What is risk allocation?
A: Assigning risks to the party best able to manage them. -
Q: Key contractor insurances?
A: Public liability, employer’s liability, CAR insurance, PI insurance. -
Q: What is indemnity?
A: Legal responsibility to compensate for loss. -
Q: What is force majeure?
A: Unforeseeable event beyond parties’ control. -
Q: What is collateral warranty?
A: Contract between contractor/consultant and third party. -
Q: What is CDM (UK)?
A: Construction Design & Management regulations for H&S. -
Q: What is a risk register?
A: Document listing risks, owners, and mitigation actions. -
Q: What is insurance reinstatement value?
A: Cost to rebuild the asset in event of total loss. -
Q: What is a bond?
A: A guarantee by a third party (e.g., performance bond). -
Q: What is professional indemnity insurance?
A: Covers consultants for design/ advice liability.
SECTION 10 — DISPUTE RESOLUTION & FINAL ACCOUNTS
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Q: What is adjudication?
A: Fast-track dispute resolution (28 days). -
Q: What is arbitration?
A: Private, formal dispute resolution with binding decision. -
Q: What is litigation?
A: Court-based dispute resolution. -
Q: What is mediation?
A: Non-binding facilitated negotiation. -
Q: What is a final account?
A: Final agreed sum of contract costs including variations. -
Q: What is the CA role in final account?
A: Validate claims, negotiate, certify final payment. -
Q: What is “without prejudice” correspondence?
A: Communication that cannot be used as evidence in court. -
Q: What is estoppel?
A: Prevents a party from contradicting earlier actions/statements. -
Q: What is repudiation?
A: One party showing intent not to perform contract obligations. -
Q: What is termination for default?
A: Ending the contract due to contractor breach (e.g., non-performance).
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