The NEC family of contracts are fast becoming the standard procurement route for the majority of the UK Construction sector. The flexibility and simple language of the contract has encouraged its use on a wide variety of projects nationally and internationally.

The growing usage of the NEC Contracts in a wide range of construction projects nationally and internationally has prompted a review of copyright and licensing policy.

The copyright notice within the NEC printed documents states: 

"All rights, including translation, reserved.  The owner of this document may reproduce the Contract Data for the purpose of obtaining tenders, awarding and administering contracts.  Except as permitted by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, no part of this publication may be otherwise reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the NEC Director, Thomas Telford Ltd, 1 Heron Quay, London E14 4JD."

Copyright Licence policy should be taken for the use of NEC Contract documents if the user wishes to:

• store the full contract(s) in any word processing system or electronic system
• reproduce both printed and electronic copies of the contract(s)

Copyright Licence fee is based upon the following options:

• licence for the use of COMPLETE NEC FAMILY OF CONTRACTS throughout an organisation including electronic reproduction and supply to consultants, contractors, sub-contractors etc but excluding the sale of documents in any form both printed and electronic. This option allows unlimited use of all NEC documents on any project of the organisation.
• A continuing licence for the use of particular NEC documents throughout an organisation including electronic reproduction and supply to consultants, contractors, sub-contractors etc but excluding the sale of documents in any form both printed and electronic. This option allows unlimited use of the NEC document on any project of the organisation.
• A one-off licence for use of particular contract(s) on named project(s). This usage as above in relation to the project and again excludes offering documents for sale. The fee depends on the size, value and duration of the project.

NEC3 family of contracts available for copyright licensing are listed below:

• NEC3: Engineering and Construction Contract  
• NEC3: ECC Option A Priced contract with activity schedule
• NEC3: ECC Option B Priced contract with Bill of Quantities
• NEC3: ECC Option C Target contract with activity schedule 
• NEC3: ECC Option D Target contract with Bill of Quantites
• NEC3: ECC Option E Cost reimbursable contract
• NEC3: ECC Option F Management Contract
• NEC3: Engineering and Construction Subcontract 
• NEC3: Professional Services Contract
• NEC3: Engineering and Construction Short Contract
• NEC3: Engineering and Construction Short Subcontract
• NEC3: Adjudicators Contract
• NEC3: Term Service Contract
• NEC3: Framework Contract

All licensees will receive documents in electronic word format only.

If you wish to discuss the copyright licence for your organisation please contact Rekha Thawrani on 020 7665 2303 or E-mail your query at nec@neccontract.com