NEC4: Practical Applications of the ECC

Overview

The NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) has been developed for the appointment of a contractor for engineering and construction project work, including any level of design responsibility. It provides a modern method for clients, designers, contractors and project managers to work collaboratively to consistently achieve their objectives. People will be motivated to play their part in collaborative management if it is in their commercial and professional interest to do so.

Uncertainty about what is to be done and the corresponding risks and liabilities can lead to disputes and confrontation. The ECC clearly allocates risks, and the collaborative approach will reduce those risks and uncertainty for all the parties.

This workshop style course uses case studies to cover the practicalities of applying the management processes that are an essential part of the NEC4 ECC, providing delegates with invaluable practical guidance on managing an ECC contract.

This training course starts at 09:00 and finishes at 17:00 with refreshment breaks mid-morning and afternoon, plus lunch.
All timings, except the start time, are approximate and may be adjusted to suit natural breaks in the lesson

For this workshop delegates will be split into small groups to review a series of case studies throughout the day which are designed to illustrate how the contract deals with the practical problems that occur on construction and engineering projects.

The topics to be dealt with in these case studies will be chosen by the tutor to suit the experience and competence of the delegates.

Session 1 - Communications

• This covers what types of ECC communications there are, show examples of what pro-formas are available and how to complete the forms.

Session 2 - Early warnings & the Early Warning Register

• The early warning process will be worked through with a mock risk reduction meeting leading to the updating of an early Warning Register.

Session 3 - The Accepted Programme

• Covering questions such as ‘how is the programme produced’ and ‘what does it look like’, ‘what software is available’, ‘how is it revised’ and how to deal with multiple issues.

Session 4 - Compensation events

• The compensation event process is worked through using a series of case studies, answering questions such as how do you notify a compensation event, can you use tendered amounts, what does a quotation look like and how is the compensation event shown on revised programmes and Activity Schedule/Bill of Quantities.

Session 5 - Payment

• Will cover examples of calculating the amount due for main Options A to F, determining Defined Cost and Disallowed Cost, and preparing the Project Manager’s certificate

Session 6 - Summary and open forum

At the end of the course participants should be able to:

• Understand the philosophy of NEC
• Recognise critical ECC clauses and processes, in particular early warning, the programme, communications and compensation events
• Describe how to apply ECC in practice and ensure effective delivery

This course is designed for those working with the ECC form including:

• Project managers
• Contract managers
• Supervisors
• Quantity surveyors
• Clients
• Consultants
• Contractors and their supply chain.

It is designed for those with minimal experience with NEC contracts or the ECC form but can be beneficial to those wishing to recap their knowledge.

Delegates should have completed the ‘NEC4: Introduction to the ECC’ course in a classroom or online, or have on experience of NEC4 ECC projects.