Comparison of the PSSC with the PSC

The NEC4 Professional Service Contract (PSC) and the NEC4 Professional Service Short Contract (PSSC) have been around for many years. The PSSC is a simplified and shortened version of the PSC, including procedures which are simpler to manage and appropriate for priced contracts of low risk and low complexity.

However, often Clients and Consultants often get used to the PSC and do not consider the shorter version even if it might be more appropriate for the contract in question.

The short contract does not manage the risks in the way the PSC does (e.g. in the PSSC the Consultant includes a quotation with its notification of a compensation event; if a quotation is not accepted the Client makes its own assessment). However, for many relatively straight forward contracts, the PSSC will be the better option.

The new guidance note provides a comprehensive breakdown of the differences between the PSC and PSSC. Developed by Richard Patterson, NEC and Procurement Specialist, Mott MacDonald, with assistance from the NEC Contract Board, the document expands upon existing Mott MacDonald literature and NEC is pleased to be making it more widely available.