Thomas Telford welcomes FAC-1 and TAC-1 into its collaborative contract family alongside NEC4

Thomas Telford Limited, commercial arm of the Institution of Civil Engineers has expanded its industry-leading suite with the addition of the Framework Alliance Contract (FAC-1) and Term Alliance Contract (TAC-1). The move means practitioners can now source every major collaborative form and contract - NEC4, FAC-1 and TAC-1 - from one trusted publisher, supported by a single drafting philosophy, integrated guidance and training. 

What FAC-1 and TAC-1 bring to NEC users

• A purpose-built framework alliance option - FAC-1 aligns clients, suppliers and advisers around shared goals, clear communication and continuous learning across multiple projects. 
• A versatile term-maintenance model - TAC-1 helps long-term alliances drive better value, including integration with BIM and other digital tools. 
• Proven performance - FAC-1 is strongly recommended in the UK Government’s Construction Playbook and, together with TAC-1, has already underpinned programmes worth more than £45 billion worldwide. 

Strengthening the team behind the contracts

King’s College Emeritus Professor David Mosey CBE FICE - lead author of FAC-1 and TAC-1 - joins the NEC4 Contract Board, deepening the pool of alliance expertise available to users. “I am delighted that Thomas Telford Limited and the Association of Consultant Architects are collaborating to offer FAC-1 and TAC-1 to a wider client group as part of the NEC family of contracts. I look forward to supporting this initiative” he said. 

Rekha Thawrani OBE, Global Director of NEC Contracts, added: “NEC4 contracts, FAC-1 and TAC-1 are ideally suited to work hand-in-hand. This acquisition will have a positive impact on user experience and ensure that we can offer an integrated, highly experienced and specialist team with an unrivalled level of knowledge when it comes to collaborative contracting and supporting customers throughout project lifecycles”.

Thomas Telford Limited Managing Director Andrea Naylor emphasised the strategic value for the sector: “This is welcome news for the industry. The challenges and complexities of delivering successful construction projects today are vast, and the need to address decarbonisation and sustainability is critical. Ensuring that professionals can draw upon a comprehensive suite of contracts from the NEC family will make it even easier to facilitate the collaborative behaviours and processes needed to achieve true project potential. This acquisition confirms Thomas Telford Limited as the home of collaborative contracting.”  

Availability and next steps

FAC-1 and TAC-1 will be available to purchase alongside the existing NEC suite. In the meantime, practitioners can download joint guidance on using NEC contracts with FAC-1 here: neccontract.com/news/fac1-guidance.