We are the employer on project using NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) Option A (priced contract with activity schedule) and secondary options X5, X7 and X16. Under X5 and X7, we have selected three sections. Are we correct in assuming that a completion certificate for each section should be issued separately? Also with option X16, does this mean that even when completion is certified for say section one, the retention will only halve when all sections are complete and not halve for the value of each section? Finally, can you confirm that there is no such thing as practical completion under ECC, just completion?
In addition, it is important to understand that, unlike other contracts, completion is purely about what state the works are in. The term ‘take over’ is used to describe who is using the works – see clause 35 for that. Take over can occur before, at the same time as, or after completion, depending upon the circumstances set out in clause 35.
If you have used option X5, then a certificate of completion is required to be issued for each section of the works. Note that this certificate must be issued by the project manager within one week of the date that each sectional completion was achieved – see clause 30.2. As such they all need to be issued separately. The same comments apply to the take over of each section, which also has to be certified by the project manager within one week of it occurring – see clause 35.3.
Finally, half of the retention is only released when completion or take over, whichever is sooner, of the whole of the works occurs – see the first line of clause X5.1 and use of the words, ‘the whole of the works’ in clause 16.1. No retention is released for sectional completions or sectional take overs.