Pursuing or Defending Claims under FIDIC Contracts Regionally & InternationallyBy Khalil T. HasanConstruction Solutions (www.cspk.org)

Almost all construction projects, whatever the size, go through changes which result in additional costs and/or an increased time of the contract. Some examples are;The Employer (or owner) decides to change the original scope of the works, such as, increase the covered area of a building etc.An action/inaction by either the Contractor or the Employer, such as late mobilization of plant and equipment etc.Unforeseeable occurrence by the forces of nature, such as, an earthquake etc.

Majority of construction projects worldwide are administered by the FIDIC forms of contract.FIDIC recognizes the effects of change and has provisions which provide entitlements enabling the contractor to claim the related costs and time. For example;Sub-Clauses 8.4 & 20.1 (FIDIC 1999 Edition)Clauses 44 & 53 (FIDIC 1987 Edition)All Clause references in this presentation, hereinafter, are in respect of, unless otherwise noted, the FIDIC Red Book 1999 Edition.

As a general rule, most of the provisions which entitle the contractor to an Extension of Time (EOT) also provide entitlement to additional costs (such as Prolongation Costs).

Some additional FIDIC provisions which provide entitlements to the contractor to claim for additional costs, either;with profit (e.g. Sub-Clause 1.9 Delayed Drawings or Instructions) or,without profit (e.g. Sub-Clause 4.12 Unforeseeable Physical Conditions) or,just additional payment (Sub-Clause 20.1 Contractors Claims).

Notwithstanding the basis of entitlement, FIDIC stipulates (in Sub-Clause 20.1) a procedure for claims and related notices, which must be followed by contractors.

If the contractor does not comply with the stipulated procedures, a contractor's legitimate claim may be rendered invalid and rejected due to lack of procedural compliance.

Details in respect of such matters have already been discussed by other colleagues and panelists and therefore these will not be repeated.

Irrespective of the cause of action or basis of entitlement, a contractor's claim request must clearly identify what actions or inactions by the Employer (or his agents, including the Engineer) caused the compensable or delay liability and which of the entitlements bear a direct relationship to the financial loss or a schedule impact.

This establishes the all-important cause-effect link that is necessary to support a construction claim.

ESTABLISHING THE CAUSE-EFFECT LINK (Slide 1)

ESTABLISHING THE CAUSE-EFFECT LINK (Slide 2)FIDIC forms typically specify contract clauses for variations, extension of time, order-of-precedence for contract documents, coordination, weather and employers risks etc. Establishing causation in respect of the various contract provisions is essential. Additionally, all contractor claims must be supported by contemporaneous project records and documentation which create the cause-effect link.For the specific case of a delay claim, the crucial element of proof needed should be based on the project schedules used to execute the work.

ESTABLISHING THE CAUSE-EFFECT LINK (Slide 3)Too many projects are transformed from the best of intentions into highly impacted projects that are out of control and headed for claims and disputes. Claims are most often initiated by contractors against employers due to a multitude of employer actions or inactions. Some of the typical employer actions or inactions (causes) that can create cost and schedule impacts are listed below:Late Engineering and Design InformationNumerous and Late Design ChangesLate Delivery of Employer-Furnished EquipmentDefective Employer-Furnished EquipmentImpact from Other Contractors employed by the EmployerLate Approval of Contractor SubmittalsLate Response to Contractor Requests for Information (RFls)Unreasonable objections during work inspections by Employers or their Agents (Engineers)Untimely Approval of Valid Contractor's requests for ChangesLate Possession of Site

ESTABLISHING THE CAUSE-EFFECT LINK (Slide 4)

A contractor must be able to demonstrate, through a cause-effect analysis, how one or many of such causes resulted in a cost or schedule impact to the contractor. In addition, it is also important to evaluate the timing of causes as well as potential impacts to the critical path, if any.For example, in one case, a contractor was claiming late drawings by the Engineer as a reason of overall project delay.Based on a programme analysis, it was confirmed that there was no impact on any project activity which resulted in an overall delay of the project milestones. Therefore, the contractor's claims were unsupported and disapproved due to lack of a cause-and-effect analysis which provided an evidence of the contractors contentions.For obvious reasons, global claims are usually discouraged and difficult to substantiate. For example, multitude of causes such as, design delays, design errors, variations, poor project management decisions, late possession of site etc. Whereas a direct causal link with particular items of the losses is difficult to establish.

EMPLOYERS CLAIMS (Slide 1)Rejection and/or Retesting of the Works (Sub-Clause 7.5)Remedial Works for defective Works (Sub-Clause 7.6)Costs of recovery of delay by contractor (Sub-Clause 8.6)Delay Damages (Sub-Clause 8.7)Failure to Pass Tests on Completion (Sub-Clause 9.4)Extension of Defects Notification Period (Sub-Clause 11.3)Failure to Remedy Defects (Sub-Clause 11.4)Termination by the Employer (Clause 15)Otherwise in connection with the Works(Sub-Clause2.5)Etc.

EMPLOYERS CLAIMS (Slide 2)In order for the Employer to be able to claim his entitlements, FIDIC defines a procedure, under Sub-Clause 2.5, which the employer needs to follow. This procedure requires that;

A notice of an employers claim should be given to the contractor as soon as practicable (unlike the 28-days limit specified by Sub-Clause 20.1 for the contractor).Claim particulars must also be submitted to the contractor. There is no time limit specified, but it can be argued that this must also be as soon as is practicable.The notice (or particulars) may be given by the employer, or if authorized by the employer, the Engineer may give such a notice or submit such particulars.Similar to the contractors claims, the Engineer should carry out a determination of the employers Claims under Sub-Clause 3.5.

Best Practices for Claims Avoidance (Slide-1)The preliminary focus of the parties to any contract should be to follow the principles of claims avoidance. However, if necessary, claims should be, especially those related to an extension of time, handled by experts and not novices who end up manipulating the complexities thus resulting in front of expensive dispute resolution forums.Both parties generally want to avoid claims, but too frequently the contract specifications and construction management practices actually work against them. The key to successful claims avoidance, once the project has been awarded, is to provide the project team with the tools they need to identify problems quickly, measure impacts reliably, and price them fairly in order to resolve changes as they arise and, thus, avoid claims. Although many contracts are drafted with the intention to avoid claims, in reality, some contribute in creating more claims. Also, many widely used construction management approaches actually encourage claims. Both the contract and standard practices can create a claims friendly environment.

Best Practices for Claims Avoidance (Slide-2)Front end tasks should be carried out to eliminate or minimize the possibility of claims and disputes arising from construction contracts and some of these include:Review of contract documents to eliminate possible ambiguities, inconsistencies, conflicts, errors and omissions.Claims and disputes frequently arise due to gray areas in the Contract documents. These may be avoided by well-drafted contract documents.Contract documents generally generate adversarial roles and inhibit the development of teamwork between the parties. In addition, the legal process focuses on blame and restricts problem solving. Special conditions of contract must be drafted by experts trained to resolve disputes.Building codes may be out-of-date, inapplicable, and non-uniform. State-of-the-art codes should be used for the design of a project.Environmental considerations can result in delays. Tender documents should clearly spell out such considerations, such that, these may be taken into account by contractors in their bids.

Execution stage of a project should utilize sound contract administration/management procedures to help a project team successfully defend/win claims and avoid disputes. Some recommendations in this respect are:Regularly update project documentation, such as, correspondence logs, daily reports, accurate minutes of meetings, tracking of technical submittals like drawings and progress photographs etc.There should be a record-keeping system that documents progress and problems as they occur.Events which frequently form the basis of changes and claims include, changes in method of performance due to various reasons, out-of-sequence work and other causes as listed earlier in this presentation. Such events can be avoided by way of timely actions/inactions of all parties.Conflicts must be resolved contemporaneously (at the time these occur) rather than wait till the end of the project.Project cost and schedule control systems are often not sufficiently sophisticated or integrated.

Procedure for Settlement of ClaimsThe procedure for settlement of claims specified by FIDIC is a multi-tier (or several steps) process.

The higher tiers get more and more expensive.

Thus it suits both parties to resolve disputes as early as possible.

Procedure for Settlement of ClaimsTier 1 Engineers DeterminationTier 1 of the procedure for settlement of claims is specified in Sub-Clause 20.1 titled Contractors Claims.The procedure for contractors claims has been dealt at length by earlier panelists and therefore will not be repeated here. Sub-Clause 20.1 requires the Engineer to carry out an Engineers Determination of the contractors claims pursuant to Sub-Clause 3.5.Similarly employers claims (pursuant to Sub-Clause 2.5, as discussed earlier) should also be Determined by the Engineer pursuant to Sub-Clause 3.5.Thus either partys claims must be Determined by the Engineer.Although defined by FIDIC as the Employers Personnel and stipulated to act on behalf of the Employer, the Engineer is expected to issue a FAIR Determination.Referring party must comply with the respective specified procedures. Failing which, the request for a Determination may be disapproved.Once the Engineer issues a Determination, both parties (the Contractor and the Employer) shall give effect thereto unless and until the same shall be revised by the higher tiers of the procedure for settlement of claims.

Procedure for Settlement of ClaimsTier 2 Dispute Adjudication Board (DAB)Tier 2 of the procedure for settlement of claims (DAB) is specified in Sub-Clauses 20.2, 20.3 & 20.4.Sub-Clause 20.2 stipulates a procedure for the appointment of a DAB, which shall be either a sole member or three members.Sub-Clause 20.3 stipulates a procedure to overcome disagreements in respect of appointment of a DAB.The DAB members should be independent and impartial.Where a party disputes an Engineers Determination, the party may, pursuant to Sub-Clause 20.4, refer the dispute to the DAB for its Decision.The DAB will Adjudicate the dispute and within 84 days (or such period as may be agreed by the Parties and DAB) after receiving the reference, a Decision will be given by the DAB.The Decision given by the DAB shall be binding and therefore both parties (the Contractor and the Employer) shall give effect thereto unless and until the same shall be revised by the higher tiers of the procedure for settlement of claims.Notwithstanding the case where a DAB Decision has been given in favour of the Employer, the Contractor shall, unless the Contract has already been repudiated or terminated etc., continue to proceed with the Works with due expedition and without delay.Where a party is dissatisfied with the DABs Decision, then this party may, within 28 days after receiving the Decision, give a notice, pursuant to Sub-Clause 20.4, to the other party of its dissatisfaction.Where DAB has not given a Decision, the rights of the parties remain unaltered in respect of further remedies available under the Contract. A notice of dissatisfaction must still be issued.Where a Decision by the DAB has been given, and no notice of dissatisfaction has been given by either party, then the Decision shall become final and binding.

Procedure for Settlement of ClaimsTier 3 Amicable SettlementWhere a notice of dissatisfaction has been given, both parties shall, pursuant to Sub-Clause 20.5, attempt to settle the dispute amicably before commencement of Arbitration (Tier 4).

The Amicable Settlement process should continue till 56-days after the notice of dissatisfaction was given.

Where the parties agree, amicable settlement process may be omitted. However, Arbitration (Tier 4) may only commence after 56-days after the notice of dissatisfaction was given.

Procedure for Settlement of ClaimsTier 4 ArbitrationUnless settled amicably, any dispute in respect of the DABs Decision (if any) which has not become final and binding, shall be finally settled by international arbitration (Sub-Clause 20.6).Stipulated procedure by FIDIC, unless otherwise agreed by the parties, is to finally settle disputes under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce.Either party who is dissatisfied with the Decision given by DAB, may commence Arbitration.Arbitration may commence prior to or after the completion of the Works, provided that the obligations of the Employer, the Engineer and the Contractor shall not be altered by reason of the arbitration being conducted during the progress of the Works.Generally all costs of arbitration shall initially be shared equally between the Parties, but the Arbitral Tribunal shall have the right, when making its award, to allocate such costs between the Parties as it shall so decide.

Wish List for future FIDIC Updates (Slide-1)The objective of this section is to bring to the attention of the FIDIC Drafting Committee, the experiences of the author in respect of recurring disputes on a multitude of projects. This is in no way to be implied as a criticism of the existing provisions of the 1999 version of FIDIC forms.It is acknowledged that the existing provisions have been drafted after taking account of various factors which may not be in the knowledge of the author and the suggestions in the following slides are merely meant to assist the drafting committee in arriving at possible updates of some of the existing provisions.The following wish list is limited to the subject of this presentation - Claims and their respective settlement procedures.

Wish List for future FIDIC Updates (Slide-2)Time-bar provisions for claim notices under Sub-Clause 20.1

Time-bar provisions for a claim notice under Sub-clause 20.1 are a condition precedent for a claim to be approved. Generally the contractors consider this provision to be punitive and in cases to be unfair.The primary objective of time-bar on a notice is to alert the other party such that the cause of notice may be prevented, if possible. A secondary objective is to permit the evaluation of a claim contemporaneously, such that memories are fresh and that this may actually be of help to the contractors. Both objectives are important and should remain in place. However, a possible alternative could be an early warning notice as defined by the NEC3 Contract forms. The objective to timely alert remains intact without actually having punitive consequences for the contractors.The time-bar on submission of claim particulars and on the period permitted to the Engineer for an assessment and Determination should remain unchanged as these have obvious benefits for both parties.

Wish List for future FIDIC Updates (Slide-3)Conflicts of Time-bar provisions for claims under Sub-Clause 20.1 It is usually argued, in Islamic law countries, that the time-bar provisions of Sub-Clause 20.1 conflict with the Islamic law, which, in principle, does not time bar any remedies at law. Pursuant to Sub-Clause 1.4, the Islamic Law may be the governing law for a contract and may thus override Sub-Clause 20.1.For the sake of consistency worldwide and for elimination of disputes on this matter, it is suggested to explicitly make 20.1 be the governing clause, such that this supersedes any other conflicts.

Wish List for future FIDIC Updates (Slide-4)DAB discretion to override Time-bar provisions for claim notices in the FIDIC Gold Book 2008Sub-Clause 20.1 of the Gold Book, in respect of submission period of claim notices, stipulates;However, if the Contractor considers there are circumstances which justify the late submission, he may submit the details to the DAB for a ruling. If the DAB considers that, in all the circumstances, it is fair and reasonable that the late submission be accepted, the DAB shall have the authority to overrule the relevant 28 day limit Evidence of a justification for late submission of claim notices, may itself be contentious and therefore it is suggested that similar discretion may be avoided in the updates of other FIDIC forms like the Red Book etc.

Wish List for future FIDIC Updates (Slide-5)Replacement of the word Payment under Sub-Clause 20.1The word payment under Sub-Clause 20.1 could be replaced by the word Costs as defined under Sub-Clause 1.1.4.3. This should bring clarity that additional payment claims must be based on incurred (with evidence), as opposed to theoretical costs.

Wish List for future FIDIC Updates (Slide-6)EOT Particulars under Sub-Clause 20.1Under Sub-Clause 20.1, for the case of an Extension of Time (EOT) claim, the supporting particulars should require the contractor to submit a cause-and-effect programme analysis prepared within the guidelines of industry standards like the SCL Protocol.

Wish List for future FIDIC Updates (Slide-7)Extension of Time (EOT) Provisions of Sub-Clause 8.4The most common construction claims worldwide relate to an Extension of Time (EOT).FIDIC recognizes delay, however, the principles of how delay and related costs should be calculated are not defined by FIDIC. This leads to issues; issues which are usually contentious due to various 'schools of thoughts' and varied interpretations existing worldwide.If not explicitly made reference to, it is suggested that Sub-Clause 8.4 should be re-drafted to ensure this takes account of the principles set out by the Society of Construction Laws Delay and Disruption Protocol (SCL Protocol). In this context, the suggested additional paragraphs at the end of Sub-Clause 8.4 could be in line with the following;The Engineer's Determination of an EOT should be assessed such that each cause is dealt independently of other causes; other causes, some of which may be the liability of the Contractor. Other causes, even if some of these are due to actions/inactions of the Contractor, should not reduce the Contractor's entitlement to an EOT. Actions/inactions of the Contractor having a bearing on the cause of delay under evaluation, should however be taken into account in respect of its effect on the Time for Completion of the Works.The Contractor's entitlement for the recovery of additional payments, resulting from an extended Time for Completion of the Works, should be assessed taking account of all causes (whichever Party may be liable for these).

Wish List for future FIDIC Updates (Slide-8)Mandatory Appointment of a DABThe use of dispute boards (e.g. DABs) in the construction industry has over many years significantly contributed to the avoidance and early resolution of disputes. The great benefit of using a standing dispute board is that its members may be called upon as soon as a problem arises and help the parties resolve their differences before they become polarized in their views.

The dispute avoidance role of a standing board should be emphasized: the DAB encourages the parties to solve their own problems, creating an atmosphere where the parties communicate and recourse to the advisory role of the dispute board. Resolving conflicts at an early stage, or even before they arise, is an obvious benefit that greatly reduces costs such as legal fees, and reduces loss of productive time and goodwill between the parties.

It is not uncommon that one of the parties will resist the appointment of a DAB. This may be to avoid the costs associated with DAB or otherwise. With the obvious benefits of a DAB (especially of a standing Board), it may be prudent to bind the parties to setup a DAB at the outset of a project. Alternatively punitive deductions (or reimbursements, as the case maybe) could be linked thereto.

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www.cspk.orgThis Lecture was delivered by the Managing Partner of Construction Solutions (www.cspk.org), Mr. Khalil Tayab Hasan. For any queries and clarifications, please feel free to contact Mr. Hasan at;khalilhasan@cspk.org or khalilhasan@hotmail.com+971 50 8861709 or +92 345 8500195