Contractor's master programme

Contracts such as the the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) Standard Form of Building Contract require that the contractor produces for the contract administrator a contractor’s master programme for the construction of the works as soon as possible after the execution of the contract, if it has not been previously provided. As it is produced after the execution of the contract, the programme does not impose any obligation on the contractor beyond those imposed by the contract documents.

The contract documents should specify the level of detail required by the contractor's master programme, which may include critical paths and other information allowing the contract administrator to interrogate the programme and properly assess its implications.

The contract administrator may comment on the contractor's master programme but should not approve it, as approval might be considered to relieve the contractor of liability for programming the works in such a way as to achieve the completion date. In making any comments, the contract administrator may wish to consider whether the master programme properly reflects the requirements of the contract (such as the inclusion of the appropriate milestones), whether it contains errors and whether it will make unrealistic demands on the consultant team to produce or comment on information.

The programme may be used as the baseline for a claim for an extension of time by the contractor, and the contractor is generally required to update the master programme as the works proceed to reflect any extensions of time that have been granted.

Under the NEC (The New Engineering Contract): Engineering and Construction Contract, requirements regarding the preparation of the contractor's programme are more specific, and upon acceptance it becomes the ‘accepted programme’ for the works.

NB the completion date indicated on the contractor's master programme may be earlier than the completion date entered into the contract.

[edit] Find out more

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Accepted programme.
• Activity schedule.
• Construction contract.
• Contractor.
• Contract administrator.
• Contract documents.
• Contractor's working schedule.
• Design programme.
• Extension of time.
• Information release schedule.
• Milestones.
• NEC3.
• Programme for building design and construction.
• Programme consultant.
• Progress of construction works.
• Project crashing.
• Request for information.
• Scheduling construction activities.
• Short period programme.
• Tender works programme.
• Time-location chart.
• Time management of construction projects.

[edit] External references

• Joint Contracts Tribunal.