CIC Guidance on working with New Engineering Contracts
CIC have written a new Risk Management Briefing entitled "Consulting in an NEC environment".
NEC contracts cater for the client/contractor and client/consultant relationship.
The Risk Management Briefings are a series of free guidance documents produced by the CIC Liability Panel. The briefings examine current areas of concern in relation to liability.
This briefing refers specifically to NEC4, Professional Services Contract (PSC) and its importance to the intended £650 billion spend on public and private infrastructure projects announced by the UK government in 2021.
The Liability Panel was set up to consider liability, legal and insurance issues. The panel drafts and publishes standard form contract documentation for consultants as well as the freely available briefings.
Nasir Khan, Chair of the Liability Panel said: "The UK government announced in 2021 that it has chosen the NEC4 contracts as one of the three options to deliver its £650 billion spend over the next 10 years. The CIC Liability Panel’s risk management briefing on Consulting in an NEC Environment provides consultants some key points to watch out for. The NEC contracts are known for their collaborative and flexible approach to project management. However, the consultants need to be mindful of the Scope, Z Clauses, Programme, and their obligations to mitigate potential liability risks.”
A full suite of CIC Risk Management Briefings can be downloaded for free from the CIC website.
This article appears on the CIAT news and blogsite as "Guidance on working with New Engineering Contracts" dated January 9, 2023.
--CIAT
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).
- CMA and IRM publish 2020 competition law risk guide.
- Code of practice for project management.
- Design risk management.
- Facility security risk management plan.
- Interface risk in construction.
- NEC contract change management systems.
- NEC contracts - road development and management schemes.
- NEC contracts and collaborative working.
- NEC early contractor involvement.
- NEC early warning notices - a tool of mutual benefit.
- NEC3.
- NEC4.
- NEC Option A: Priced contract with activity schedule.
- NEC Option B: Priced contract with bill of quantities.
- NEC Option C: Target contract with activity schedule.
- NEC Option D: Target contract with bill of quantities.
- NEC Option E: Cost reimbursable contract.
- New Engineering Contract.
- Project manager.
- Project risk.
- Reflections on 2021.
- Resource allocation in design and construction.
- Risk appetite.
- Risk assessment.
- Risk assessment: a quality perspective.
- Risk feedback.
- Risk management.
- Risk mapping.
- The NEC and the Z clause.
- Third party dependencies.
- Time Risk Allowance.
- What is a hazard?
- Z clauses.
Featured articles and news
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.