FIDIC is the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, known by its French acronym. It was formed in 1913, with the objective of promoting the interests of consulting engineering firms globally. It is best known for its range of standard conditions of contract for the construction, plant and design industries.
The FIDIC forms are the most widely used forms of contract internationally, including by the World Bank for its projects.
This guide will look at the Red and Yellow Books under the FIDIC Suite of New Contracts.
The FIDIC 'Rainbow Suite' of New Contracts was published in 1999 and includes:
These 'new' forms were first editions and designed to be user-friendly, with a standardised approach and a reduction in the general conditions from over 60 to 20 clauses.
Additional forms in use since 1999 include:
To assist with implementing its founding objectives, FIDIC's approach to drafting contracts has always been underpinned by the principle that its contracts must provide a fair allocation of risks between the parties to a contract, and that risks should be borne by the party best able to control them.
The Red and Yellow Books have a similar structure, with 20 general conditions. Both have guidance to assist in the preparation of particular conditions, and also the option to add Particular Conditions.
The Red Book (the Construction Contract for Building and Engineering Works Designed by the Employer) is intended to be used where the employer is responsible for the design of the works. It is a re-measurement contract, meaning that the employer and the contractor will agree in their contract the rates for types of work and those rates will be applied to the quantity of that work that the contractor carries out. The employer takes the risk that the quantities it estimates will be more or less accurate, while the contractor must ensure that its unit prices for the quantities are adequate.
The Yellow Book (the Plant and Design-Build Contract) is intended for use where the works are designed by the contractor. It is a lump sum contract, in which the contractor promises to deliver the project for a set price. The contractor, therefore, takes the risk of quantities.
All FIDIC books define the role of the engineer essentially as the agent of the employer. The engineer is primarily responsible for contract administration. The engineer:
Note that the engineer is no longer stated to be impartial - in the Red and Yellow Books the engineer is deemed to and in practice does act for the employer.
The contractor's main obligation under any construction contract is of course the construction and completion of the works within the specified time for completion and in accordance with the contract. Its other obligations under the Red and Yellow Books include:
The contractor also has an obligation to perform certain administrative and other functions to facilitate performance, including providing information needed for the execution and completion of the works and the issuing of notices including for events increasing cost or completion time.
Contractor's claims: a key obligation under the Red and Yellow Books is the requirement to serve notice in respect of a claim for an extension of time or additional payment. The contractor must give notice of its intention to claim as soon as possible and no later than 28 days after the contractor becomes aware, or should have become aware, of an event. It must then submit its fully detailed claim within 42 days of becoming aware of an event or circumstance that gives rise to a claim.
Previously, failure to comply with these time limits meant that any compensation would be limited to sums supported by contemporary records. Now, there is no entitlement to compensation if the contractor fails to comply.
Variations and adjustments: using the Red and Yellow Books, a variation for changes to the works can arise by:
Variations may have an adverse impact on the contract or on the guarantees in place for the project, for example through a reduction in the safety or suitability of the works. This should be monitored and flagged up immediately. A contractor could have liability even where it is simply following the engineer's instructions.
A contractor is obliged to comply with the employer's request for a variation unless it cannot readily obtain the necessary goods required for that variation.
One issue to be aware of is whether the engineer's suggestions can be deemed to be variations. This will be determined by the facts of a particular event. The Red and Yellow Books provide that if the engineer gives an oral instruction and the contractor confirms that instruction in writing within two working days then, if the engineer does not reject this confirmation within two working days, that confirmation is deemed to constitute a written instruction of the engineer. It is therefore very important to ensure that any verbal instruction that changes the scope of the works is confirmed in writing.
The contractor should not make alterations or modification to the works unless instructed or approved by the engineer.
Delay and extension of time: the contractor will be liable for damages if the actual completion date of the works occurs after the agreed completion date unless the delay is caused by a matter for which an extension of time is available and the contractor complies with the notice and other requirements under the contract.
The contractor may be entitled to an extension of time where there is:
The contractor must strictly comply with the notice requirements under the contract, including giving all necessary information required in relation to the claim. Note that minutes of a meeting or a contractor's progress report are unlikely to constitute proper notice.
Disputes under Red and Yellow Book contracts should be referred to a Dispute Adjudication Board (DAB). A DAB can be created at the start of the project or when a dispute occurs. It is an informal process which encourages party involvement and recognises the need for speed. The contracts provide that a DAB's decision will become final and binding 28 days after it is issued if the parties do not give a notice of dissatisfaction.
Where a notice of dissatisfaction is given, the parties are obliged to attempt the amicable settlement of their disputes. Unless such disputes are settled amicably, any dispute in respect of which the DAB's decision has not become final and binding will be settled by international arbitration.
Keeping adequate records is essential to:
Decide at the outset how and what records should be kept, ensuring of course that this also complies with the contract. There is no point putting in place an unnecessarily detailed or complex procedure that your administrative or site team will be unable to follow.
The effective administration of a FIDIC construction contract is essential to ensure that time and money claims are protected. It is important to write notices in clear and unequivocal terms – do not hint or insinuate. Keeping effective records will assist contractors and employers to prove their entitlements and enable both parties to accurately ascertain their positions in the event that a dispute arises.
