James T. Dixon, P. Wesley Lambert and Amanda M. Leffler | Brouse McDowell | May 13, 2016
You’ve completed an accurate take-off. You’ve priced all the material and equipment needs. You’ve estimated your general conditions. You’ve lined up the necessary subcontractors. And now you’ve been awarded the contract. What comes next often seems like just a formality—finalizing the agreement and executing the contract. However the drafting, negotiating, and approval of certain provisions in construction contracts can have significant consequences for each contracting party. It is imperative that the contracting parties critically consider the consequences of each contract provision and diligently review changes to any negotiated provisions. While the following list includes several key provisions project owners and their contractors should carefully consider when beginning a new project, it is not exhaustive.
- Scope of Work. The Scope of work is arguably the most important provision in any construction contract. This clause makes explicit what it is that the general contractor has agreed to provide. A well defined scope of work is your first opportunity to reduce the risk of a dispute arising in the course of the construction project.
One key phrase in particular that invites assumptions is “reasonably inferred.” While this phrase was meant to summarize the small miscellaneous work items generally performed in all projects, today this phrase is often a point of contention and used to incorporate work that was overlooked during contract negotiations. By carefully and completely defining the work to be performed in the final contract and avoiding generalized language, parties can avoid disputes. This benefits project owners, who wish to avoid the “change order” game, and contractors, who wish be compensated if there is “scope creep” throughout the course of construction.
- Payment Provisions. The terms of payment in a typical construction contract are often spread across several different provisions. In order to get the full picture of payment provisions, parties should consider the timing of payments, conditions of payment, the amount of retainage, and the events that justify withholding.
Under Ohio’s Prompt Payment Act, contractors must pay subcontractors, material suppliers and laborers within 10 days of receipt of payment from the project owner. However the timing of payment from the project owner is determined by the contract. Therefore parties should specify the frequency of billing as well as any parameters to payment such as ties to financing.
Similarly any conditions precedent to the project owner’s obligation to pay should be spelled out. One common requirement is the certification of payment that must be signed by a design professional. This provision requires a design professional to review and approve payment applications, thereby certifying (or not, based on what the contract provides as for the meaning of the design professional’s approval) that the work performed and completed in a satisfactory fashion.
- Retainage. Another provision worth reviewing is the clause on retainage. Retainage is the amount of money an owner or contractor will withhold from a progress payment as security for performance. The withheld payment is usually deferred until completion or at least until the contractor substantially completes their scope of work. Though certain terms are required on public contracts, the amount of retainage on a private project can be modified to suit the circumstances.
- Schedule and Delay Provisions. Parties can also avoid disputes by clearly defining the schedule. The language in your scheduling terminology should clarify the sequence of work as well as define the stages of construction. Parties should also avoid clauses that permit either party to revise the schedule without good reason.
As discussed…