Continuous improvement in project delivery in South Africa is required to build confidence in the construction sector. This is vital to sustainably attract investment. The application of the right contract, such as the NEC4 Contract, is fundamental to the success of overall project delivery. The NEC suite of contracts has been in existence for almost 30 years and has linked projects, people, and processes together to create the correct collaborative environment for successful delivery.
What does NEC4 Contract offers above NEC3
Looking at an NEC4 contract will be very familiar if you have had experience using NEC3. The style, layout, terminology and key project management processes that run through NEC3 contracts remain in NEC4. The improvements to NEC3 have all come from industry itself – what the customer and contractor have identified as important.
- Includes new innovative forms of contract: the Design Build and Operate Contract (DBO), the Alliance Contract (ALC), and the Facilities Management Contract (FMC)
- Improved clarity and simplicity across the NEC suite of contracts.
- Includes added and enhanced assistance for dispute avoidance, early contractor involvement, quality management but not limited to.
BIM
This new and updated NEC3 contract – the NEC4, also embraces the digital changes that are happening in the construction industry, especially around BIM. Building Information Modeling will be central to creating a step change in performance in the construction industry and therefore project delivery.
Infrastructure Development Plan
The use of NEC4 Contract on public sector projects can, we believe, help to deliver the Government’s Infrastructure Development Plan. The construction contract can improve Government’s capability as a construction client to deliver improved project outcomes. The goal of the National Infrastructure Plan 2050 (NIP 2050) is to create a foundation for achieving the NDP’s vision of inclusive growth. Prepared by Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), the NIP 2050 offers a strategic vision and plan that link top NDP objectives to actionable steps and intermediate outcomes.
ECS Associates looks forward to collaborating with industry to make the delivery of projects more efficient and effective.