BEST PRACTICE WITH THE NEW ENGINEERING-CONTRACT

The Institution of Civil Engineers published the first edition of its New Engineering Contract (NEC) in 1993 and a second edition came out i n 1996. The rate of take-up continues to increase with, in addition to civil projects, the NEC fast finding favour in the process and buildi ng sectors. This paper is based on detailed interviews with 81 individ uals involved with 28 NEC-procured projects. It takes the reader throu gh the necessary or desirable changes in the contract process which sh ould be made to achieve the best results, and concludes by summarizing some of the benefits that use of the NEC has produced.