NEC Contract
The NEC suite (NEC3 and NEC4) is the dominant contract form on UK public and infrastructure projects. Its early warning, compensation event and programme acceptance regime creates a clear but demanding planning obligation. Deltime understands NEC from both sides of the table.
Clause 31 — Programme Submission
The NEC programme must show the order and timing of operations, method statements, float, time risk allowances, and health and safety requirements. Deltime builds every clause 31 programme to meet the PM's acceptance criteria from the first submission — reducing the risk of rejection and the programme being treated as not submitted.
Clause 32 — Programme Updates
Revised programmes are submitted every time the Contractor is instructed to do so, or within the period stated in the Contract Data. Deltime issues clause 32 updates on cycle — showing actual progress, revised forecasts, float, and the effects of all compensation events notified to date.
Early Warning Notices
NEC's early warning regime is the first line of defence for time and cost claims. Deltime tracks the programme closely to identify potential delay events before they impact the critical path and raises early warnings on the correct timescale — so the Contractor's notice obligations are met and entitlement is preserved.
Compensation Event Assessment
Under NEC, compensation events are assessed against their effect on the Accepted Programme. Deltime prepares CE quotations and assessments that demonstrate the impact on the critical path, using the programme as the evidential baseline — so the PM has a clear, auditable basis for acceptance.
Float & Time Risk Allowances
NEC is explicit that Contractor's float belongs to the Contractor. Deltime establishes float ownership in the programme from the outset and tracks it through the project lifecycle — preventing the Project Manager from treating the Contractor's float as a buffer for Employer risk events.
Accepted Programme as Evidence
The Accepted Programme is the single most important document in NEC claims. A well-maintained NEC programme — with regular updates, contemporaneous CE assessments, and a clear audit trail — is the foundation of any successful NEC time claim. Deltime manages this record from day one.
NEC4 ECC — Major Infrastructure Programme, UK
Representative statistics from a large NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract programme managed by Deltime.