Law and Contracts

The Crossrail works contracts used the NEC3: Engineering and Construction Contract, with most let under Option C (target contract with activity schedule) terms.

Law and Contracts documents:

Summary Publication date Document Type
Document type: research paper

Early Warning Notice Contract Procedure: Improving its use on large Infrastructure Projects

Topic area: Law and Contracts

The ‘New Engineering Contract’ (NEC) form of contract launched in 1993 and was a revelation in the construction contracting world, using plain language and built-in processes to stimulate good project management. A key NEC contractual tool is the Early Warning Notice (EWN) procedure which facilitates collaborati...

18/05/2023 Research Paper
Contract Administration Manual

Contract Administration Manual

Topic area: Law and Contracts

The Crossrail programme adopted the NEC3 ECC form of contract with additional conditions of contract (Z clauses). Almost all works contracts adopted the Target Cost payment option (Option C). A Contract Administration Manual was provided to those with delegated contract authority and those involved in supporting the ma...

17/05/2023 Good Practice Document
Crossrail Systems Contract Works Information Part 2B

Crossrail Systems Contract Works Information Part 2B

Topic area: Law and Contracts

The Works Information sections of the NEC3 Contract documents used by Crossrail consisted of: Part 2A – Particular Works Information – relevant to the individual project Part 2B – General Requirements -requirements that were common to all similar contracts Part 2C – Technical Requirements This...

15/09/2021 Good Practice Document
Aerial photograph of Dean Street Crossrail worksite

Crossrail approach to NEC3

Topic area: Law and Contracts

This paper explains the approach taken to the NEC3 form of contract on the Crossrail project and explains how that approach was established and then implemented. It then identifies some issues which arose out of the form of contract used and a number of improvements which might be considered on future projects. It  wi...

17/07/2018 Technical Paper
Crossrail Main Civils Contract Works Information Part 2B

Crossrail Main Civils Contract Works Information Part 2B

Topic area: Law and Contracts

The Works Information sections of the NEC3 Contract documents used by Crossrail consisted of: Part 2A – Particular Works Information – relevant to the individual project Part 2B – General Requirements -requirements that were common to all similar contracts Part 2C – Technical Requirements Part...

17/07/2018 Good Practice Document
Crossrail project: commercial aspects of works contracts for London’s Elizabeth line

Crossrail project: commercial aspects of works contracts for London’s Elizabeth line

Topic area: Law and Contracts

Choosing the right commercial arrangements between the client and contractors was critical to successful delivery of the £14·8 billion Crossrail project to deliver the Elizabeth line east–west railway across London. This paper explains how delivery organisation Crossrail Limited used the NEC3: Engineering and Cons...

25/09/2017 Journal Publication
Central Communications (CEC) – Improving Formal Communications on a Major Programme

Central Communications (CEC) – Improving Formal Communications on a Major Programme

Topic area: Procurement

A key challenge to a major programme is establishing a mechanism to efficiently communicate information from the centre, down to multiple site teams and into the supply chain. This paper explains how the contract management system was developed to incorporate directions to site times (“CECs”). The CEC process was i...

18/05/2023 Micro-report
Crossrail approach to Contract Completion – The Employer’s Completion Process

Crossrail approach to Contract Completion – The Employer’s Completion Process

Topic area: Quality

This report discusses the approach taken by the Crossrail programme to ensure due diligence before certifying construction contracts as complete under the NEC contract. The Employer’s Completion Process (ECP) was introduced to define all essential checks necessary to achieve completion based on the Works Informat...

05/05/2023 Technical Paper
Crossrail’s Non-Conformance (Defect) Reporting System

Crossrail’s Non-Conformance (Defect) Reporting System

Topic area: Quality

The construction industry has historically been reluctant to proactively identify defects due to fear of cost and reputational impact, which unfortunately resulted in latent defects being discovered far too late. Crossrail acted upon lessons learned from the Channel Tunnel Rail Link project and ensured defects were ide...

20/04/2023 Technical Paper
Crossrail cost to complete: Cost and commercial management

Crossrail cost to complete: Cost and commercial management

Topic area: Commercial Management

In August 2018, Crossrail Ltd (CRL) announced that the programme to open the Elizabeth line would not be delivered on the original estimated timeline and that the opening of the Central Operating Section (COS) by December 2018 was not achievable. It was also made public that the original estimated budget would be in...

05/04/2023 Journal Publication
Works Information Study (Supply Chain Quality Requirements)

Works Information Study (Supply Chain Quality Requirements)

Topic area: Quality

The key quality requirements for the supply chain quality included in Crossrail contracts were over and above the industry norm and were intended to ensure that contractors were resourced correctly and established systems to deliver quality.   This case study covers the quality resources and systems used in Crossrail...

26/02/2016 Case Study