29 July 2021 – Publication of Covid-19 Clause in Public Works Contracts
The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has today published updated versions of the CWMF template public works contracts.
These contract forms now include a new ‘Covid-19 Mandatory Closure’ clause which provides Employers and Contractors with a clear process to extend time and, where appropriate, share certain costs in the event of a mandatory closure of a site due to Covid-19. These contract amendments are designed to provide certainty to both parties in the event of such a closure and enable the more accurate pricing of risk in public works tenders.
In addition to updated public works contracts, the OGP has also today published amended Forms of Tender and Schedules (FTS1-5) and guidance notes, one new Model Form (MF 1.31, Site Closure Costs Supplement), and one new guidance note (GN 1.5.4, Covid-19 and the Public Works Contracts) in order to fully implement the Covid-19 clause. The new guidance note, GN 1.5.4, may be referred to for a full introduction and guide to the operation of the clause.
The full list of amendments made is available here.
9 April 2021 – OGP Publishes Supplementary Note 4 – January 2021 Public Health Measures
On 30 March 2021, the Government announced the phased easing of the public health measures first introduced in January 2021. Amongst other measures, these regulations require the continued closure of all non-essential construction sites until 4 May 2021. Certain categories of construction project will, however, be permitted to re-start works from 12 April 2021.
In consideration of the financial burden this further period of site closure will place on Contractors, the OGP has today published a note recommending that Employers consider extending the ex gratia relief previously proposed by the OGP until 4 May 2021 (or, if earlier, the permitted date of site re-opening).
This note is the fourth in a sequence of notes supplementing guidance first published by the OGP on 12 February 2021 and provides guidance for all contracts entered into either before, on, or after 14 April 2020. The note is available for download below.
Supplementary Note 4 – January 2021 Public Health Measures
11 March 2021 – OGP Publishes Supplementary Note 3 – ex gratia payment extension
On 5 March 2021, the government extended the public health measures first introduced in January 2021 until 5 April 2021. Amongst other measures, these regulations require the closure of all non-essential construction sites.
In consideration of the continuing financial burden this additional period of site closure will place on Contractors, the OGP has today published a note recommending that Employers consider extending the ex gratia payments previously proposed by the OGP until 5 April 2021.
This note is the third in a sequence of notes supplementing guidance first published by the OGP on 12 February 2021 and provides guidance for all contracts entered into either before, on, or after 14 April 2020. The Note is available for download below.
Supplementary Note 3 – January Public Health Measures
5 March 2021 – Publication of model forms of the Covid-19 Site Closure Supplemental Agreement for use with standards forms of PW-CF6 and PW-CF7
Today, the OGP has published model forms of the Covid-19 Site Closure Supplemental Agreement, which are compatible for use with standards forms of PW-CF6 and PW-CF7 respectively. These should be used in conjunction with the supplementary guidance notes (as appropriate to the date that PW-CF6 or PW-CF7 contract was made) and the Covid Costs Notices published by the OGP on 26 February 2021.
For contracts made before 14 April 2020, the following model forms should be used:
• Covid-19 Site Closure Supplementary Agreement for PW-CF6 contracts made before 14 April 2020
• Covid-19 Site Closure Supplementary Agreement for PW-CF7 contracts made before 14 April 2020
For contracts entered into on or after 14 April 2020, the following model forms should be used:
• Covid-19 Site Closure Supplementary Agreement for PW-CF6 contracts made on or after 14 April 2020
• Covid-19 Site Closure Supplementary Agreement for PW-CF7 contracts made on or after 14 April 2020
26 February 2021 – Publication of supplementary guidance documents and model forms of Supplemental Agreements in order to give effect to the proposed ex gratia scheme announced on 12 February 2021
On 12 February 2021, the OGP published guidance to Contracting Authorities party to the standard forms of Public Works Contract regarding the public health measures introduced on 8 January 2021. Amongst other measures, this guidance recommended these Contracting Authorities consider a scheme of ex gratia payments be made to Contractors affected by site closures under the public health measures. Today, the OGP has published a series of supplementary guidance documents and model forms of Supplemental Agreements in order to give effect to this proposed ex gratia scheme.
For standard forms of Public Works Contracts entered into before 14 April 2020, and for which the Covid Co-operation Framework published on 9 July 2020 is available, the following three documents should be used:
– Supplementary Note 1 – Guidance for ex gratia payments for Contracts made before 14 April 2020
– Covid-19 Site Closure Supplemental Agreement for PW-CF1-5 Contracts made before 14 April 2020
– Covid Closure Costs Notice for Contracts made before 14 April 2020
For standard forms of Public Works Contracts entered into on or after 14 April 2020, the following three documents should be used:
– Supplementary Note 2 – Guidance for ex-gratia payments for Contracts made on or after 14 April 2020
– Covid-19 Site Closure Supplemental Agreement for PW-CF 1-5 Contracts made on or after 14 April 2020
– Covid Closure Costs Notice for Contracts made on or after 14 April 2020
12 February 2021 – OGP publishes note in relation to public health measures announced on 6 January 2021
On 6 January 2021, the Government announced public health measures aimed at limiting the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic (the “closure order”). Inter alia, the public health measures required non-essential construction sites to close between 6pm on 8 January 2021 and 31 January 2021. On 26 January 2021, the closure order was extended to apply until 5 March 2021. The OGP has today published a note that:
- Outlines the provision for delay and cost in the standard forms of public works contracts (“Public Works Contracts”) arising from the current circumstances for those sites impacted by the closure order (“affected pwc construction sites”);
- Sets out recommendations for ex gratia payments by Employers to Contractors in relation to affected pwc construction sites where the works were procured using Public Works Contracts* ; and
- Provides advance notice of a forthcoming amendment to the Public Works Contracts for future contracts.
*Supplementary guidance and other material will be published separately.
As in its Covid related 2020 publications, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) continues to encourage Employers and Contractors to take a collaborative approach to dealing with the impacts of the closure order on public works contracts.
The note is available to download here.
28 August 2020 – Covid-19 Ex-Gratia Payment – Frequently Asked Questions available to download here
23 July 2020 – Note: Guidance on Protocol Measures in Live and Future Tenders published
In consideration of the impact the measures required by the Return to Work Safely Protocol (the ‘Protocol’) may have on works programmes, the OGP has today published a Note providing guidance for Contracting Authorities regarding both ongoing and future works and works-related services tenders. This Note provides guidance for three scenarios:
- Where the tender process was initiated before publication of the Protocol, the deadline for receipt of Tenders has passed, and the Contract has not yet been awarded.
- Where the tender process was initiated before publication of the Protocol and the deadline for receipt of Tenders has not yet passed.
- Where the tender process has not yet commenced.
The note is available to download here.
09 July 2020 – Template: Covid Co-operation Framework published
The OGP has today published the template ‘Covid Co-operation Framework’ outlined in its Note published on 24 June 2020.
The Covid Co-operation Framework consists of two documents: (1) Letter Agreement, and (2) Covid Notice.
Letter Agreement
Covid Notice
• The Covid Notice appended to the Letter Agreement is available to download in an editable format here. Note that this Covid Notice is compatible with all three Letter Agreements provided above.
Further guidance on the use of the Covid Co-operation Framework can be found in the Note published on 24 June 2020, available to download here.
The OGP has also published today an addendum to the Note of 24 June 2020 providing guidance on the use of the Covid Co-operation Framework in conjunction with PW-CF6 and PW-CF7, available to download here.
24 June 2020 – Note: Covid Co-operation Framework published
In consideration of the challenges that the Return to Work Safely Protocol introduces to certain construction operations, the Office of Government Procurement is today publishing guidance for those Employers that are currently party to a standard form Public Works Contract (PWC) in relation to the implementation, by contractors, of the measures associated with meeting the requirements of the Protocol on construction sites. A template document formalising the agreement described in this note will be published next week.
This is the latest in a series of notes aimed at mitigating the impact of the necessary public health measures on the delivery of projects under the National Development Plan.
The note is available to download here.
14 May 2020 – Note and template Pre-start Checklist for use by Employer’s Representatives published
The Note and template Pre-Start Checklist is available to download here.
The template Pre-start checklist is available to download in Word format here.
8 May 2020 – Update 2 to Note on procurement and contractual matters associated with the Covid-19 Response Measures published
The OGP has today published two documents:
• Update 2 to Note on procurement and contractual matters associated with the Covid-19 Response Measures
This is a further update to the Covid-19 procurement note originally published on 19 March and subsequently updated on 14 April (“Update 1”). The latest update to this note, “Update 2”, replaces the note of 14 April 2020 and is available for download here.
• Form of Letter Agreement for Applicable Period 2
This is the form of letter agreement referenced in the updated note, above. This form of letter agreement is available for download here.
22 April 2020 – Form of Letter Agreement for Covid-19 Ex-Gratia payment by Employer now published
The Form of Letter Agreement is available here for download here.
Earlier information on procurement and contractual matters associated with the Covid-19 Response Measures are available here