The Engineer's Role under FIDIC: Contract Administration & Determinations Training Course

Course Overview

Learning Objectives

• Explain the Engineer's place in the Red and Yellow Books, and why the Silver Book has none.
• Define the sources and limits of the Engineer's authority, including powers requiring the Employer's prior approval.
• Structure delegation to the Engineer's Representative and assistants with clear written limits on what each may decide.
• Issue clear, valid instructions within the Engineer's authority and separate them from comment, review, and ordinary correspondence.
• Review programs and Contractor's Documents on time without taking over the Contractor's responsibility for them.
• Manage inspection, testing, rejection, and remedial instructions with a sound evidence trail that shows the facts and the basis of each action.
• Assess interim payment applications, measurement, and valuation fairly, consistently, and within the time the contract allows.
• Instruct and value variations, and deal with the Contractor's objections and value engineering proposals.
• Handle claims from both parties from first notice to a fully detailed response, checking entitlement and quantum.
• Conduct consultation and write neutral, reasoned determinations that withstand later review by a board or tribunal.
• Address conflict of interest, pressure from either party, and the consultant's professional liability.
• Keep site records, correspondence, and minutes that will support the Engineer's decisions and their reasons in a later dispute between the parties.
• Build a working relationship with both parties that encourages early agreement and reduces formal disputes.

Who Should Attend

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Describe the Engineer's duties and the limits of the role under the Red and Yellow Books.
• Prepare a delegation and authority matrix for an Engineer's site team, with limits for each post.
• Issue valid instructions within the Engineer's authority and separate them from comments and ordinary correspondence.
• Review programs and Contractor's Documents without shifting responsibility from the Contractor.
• Assess interim payment applications consistently and record clear reasons for each adjustment.
• Instruct and value variations using sound measurement and valuation methods, consistently across payments.
• Check claims from either party against notice requirements and the supporting records.
• Conduct a consultation that gives both parties a real chance to reach agreement before a determination is issued.
• Write a neutral, reasoned determination that can withstand later review by a board or tribunal.
• Manage conflict of interest and pressure from either party, and escalate them properly.
• Keep records and correspondence that support the Engineer's decisions and their reasons in a later dispute between the parties.
• Build an Engineer's administration plan for a FIDIC project, from mobilization to final payment.

Course Outline