The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) and the New Engineering Contract (NEC) are the two most pre-eminent suites of standard form contracts used within the UK construction industry. JCT contracts are widely used, particularly in the private sector for building projects, and are considered more traditional. The NEC suite, now in its fourth edition (NEC4), is known for its collaborative and proactive approach to project management and is mandated for many UK public sector projects. Both provide a comprehensive framework covering various procurement routes, pricing options, and project complexities, making them the common choice for formalising construction agreements.

AS: This refers to Australian Standards, which are model contract forms used predominantly in Australia, not the UK.

CIPS: The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply is a professional body, not a publisher of standard form construction contracts.

IET: The Institution of Engineering and Technology publishes specific model forms (e.g., MF/1) for engineering projects, which are less common across the general construction sector than JCT and NEC.

1. Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply. (2018). CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply

L4M3: Commercial Contracting. CIPS. Chapter 5: 'Types of Contractual Agreements'

Section on 'Standard forms of contract'

specifically identifies JCT and NEC as primary examples for the construction industry.

2. Uff

J. (2017). Construction Law: Law and Practice Relating to the Construction Industry (12th ed.). Sweet & Maxwell. Chapter 6

'Standard Forms of Contract'

pp. 161-165

provides a detailed overview of the principal forms used in the UK

with extensive analysis of the JCT and NEC suites as the market leaders.

3. The University of Reading

School of Construction Management and Engineering. (2021). CECMGT Construction Contract Law

Module Guide. pp. 22-28. This courseware details the main standard forms of construction contracts in the UK

focusing on the history

structure

and application of the JCT and NEC families of contracts.