NEC and Consult Australia Forge Contract Partnership

Construction and infrastructure project management is set for significant change in Australia as two major industry bodies join forces to reform contract standardisation practices.

NEC Contracts, a provider of end-to-end project management contracts, and Consult Australia, the industry association for consulting firms in the built environment sector, have established a partnership to promote contract standardisation across Australian infrastructure and construction projects.

The collaboration aims to transition contract management from legal professionals to consultants, addressing long-standing challenges in project delivery and procurement processes within the construction sector.

Industry practitioners will gain access to a comprehensive contract library through the partnership. These resources incorporate project management principles from the NEC Contract Suite, a set of documents designed to clarify roles and responsibilities in construction projects.

NEC Contract Suite aims to transform Australian construction

The partnership builds on previous collaboration between the organisations. In 2021, they jointly developed Y Clauses, which enable the integration of country-specific legislation into standardised contracts, facilitating the use of NEC contracts in various international jurisdictions.

Global Head of NEC Contracts, Rekha Thawrani OBE, says: "This partnership represents a significant milestone as we build on industry enthusiasm to move towards collaborative procurement and standardisation."

NEC contracts were created to foster collaboration in construction projects. The new partnership will provide tools specifically designed for consultants seeking to implement standardised contracts.

Consult Australia members receive exclusive benefits

Consult Australia represents businesses that provide design, advisory and engineering services for the built environment sector. Its members and their 30,000 employees will receive exclusive access to NEC training resources.

These educational materials aim to expand understanding of contract standardisation principles among construction professionals. Members will also qualify for discounts on NEC products and training programmes.

Jonathan Cartledge, Chief Executive Officer of Consult Australia, says: "Procurement reform, better risk management and the delivery of standard contracting with collaboration at the core is long overdue."

Contract standardisation to address industry challenges

The initiative responds to several issues facing the Australian construction sector, including extended procurement timeframes and challenges in cost management across national and international projects.

Through standardisation, the partnership seeks to achieve measurable improvements in project collaboration and cost efficiency. The approach also aims to support auditable processes that align with Australian regulatory requirements.

Cartledge adds: "As we look to opportunities to drive productivity, decarbonise through procurement and support innovation and digitalisation, we need to learn from global best practice like NEC."