Engineering and Construction Contract (GCC 2025) Forth Edition

Who should attend?

1. Quantity Surveyors
2. Construction Project Managers
3. Construction Managers
4. Engineers (Civil, Structural, Design Engineers)
5. Architects and Architectural Professionals
6. Contractors and Construction Industry Professionals
7. Candidates-in-Training
8. Project and Site Staff
9. Risk Management Specialists
10. Financial and Cost Management Specialists
11. Regulatory and Compliance Officials
12. Local Government & Municipal Officials
13. Environmental and Sustainability Practitioners

Day 1 – Contract Architecture, Risk Allocation, and Administration

1. Introduction to the GCC Fourth Edition (2025)

1. Background and purpose of the GCC 2025
2. Evolution of the GCC and key updates in the Fourth Edition
3. Application of GCC in South African construction projects
4. Legal status and enforceability of GCC contracts
5. Relationship between GCC and other standard forms of contract (FIDIC, JBCC – overview)

2. Contract Structure and Definitions

1. Structure and layout of the GCC document
2. Contract data and its legal significance
3. Hierarchy of contract documents
4. Interpretation of definitions and terminology
5. Role and authority of the Employer, Engineer, and Contractor
6. Contractual relationships and lines of responsibility

3. Risk Allocation Principles

1. (principles) of risk in construction contracts
2. Allocation of risk between Employer and Contractor
3. Employer’s risks vs Contractor’s risks
4. Shared and transferable risks
5. Risk management strategies in contract administration
6. Practical examples of poor vs effective risk allocation

4. Time for Completion and Programming

1. Commencement of works and possession of site
2. Construction programme requirements
3. Programming obligations of the Contractor
4. Critical path and delay analysis principles
5. Extensions of Time (EOT):

• Grounds for EOT
• Procedures and notices
• Assessment of delays
• Acceleration and disruption
• Practical scenarios on time-related disputes

5. Contract Administration, Notices, and Communications

1. Contract administration systems
2. Engineer’s duties and powers
3. Instructions and determinations
4. Formal notices and communication requirements
5. Validity and timing of notices
6. Record keeping and document control
7. Consequences of non-compliance with procedures
8. Best practices in contract administration

Day 2 – Payment, Claims, Variations, and Dispute Resolution

6. Payment and Financial Administration

1. Contract price structure
2. Interim payment certificates
3. Valuation of work done
4. Retention and securities
5. Payment timelines and procedures
6. Late payment consequences
7. Final account procedures
8. Financial risk control in contracts

7. Variations and Change Management

1. Definition of variations
2. Authority to instruct variations
3. Valuation methods for variations
4. Adjustment of contract price and time
5. Managing scope changes
6. Documentation and approval processes
7. Preventing variation disputes

8. Claims and Entitlements

1. Definition of contractual claims
2. Grounds for claims (time and cost)
3. Claim notification procedures
4. Substantiation and supporting documentation
5. Cause-and-effect principles
6. Claim assessment and determination
7. Common causes of rejected claims
8. Best practice in claims management

9. Suspension and Termination

1. Grounds for suspension of works
2. Rights and obligations during suspension
3. Termination by Employer
4. Termination by Contractor
5. Contractual procedures for termination
6. Legal and financial consequences
7. Risk management during termination events

10. Dispute Avoidance and Resolution

1. Early dispute avoidance mechanisms
2. Engineer’s determinations
3. Dispute escalation procedures
4. Adjudication processes
5. Arbitration procedures
6. Litigation overview
7. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
8. Practical strategies for dispute prevention

Copyright, Trademark, and Legal Disclaimer

The General Conditions of Contract for Civil Engineering Works (GCC), Fourth Edition (2025), is copyrighted and trademarked material. Copyright and trademark rights in the GCC are owned by the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE). All rights are strictly reserved.

This training course, brochure, slides, and supporting materials are independently produced and do not reproduce, adapt, or substitute for the GCC contract text. They do not constitute legal advice. The course provides professional training and commentary only. Delegates are responsible for obtaining authorised copies of the GCC and for seeking project-specific legal or professional advice where required.