Collaborative Procurement

of Underground Works –

The FIDIC Emerald Book

Alexandre Gomes, SMEC

Join Alexandre Gomes for an overview of the recently released FIDIC Emerald Book: Contract
Form for Underground Works and the use of the Geotechnical Baseline Report (GBR)

In June 2018, the NSW government released ‘A ten point commitment to the
VENUE
construction sector’. The statement, developed by the NSW Government’s
Construction Leadership Group (CLG), includes a commitment to ‘procure Harricks Auditorium
and manage projects in a more collaborative way’. To inform this discussion Engineers Australia
the ATS wishes to introduce the International Federation of Consulting 8 Thomas Street, Chatswood NSW
Engineers (FIDIC) ‘Emerald Book Conditions of Contract for Underground
Works’. This is the first international contract form specifically tailored for
underground works. It has a specific focus on the inherent geotechnical DATE & TIME
subsurface risks associated with this type of construction. 16 October 2019

The document, developed by the ITA and first issued in May 2019, is based 5:30pm -6:00pm Light Refreshments
on the principle that risks shall be allocated to the Party that is best positioned 6:00pm - 7:00pm Presentation
to manage them. The presentation will provide an overview of the main
concepts of the new FIDIC Emerald Book, with emphasis on the use of the 7:00pm – 7:30pm Discussion and Drinks
Geotechnical Baseline Report (GBR) as the key document that defines the
TICKETS (incl. GST)
contractual geotechnical baselines agreed by the Parties and the risk
allocation mechanisms that are used for re-measurement and adjustment of ATS and EA Members FREE
construction time and cost. Non-members $30
Other Society Members $30
Alexandre Gomes
Alex Gomes is a civil engineer with over 27 years of international experience REGISTRATIONS CLOSE
in the design and construction of multi-disciplinary tunnel and underground
works and applied geotechnical and geomechanical engineering. Alex has 15 October 2019
worked on major projects across Europe, Asia, Australasia and the Americas,
including projects of subways, railways, roads, mining, utilities, water and
hydropower plants, providing expert advice on technical, forensic and
contractual aspects for sub-surface works.

Alex holds the position of Chief Technical Principal – Tunnels and

Underground at SMEC and is the past Vice-President of the International
Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITES). During the
preparation of the FIDIC Emerald Book, Alex acted on behalf of ITA as a
peer-reviewer of the document.
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