Professional Documents
Culture Documents
EPC Contracts
Tim Steadman
General Overview
Context Roles Philosophy Structure Form Key risks and contract terms
Context - Economic
Effect of cycles
Participants Procurement methods and structures Price Risk allocation Funding sources and methods
Most countries embrace market economics (in theory) In practice there are exceptions helpful and otherwise So relationships are to some extent adversarial/competitive And negotiations can be complex (especially if lenders are involved)
Context Legal/Regulatory
Legal system is part of business culture The rule of law/contract is important, especially in project financed deals Civil and common law systems differ in form and substance Impact of procurement rules
Roles
Prime contractor (not always EPC) Vendor Technology licensor Investor Funder (deliberate or by default)
Philosophy
As a contractor
Open bidding or sole source? Immediate profit or market penetration/profile? Sole or in consortium? Legal and practical consequences of joint liability? Equity or contracting role only?
Philosophy (contd)
As an owner
Alliance or risk transfer? Linked to funding method Some sectoral patterns Also varies between public and private sector
Privately procured
On balance sheet Off balance sheet May still be accounting considerations, eg in PPP PPP projects Concessions Others eg PPAs
Publicly procured
Combinations
SPV INVESTORS
DEVELOPER
SUBCONTRACTOR 1
DESIGNERS
DUE DILIGENCE ADVISER 3 DUE DILIGENCE ADVISER 2 SUBCONTRACTOR 2 SURETIES & GUARANTORS
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EPC Structure
Traditional OWNER
ARCHITECT/ENGINEER
CONTRACTOR
KEY
SUB-CONTRACTORS
RISK SPECTRUM
Traditional
LSTK/ EPC
Except as otherwise stated in the Contract: a) the Contractor shall be deemed to have obtained all necessary information as to risks, contingencies and other circumstances which may influence or affect the Works; b) by signing the Contract, the Contractor accepts total responsibility for having foreseen all difficulties and costs of successfully completing the Works; and c) the Contract Price shall not be adjusted to take account of any unforeseen difficulties or costs.
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Single point responsibility Subject to caps and carve-outs High degree of risk for contractor Also high (but not absolute) degree of contractor control Priced accordingly The preferred structure for project finance/PPP transactions Linkage to shareholder support
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Sensitive to market conditions recent history Wide choice of standard contracts (eg FIDIC Silver and Yellow) Commonly used in infrastructure, thermal power and downstream petchem
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Owner Design
Traditional OWNER
ARCHITECT/ENGINEER
CONTRACTOR
KEY = Building Contract = Sub-Contracts = Appointments
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SUB-CONTRACTORS
More control for owner Design and other risks also retained by owner History of disputes Use has declined in recent decades but still used in, eg, public civil works and technology projects Incompatible with project finance approach
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EPCM/CM
OWNER
KEY
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER PROFESSIONAL TEAM ARCHITECT STRUCTURAL ENGINEER M&E ENGINEER QUANTITY SURVEYOR CDM CO-ORDINATOR
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC = TRADE CONTRACTOR
EPC Contracts - 28 April 2009 17
Interface Recourse/leverage
Can produce the lowest cost and fastest completion But is heavily dependent on specialist skills, experience and resources Can be disastrous if those are not present examples Widely used in upstream oil and gas, renewables and some real estate markets
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Variants
Market driven and mixed feedback Conversion mechanism Scope is FEED included? Can be attractive for contractors Usually a consequence rather than a choice Examples eg 2012 Link to philosophy
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Forms of Contract
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Forms of Contract
Standard or specially drafted? Relevance of wider structure Origin of standard forms Example of FIDIC Other standard forms, eg NEC, AIA, ENAA, EIC Why amend a proven form?
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English language and style commonly used Precedence and integration of documents Distinguish language of contract and of communications Common law preferred but less strongly these days Impact of local law in any event Wide choice of methods and places for dispute resolution
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Wrapping eg of technology or existing works or design Fitness for purpose and reasonable skill and care Insurance and risk retention implications Compliance with laws and consents Special importance of environmental requirements Pass-down from other project documents
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Intellectual property
Ownership by contractor Assigned or licensed to owner? Scope of license Indemnities for infringement capped or not?
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Performance Security
Retention funds
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Subcontracting
Approval Step-in rights
Site conditions
Can threaten viability of project/parties Mitigants
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Labour
Local laws Local preference
Time
Status of programme Remedies for delay
Liquidated damages (LDs) for delay Enforceability issues with delay LDs Acceleration Milestones Look-forward default
Defects liability
Typical periods Evergreen clauses Latent and patent defects Remedies under the general law
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Variations
Instructed by the owner Resulting from changes in law or standards
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Advance payments Cashflow neutrality Payment security for contractor Set-off and correction ECA requirements Remedies for non-payment Role of lenders engineer
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Termination
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Risk
Indemnities Treatment of hazardous sites Care of the works Excepted risks Link to insurance Liability cap Exclusion of consequential loss Exceptions
EPC Contracts - 28 April 2009
Liability
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Insurance
Main categories
CAR/EAR TPL/PL PII Plant and vehicles DSA/ALOP Latent defects Operational insurance
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Force Majeure
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EPC Contracts
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