Contract Administration

The role of a contract administrator covers a wide range of possible responsibilities and projects, ranging from small residential projects through to larger commercial projects. The responsibilities of a contract administrator will therefore vary depending on the project type, the building contract and the professional appointment under which the contract administrator is appointed.

Contract administrators act as decision makers, they must act independently, impartially, honestly and fairly. The contract administrator will ordinarily have a range of responsibilities and duties. In broad terms, these responsibilities and duties will include ensuring the contractual procedure provided is followed and managing the day-to-day running of the contract.

An example of this is that under the JCT form of contract, the contract administrator may be required to determine when practical completion is achieved, approve the quality of materials to be used or provide instructions if there are discrepancies in the documentation. The role of contract administrator can add real value to a construction project – ensuring that the construction contract is administered fairly and effectively.

The key to a successful contract administrator relationship is selecting an experienced contract administrator and providing a clear delineation of responsibilities from the outset.