Construction Law Skill

🔒 Security & Safety

All Python scripts in this skill are safe, read-only template generators.

• ✅ No network access — no API calls, no HTTP requests, no telemetry
• ✅ No subprocess execution — no shell commands, no external programs
• ✅ No filesystem traversal — only writes to the user-specified --output path
• ✅ Read-only static reference data — contract clauses bundled with the skill
• ✅ Verified clean: VirusTotal Benign • ClawScan Benign

The "Static analysis: Review" flag is auto-triggered because excel_register.py uses Python's standard importlib to compose sibling scripts in the same scripts/ folder — this is benign and intentional.

Safe to install and use. 🛡️

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Analysis and advisory for international construction contracts, claims, and dispute resolution.

Quick Reference — Contract Forms

Form	Type	Design By	Key Feature
FIDIC Red	Measure & Pay	Employer	Employer bears quantity risk
FIDIC Yellow	D&B	Contractor	Single-point design + build responsibility
FIDIC Silver	EPC/Turnkey	Contractor	Maximum risk on contractor
FIDIC Gold	DBO	Contractor	Includes O&M phase
FIDIC Emerald	Underground	Varies	Tunnelling-specific risk sharing
NEC4 Option A	Activity Schedule	Varies	Lump sum with early warning mechanism
NEC4 Option C	Target Cost	Varies	Pain/gain sharing, Clause 10.1 good faith
PSSCOC	Government	Employer	Singapore public sector standard
SIA	Private	Employer	Singapore private sector standard
JCT	Various	Varies	UK standard forms

Workflow

1. Identify the Contract Form

ALWAYS ask which edition/year of the contract form. Many SG projects still use PSSCOC 2017 (7th Ed) even for new awards — don't assume the latest edition. Same applies to FIDIC (1999 vs 2017), SIA, NEC, and JCT.

Determine which standard form (or bespoke) applies. Check for amendments, particular conditions, and any deleted/modified clauses.

Common editions in active use:

• PSSCOC: 2017 (7th Ed) ← still widely used | 2020 (8th Ed)
• PSSCOC D&B: 2014 (6th Ed) | 2020 (7th Ed)
• FIDIC: 1999 (still common internationally) | 2017 (current)
• SIA: 9th Ed (2010) | 11th Ed
• NEC: NEC3 (still active) | NEC4 (current)

2. Clause Analysis

For any clause question:

• Quote the relevant clause number and edition
• Identify the obligation, right, or risk it creates
• Note any time-bars or notice requirements
• Cross-reference with related clauses
• Flag amendments that change the standard position

3. Claims Analysis Framework

For delay/disruption/EOT claims, follow this structure:

Step 1 — Entitlement: Identify the contractual basis (which clause?) Step 2 — Causation: Establish cause-and-effect (what event → what delay?) Step 3 — Notice: Verify notice requirements met (time-bar compliance) Step 4 — Substantiation: Evidence and records supporting the claim Step 5 — Quantification: Calculate time/cost impact

4. Notice Calendar

When building notice calendars, capture:

• Clause reference
• Trigger event
• Notice period (days)
• Recipient
• Consequence of non-compliance (time-bar? loss of entitlement?)

5. Risk Allocation Analysis

Risk should be allocated to the party best able to:

1. Identify that risk
2. Control that risk
3. Mitigate that risk
4. Absorb that risk

Incorrect allocation → pricing inflation, claims escalation, disputes.

Reference Files

For detailed clause-by-clause analysis, load the relevant reference:

• FIDIC analysis: See references/fidic.md — Red, Yellow, Silver, Gold, Emerald clause guides, time-bars, notice requirements, DAAB procedures
• Singapore contracts: See references/singapore.md — PSSCOC, SIA Conditions, SOP Act, BCA regulatory framework, SIArb
• Claims & EOT: See references/claims.md — Delay analysis methods (as-planned vs as-built, impacted as-planned, collapsed as-built, time impact analysis), disruption, prolongation, global claims, concurrent delay
• Dispute resolution: See references/disputes.md — DAB/DAAB, adjudication, arbitration, mediation, CAB, enforcement
• Procurement & tendering: See references/procurement.md — MDB frameworks, procurement strategy, evaluation methods, collaborative contracting

Scripts (Premium Features)

Three automated tools for contract administration:

Notice Calendar Generator

Generates a complete notice/obligations calendar for any supported contract form.

python3 scripts/notice_calendar.py --form fidic-red --format md
python3 scripts/notice_calendar.py --form psscoc --format csv --output notices.csv

Supported forms: fidic-red, fidic-yellow, psscoc, sia, nec4

Claims Template Generator

Produces structured claim notices, EOT applications, variation claims, and interim payment templates.

python3 scripts/claims_template.py --list
python3 scripts/claims_template.py --form fidic-red --type notice-of-claim --output notice.md
python3 scripts/claims_template.py --form psscoc --type eot-application --output eot.md

Templates include: clause references, section structure, placeholder fields, reservation of rights.

Obligations Register Generator

Creates a trackable register of Contractor and/or Employer obligations with priorities and categories.

python3 scripts/obligations_register.py --form fidic-red --party both --format md
python3 scripts/obligations_register.py --form psscoc --party contractor --format csv --output obligations.csv

Supported forms: fidic-red, psscoc, sia

SOP Act Payment Timeline Calculator

Calculates all statutory deadlines from a payment claim date under Singapore's SOP Act.

python3 scripts/sop_calculator.py --claim-date 2026-06-30
python3 scripts/sop_calculator.py --claim-date 2026-06-30 --response-period 14 --format csv --output timeline.csv

Outputs: full timeline with critical deadlines, smash-and-grab warnings, time-bar alerts.

FIDIC Contract Comparator

Side-by-side comparison of FIDIC Red, Yellow, Silver, and Emerald Books across 6 topics.

python3 scripts/fidic_comparator.py --forms red,yellow,silver --topic risk
python3 scripts/fidic_comparator.py --forms red,silver --topic all --format csv --output comparison.csv

Topics: overview, risk, claims, disputes, payment, termination, all

Delay Analysis Calculator

Input delay events and get critical path impact analysis with EOT entitlement and LD exposure.

python3 scripts/delay_calculator.py --baseline-start 2026-05-11 --baseline-end 2030-05-10 \
  --add "Late access|2026-06-01|2026-06-30|employer|critical" \
  --add "Weather|2026-07-15|2026-07-25|neutral|critical"
python3 scripts/delay_calculator.py --baseline-start 2026-05-11 --baseline-end 2030-05-10 --events events.json --format json

Outputs: delay summary, EOT entitlement, LD exposure, concurrent delay detection, recommendations.

Excel Register Generator

Exports obligations registers and notice calendars to formatted .xlsx with colour-coded priorities.

python3 scripts/excel_register.py --form fidic-red --type both --output contract_admin.xlsx --commencement 2026-05-11
python3 scripts/excel_register.py --form psscoc --type obligations --output obligations.xlsx

Requires: openpyxl (pip3 install openpyxl)

Key Principles (Always Apply)

1. Read the contract first — standard form positions mean nothing if amended
2. Time-bars are fatal — always check notice periods before anything else
3. Concurrent delay — different jurisdictions treat this differently; state the applicable approach
4. Good faith — no general duty in English/Singapore law unless express (NEC Clause 10.1); mandatory in French law (Art. 1104)
5. Fitness for purpose vs reasonable skill & care — contractor design (Yellow/Silver) vs consultant design (White Book)
6. Prevention principle — employer cannot benefit from their own act of prevention; may override liquidated damages if no EOT mechanism exists