NEC ECS: Is travel time payable under option A?

NEC3 and NEC4 Contracts SOCC SSOCC
1

In regards to an Option A Subcontract for electrical works, a subcontractor is claiming travel time to site (the working areas) and applying the hourly rate for an electrician to this time period.

Example:

45 minutes travel time to site
4 hours worked
45 minutes travel time from site

Total time claimed 5.5 hours

Is their travel time a recoverable cost? Or is it assumed to be included in their hourly rate? (note: there is an item in the SSCC that says ‘minimum call out charge 4 hours’.)

2

The intent, under NEC3, is that people are paid according to the time that they are in the Working Areas, which would not include travel time outside the Working Areas.

The travel time should, therefore,be included as part of the rate calculation.