NEC4 ECC Option A contract. 6 months into 24 month contract. Contractor has submitted a CE for 12 week delay and significant delay costs due to a utility provider taking longer than agreed to complete works. All programmes have been accepted, critical path shown, CE process followed correctly.
CE was agreed and planned completion and completion date moved out 12 weeks. Next programme, critical path is changed and the works elements that the contractor cited as being delayed now aren’t! Can they do this?
Also, if the contractor finishes ahead of the new planned completion is the Client entitled to any of the CE back?