FIDIC contract cheat sheet for subcontractors
Protect your position on a FIDIC project by following your own subcontract, including its payment, notice, change and completion requirements.
by Jack Butler-Kettle · About 5 min readShare
Before you start
Use this as a quick operational checklist, not a complete contract summary. Keep the signed form, amendments and project dates beside it.
For subcontractors on projects using FIDIC main contracts. Your subcontract may be a FIDIC form or bespoke. FIDIC's 2011 construction subcontract accompanies the 1999 Red Book; it is not a universal subcontract for every book or edition. Check Particular Conditions and governing law.
Working in another role? See the sheet for main contractors or clients.
Step-by-step guide
1. Identify your agreement and contractual contact
Do this: Collect the subcontract and incorporated main-contract terms. Map scope, design, access, interfaces and authorised instructions. Identify what must be sent to the Contractor and what it must pass upstream.
Watch for: The Engineer is not automatically your contractual payer or notice recipient. A main-contract entitlement does not automatically become a subcontract entitlement.
Subcontract management and administration can help turn the agreed terms into a working diary of duties and notices.
2. Follow the subcontract payment chain
Do this: Submit the required statement, measurement and supporting documents to the named recipient. Track assessment, certification if applicable, deductions, currency and the actual payment deadline.
Watch for: Main-contract Clause 14 dates may not apply to you. Check conditions linking payment to upstream events and their enforceability under local law.
3. Record the change and preserve both routes
Do this: Obtain the instruction through the subcontract procedure. Submit required notices and substantiation to the Contractor. Identify any information needed for an upstream claim, with dates and proof of delivery.
Watch for: Back-to-back wording can leave a short reporting window. FIDIC's contract FAQs highlight the need for realistic subcontract timescales.
4. Keep a package-level cause and effect record
Do this: Notify through the subcontract, preserve the programme and explain affected work, mitigation and cost. Update continuing effects and respond to requests for further particulars.
Watch for: Do not assume you have the main contractor's 28-day claim window. Use your actual subcontract trigger, deadline and recipient.
5. Secure package close-out evidence
Do this: Record tests, taking over of your works, defects and final submissions. Map retention and security release conditions. Review any discharge before signing and preserve outstanding claims expressly where required.
Watch for: Main-works taking over may not release your retention. Check the subcontract dispute route and local rights before suspending or terminating. See FIDIC contract checks.
Before you finish: Write down the next action, its owner, deadline and delivery method. Get advice on uncertain rights before an irreversible step.
Worked example
The facts
Fictional example: a subcontractor on a FIDIC project sends a delay email only to the main-contract Engineer.
What happens
It checks its subcontract and identifies the Contractor as the required recipient for its notification.
It follows that procedure promptly, preserving the earlier email and checking whether a deadline has already been affected.
What this shows
Project awareness and compliant subcontract service are assessed separately. The earlier email is not assumed to cure a missed notice.
FIDIC subcontractor briefing template
Fill the blank briefing from the executed agreement and its amendments. Have the contractual contact, deadlines and responsibilities checked, then issue a dated version to the team.
Free blank template for your own project. The completed example is shown below. No email address required.
View the completed example
Completed fictional example
Westhaven refurbishment · 14 October 2026 · Version 1.0
Project and contract
- Project / package
- Westhaven refurbishment / internal works
- Our role / party
- Subcontractor / Westhaven Interiors Ltd
- Selected form / edition
- FIDIC Conditions of Subcontract for Construction, 2011, with a 1999 Red Book main contract
- Amendments / controlled copy
- Signed contract plus amendments schedule rev 2, held in contract folder
- Briefing owner / checked
- Commercial lead; checked 14 October 2026; briefing revision 1
- Contractual contact / route
- Contractor’s named representative; named contact and notice category in signed communications schedule
Site-team operating sheet
Scroll across if needed to read the whole record. A dash means no value has been entered.
| Area | Completed project briefing | Record / owner |
|---|---|---|
| Scope and authority | Partition package only; setting-out design included, structural design excluded. Obtain incorporated terms before relying on the briefing. | Scope rev C; document register / project lead |
| Payment | Submit a supported cumulative application under the subcontract. Record the assessment, deductions, final payment date and receipts. | October application deadline 20 Oct 12:00; checked project diary / QS |
| Changes | Record written instructions, the agreed valuation route and any separate claim or notice requirement. Check the actual Particular Conditions and amendments. | CH-07: relocation instruction I-07; price and time unresolved / QS |
| Delay and records | Check the executed contract claim procedure, trigger and particulars requirements. Support time and cost separately with contemporary records. | Access restriction 7–8 Oct; D-07/08, AL-07/08, programme P-02 / planner |
| Completion | Record package completion, handover and defects. Check the subcontract retention release condition and final-account/challenge requirements. | Handover HR-01; as-built drawing outstanding / project lead |
Live actions and dates
Scroll across if needed to read the whole record. A dash means no value has been entered.
| Action | Checked project date / source | Owner / evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm CH-07 submission | 16 Oct 2026; review action, not a universal notice period | QS / issued submission and receipt |
| Submit October application | 20 Oct 2026 12:00; project payment schedule P rev 2 | Accounts lead / APP-10 and delivery proof |
| Resolve incomplete handover | 16 Oct 2026; close-out action CO-02 | Design lead / accepted as-built drawing |
Fictional project briefing. Dates and responsibilities shown are illustrative project entries, not standard-form defaults. This original summary does not reproduce or replace the contract. Check every clause, recipient and deadline in the actual executed documents.