Which form of contract to use
Before starting a public works project, the Contracting Authority, or Employer, needs to identify the most suitable contract type from the CWMF suite of contracts.
Guidance Note GN 1.0 Introduction to the Capital Works Management Framework is a useful resource.
You can also try our Which Contract Should I Use tool.
The table below summarises the circumstances in which each of the forms of contract is appropriate. The values are exclusive of VAT.
Types of CWMF Contract
| Category | Contract Value | Nature of Works | Form of Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
Employer Designed Contracts |
Value of Contract €1m or lower |
Building and Civil Engineering Works |
PW-CF6 – Public Works Short Form of Contract for Public Building and Civil Engineering Works |
 |
Value of Contract between €1m and €5m |
Building and Civil Engineering Works |
PW-CF5 Public Works Contract for Minor Building and Civil Engineering works designed by the Employer |
 |
Value of Contract greater than €5m |
Building Works |
PW-CF1– Public Works Contract for Building Works designed by the Employer |
|
Value of Contract greater than €5m |
Civil Engineering Works |
PW-CF3 – Public Works Contract for Civil Engineering Works designed by the Employer |
Contractor Designed Contracts |
|
Building Works |
PW-CF2 – Public Works Contract for Building Works designed by the Contractor |
|
|
Civil Engineering Works |
PW-CF4 - Public Works Contract for Civil Engineering Works designed by the Contractor |
Investigation Works |
Value of Contract €50,000 or lower |
Investigation Works, Building and Civil Engineering |
|
|
Value of Contract greater than €50,000 |
Investigation Works, Building and Civil Engineering |
|
Heritage Projects |
|
Protected structures, existing structures within the curtilage of a protected structure or the attendant ground, or structures to which the National Monuments Acts apply. |
2 Contract Strategy – PW-CF7 or PW-CF8 and either PW-CF1, PW-CF3, PW-CF5 or PW-CF6 |
Framework Agreements |
|
A steady stream or pipeline of similar projects. |
|
Early Contractor Involvement |
|
For large projects with a value in excess of €100m or technically complex projects. Permission must be sought from the GCCC in advance. |
|
Term Maintenance and Refurbishment Contract |
|
For urgent or certain types of planned maintenance or refurbishment projects. |