The AI Tools That Keep You on the Right Side of Your Contract
JCT and NEC4 are not forgiving of late notices and missed procedures. These tools make sure the admin keeps up with the project.
4 April 2026 · 5 min read · 2 tools · Updated 22 Apr 2026
Most contract disputes on fit-out projects are not about who is right. They are about who followed the procedure correctly and who did not. The contractor who issued the Early Warning Notice within the time bar wins the argument even when the employer thinks they should not have to pay. The one who did not issue it finds out at adjudication that their entitlement has been assessed under NEC4 Clause 63.5 rather than the agreed compensation event procedure. These two tools keep the contractual administration running alongside the project, not six weeks behind it.
JCT Contract Assistant
Correct notification sequence for EoT, loss and expense, and instruction records
JCT Design and Build 2016 has specific procedures for Relevant Events and Relevant Matters under Clauses 4.8 and 4.9. Miss the notification window and your entitlement to both time and money becomes difficult to defend. The JCT Contract Assistant guides you through the correct notification sequence for extension of time claims, loss and expense applications, and instruction records.
It produces the letter or notice in the correct format, references the right clause, and flags what supporting evidence you need to attach. It also tracks the employer's response obligations so you know when they are in default of their own procedural duties.
Why it matters
JCT D&B 2016 places the burden of timely notification on the contractor. A Relevant Event that is not notified promptly can be time-barred even if the cause is entirely the employer's fault. The tool makes sure the notification goes out when it should.
Key features
- ✓Extension of time notices referencing Relevant Events under Clause 4.8
- ✓Loss and expense applications under Clause 4.9 with supporting heads of claim
- ✓Instruction records with variation pricing timelines
- ✓Employer response tracking with default flags
NEC4 Early Warning & CE Dashboard
EWN log, CE register, and eight-week time bar tracker in one place
NEC4 is built around proactive risk management. The Early Warning Notice requirement under Clause 15 exists to give both parties visibility of issues before they become expensive. The Compensation Event procedure under Clause 61 has tight timescales - if you do not notify within eight weeks of becoming aware of the event, you lose your entitlement under Clause 61.3.
The NEC4 Dashboard tracks all live Early Warnings, compensation event notifications, and Programme submissions. It flags approaching time bars, records the PM's responses, and builds the audit trail that matters if things go to adjudication under the SCL Protocol 2nd Edition framework.
Why it matters
NEC4 Clause 63.5 is the one contractors wish they had read more carefully. If the contractor did not give an Early Warning when they could have, the PM assesses the compensation event as if they had. That assessment is nearly always lower than what the event actually cost.
Key features
- ✓Early Warning Notice log with eight-week CE notification tracker
- ✓Compensation event register with PM response deadlines
- ✓Programme submission record with Accepted Programme version control
- ✓Adjudication readiness summary for each live dispute
Contract administration is not glamorous. It is also the thing that determines whether your final account closes at the right number. These tools make sure the paperwork is never the reason you lose an entitlement you should have had.
Written by a Senior PM with 18 years of UK fit-out experience. Content is for guidance only and does not constitute professional advice. Always verify against your specific contract and applicable legislation.