FIDIC Contract Manager CCM Question # 13 Topic 2 Discussion

Under the FIDIC Red Book 1999, advance payment is a sum paid to the Contractor to help cash flow early in the project. It must be repaid through deductions from interim payments according to a specified schedule.

Sub-Clause 14.5 (Advance Payment)states that the Contractor must repay the advance payment by installments, typically by the Time for Completion. If the advance payment has not been fully repaid by the Time for Completion, the outstanding balance becomes immediately due and payable by the Contractor (Option A). This ensures the Employer recovers the advance by the time the project completes.

Additionally,upon termination of the Contract(Sub-Clause 15.2 or relevant termination clauses), any outstanding balance of the advance payment becomes immediately due (Option D). This protects the Employer’s financial interest if the Contract ends prematurely.

Option B (before the Performance Certificate is issued) and Option C (before the Taking-Over Certificate is issued) arenotexplicitly linked in FIDIC Red Book 1999 to triggering immediate repayment of the advance payment. The Taking-Over Certificate marks practical completion and may precede the final repayment schedule, while the Performance Certificate is issued after the Defects Notification Period.

Therefore, the correct situations for immediate repayment of outstanding advance payment balance arebefore Time for Completion and upon termination of the Contract.