Claims Assessment Report Summary
1. Introduction
The report assesses claims submitted by the contractor (Joint Venture) in September 1994, organized into 12 main sections plus 15 additional claims. The assessment followed:
- Study of claim backgrounds and supporting documents
- Reference to contract clause 52 regarding notification & substantiation
- Exclusion of handwritten remarks not formally communicated
- Use of Resident Engineer's calculation approach for additional payments
2. Key Claim Sections
Section 2: Late Mobilization Advance
- Contractor withdrew this claim
- Committee found no substantial hindrance to mobilization despite minor payment delays
- Local currency portion delay (Birr 431,844.42) was minor compared to total advance (Birr 6,960,950.36)
Section 3: Late Customs Clearance
- Contract terms modified payment of customs duties
- Two payment methods: direct client payment and importation under bank guarantee
- Committee accepted 17 days delay responsibility for client (vs contractor's claim of 95 days)
- Recommended payments:
- JV expatriate costs: DM 13,703 (vs contractor's DM 376,800.78)
- Demurrage/storage: Birr 31,686.29 (vs contractor's Birr 285,842.41)
Section 5: Lack of Possession of Site (Afar Problems)
- Reviewed 123 claim items - many rejected for lack of substantiation
- Accepted delays:
- Late access to Dinile Hill borrow pit: 6 weeks
- Surface drainage: 7.47 days (1.25 weeks)
- Subsurface drainage: 1.71 days (0.29 weeks)
- Recommended payments:
- JV expatriate costs: DM 30,412.33
- Office/housing: Birr 20,202.52
- JV plant costs: DM 18,659.89
3. Financial Summary
Claim Category | Contractor's Claim | Committee's Recommendation |
---|---|---|
Disruption Claim Part I | DM 3,383,242.81 Birr 9,688,925.29 |
DM 88,371.84 Birr 133,365.85 |
Disruption Claim Part II | DM 3,042,741.44 Birr 2,210,510.55 |
DM 49,973.20 Birr 58,432.15 |
Other Claims | DM 440,785.54 Birr 1,354,104.69 |
DM 58,187.54 Birr 480,449.48 |
Total Claims | DM 6,866,769.79 Birr 13,135,183.39 |
DM 196,191.35 Birr 672,247.48 |
Counter Claims Against Contractor | Birr 375,996.98 |
4. Key Conclusions
- Original completion date: March 30, 1994
- Contractor granted 36.5 days extension to May 7, 1994
- Actual completion in March 1996 - employer entitled to liquidated damages
- Many claims rejected due to:
- Lack of timely notification/substantiation
- Contractor's responsibility for property/safety
- Insufficient documentation
- Significant reductions from contractor's claimed amounts