Agreed delay damages in subcontracts

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Legal and contractual solutions · Liquidated damages

May a subcontract prescribe an all-embracing liquidated-damages remedy for late completion?

Defined exposure, criticality and exclusive recovery

Yes. A subcontract may fix an agreed daily or weekly remedy for delay, provided the clause is properly triggered, proportionate to the protected interest and coordinated with any pass-through or actual-loss provisions.

Quick answer

Yes. A subcontract may fix an all-embracing delay remedy, but its scope and relationship with other loss must be stated clearly

The clause should identify the subcontract completion obligation, rate, period, cap, extension machinery and whether the agreed sum is the exclusive remedy for delay. The calculation should reflect the likely effect of the package, including main-contract exposure only where that is a rational project risk. The contractor cannot recover the agreed sum and overlapping pass-through or disruption loss for the same delay consequence.

IssuePosition
Subcontract completion dateMust be clear and adjustable for stated events
Agreed delay rateMay include rational main-contract exposure
CriticalityAssess the package at contract formation
Exclusive-remedy wordingState whether actual delay loss is displaced
Other claimsRemove duplication with the agreed sum

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