NEC Contract Management Software
Solving the challenges of NEC contract management
Front-loaded by design, NEC contracts reward disciplined teams and expose those who rely on informal processes. FastDraft™, our specialist contract management software, dismantles the traps that are easy to fall into.
Expensive missed deadlines
Stalled compensation events
Documentation gaps
Lack of visibility
NEC's time bar provisions are among the strictest of any standard contract, which can lose you the right to recover time and cost.
FastDraft™
✔ helps teams stay ahead of key dates with structured workflows
✔ provides contract-ready templates
✔ ensures clear visibility of notices, deadlines and actions
✔ reduces reliance on manual trackers and disconnected calendars.
Without a structured workflow, compensation events get stuck between notification, quotation and agreement.
FastDraft
✔ brings each step into a consistent workflow
✔ helps project teams manage communications, responsibilities and decisions
✔ pulls everything into one portal, so events progress with less friction and fewer avoidable delays.
NEC processes rely heavily on clearly identified communications, including notifications, instructions, submissions, acceptances and replies.
When these records are spread across inboxes and folders, it becomes harder to confirm what was communicated, when it was issued and who was responsible.
FastDraft™
✔ centralises notices, approvals, decisions and supporting documents
✔ creates a stronger audit trail
✔ makes it easier to demonstrate compliance or defend a contractual position when needed.
Senior teams need to see risk, cost and programme status across all contracts.
FastDraft
✔ captures contract data in a structured, reportable format,
✔ gives senior teams real-time insight across projects, contracts, teams and divisions
✔ offers integration options for CDEs, ERPs, data warehouses and BI tools
NEC Managers using FastDraft report
See how Anglian Water switched from a legacy CMS in a single day
Anglian Water uses FastDraft to support NEC contract management across its infrastructure programme, improving visibility, strengthening audit trails and standardising contract administration across project teams and supply chain partners.
How the Environment Agency Scales Contract Management with Built Intelligence
"FastDraft was the most user-friendly and achieved the most accurate results."
Following a user-led evaluation, the Environment Agency selected FastDraft to manage around 3,000 NEC contracts, improving visibility, reporting and decision-making across its £2.5 billion portfolio.
How National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) Streamlined Project Delivery with FastDraft™
"You've got all the contract administration tools in one place. Bringing that together with our partners makes things much more seamless."
National Grid Electricity Transmission uses FastDraft to simplify NEC contract management across internal teams and delivery partners, improving consistency and speed across live infrastructure projects.
See how FastDraft improves NEC management
See how FastDraft fits your
NEC processes
FastDraft is configured around structured contract workflows, helping teams administer NEC3 and NEC4 contracts consistently across projects and programmes.
During the consultation, we will discuss:
- The NEC contract forms and editions you use
- Your current administration and reporting processes
- Required roles, permissions and approval routes
- Reporting, migration and integration requirements
- Implementation and user adoption.
Streamline all major forms of contract
NEC3
NEC4
JCT
FIDIC
IChemE
Bespoke
More NEC resources to support your team
Explore practical NEC courses, webinars and templates designed to help project and commercial teams manage contracts with more confidence.
NEC courses
NEC webinars
NEC templates
NEC contract management software FAQs
What is an NEC contract?
An NEC (New Engineering Contract) is a range of standard-form contracts used across construction projects worldwide. The latest edition of the NEC suite is NEC4, which is one of the most widely adopted contract frameworks in the UK.
NEC contracts cover a broad range of modern procurement and governance expectations. The most common forms include the Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) for works delivery, the Professional Service Contract (PSC) for consultancy appointments, and aligned subcontract forms.
How are NEC contracts used in construction?
Used most heavily in civil engineering, highways, rail, water, energy and public building projects, an NEC contact’s main option clauses allow clients to tailor how risk, payment and programme management work.
Its structured approach to risk and change management aligns well with the governance requirements of public procurement and regulated industries. With options ranging from priced contracts with an activity schedule through to target cost and cost-reimbursable models.
Both NEC3 and NEC4 remain in active use across the industry. Many frameworks and long-term programmes still operate under NEC3, while new procurements increasingly adopt NEC4. Any NEC contract management software needs to support both editions.
What is NEC3 contract management?
NEC3 contract management is the process of administering a construction contract under the NEC3 suite. This involves managing formal notices, early warnings, compensation events, programme submissions and payments in line with the procedures and timescales set out in the contract.
Built Intelligence’s contract management software FastDraft is purpose-built for the way NEC contracts work in practice. Designed by industry specialists, the platform keeps NEC administration consistent, protects commercial positions, and gives key decision-makers the holistic view they need.
Can you still use NEC3?
While NEC4 is the latest edition, NEC3 contracts remain in active use across the industry. Organisations often manage NEC3 and NEC4 contracts at the same time, which is why any NEC contract management software needs to support both editions.
FastDraft, software by Built Intelligence, includes pre-built workflows for both NEC3 and NEC4, automated time bar tracking and portfolio-level reporting, so you can manage all your projects in one place.
Has NEC4 replaced NEC3?
Newer construction contracts typically use NEC4, however, NEC3 contracts that were already in place continue to operate under NEC3 terms. It’s likely that, eventually, NEC4 contracts will phase out NEC3s.