A standard form contract (sometimes referred to as a contract of adhesion, a leonine contract, a take-it-or-leave-it contract, or a boilerplate contract) is a contract between two parties, where the terms and conditions of the contract are set by one of the parties, and the other party has little or no ability to ...
There are three main types of contract that use the SIA Conditions, namely: the Lump Sum Contract; Measurement Contract; and. Minor Works Contract.
Singapore predominantly uses lump-sum contracts. As many domestic projects are for building works, these are mostly tendered on a 'build-only'/'construct-only' procurement model, followed by 'design and build' procurement models where the contractor's specialist experience is more critical.
Standard Form Contracts are agreements that employ standardised, non-negotiated provisions, usually in pre-printed forms. These are sometimes referred to as 'boilerplate contracts', 'contracts of adhesion', or 'take it or leave it' contracts.
What is a standard form contract? While many contracts are entirely purpose made, standard form contracts consist of standardised, pre-written terms and conditions. Because standard form contracts are familiar to people in an industry, they often function effectively without the need for much negotiation.
The most commonly used standard forms of contract in Singapore are the Singapore Institute of Architects (“SIA”), Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore (“REDAS”) and Public Sector Standard Conditions of Contract (“PSSCOC”) standard form contracts.
At a greater level of detail, JCT provides a number of subjective tests for determining if certain events give grounds for recompense to the contractor, whereas NEC generally relies on more objective tests.
Standard-form contracts are pre-drafted templates with standard terms and conditions popular in similar transactions. By using a standard form, parties can save time and resources negotiating individual contract terms. It can be especially beneficial in industries with frequent transactions and similar terms.