Dispute Resolution Mechanisms

The contract should include different site conditions and unforeseen conditions clauses that allow contract time and amount adjustment if the conditions at site materially differ from the conditions expected and indicated in the bid documents. These clauses facilitate resolving disputes efficiently and quickly without negative impact on the project. If site conditions are significantly different than those described in the contract documents and the contractor or owner can show that the different conditions impacted the work, the contract value and duration should be adjusted accordingly. Conducting the proper surface and subsurface investigations, outlined earlier in this chapter, should minimize the occurrence of project disputes and possibility of work stoppage during the pipe bursting operations.