Thomas Telford acquires contracts to sit alongside the NEC portfolio
(June 2025)
Thomas Telford Ltd (TTL), the commercial arm of the Institution of Civil Engineers and publisher of the NEC Contract suite, has acquired the Framework Alliance Contract (FAC-1) and Term Alliance Contract (TAC-1) from the Association of Consulting Architects. Bertoli Mitchell assisted TTL with advice on the terms of this acquisition.
The strategic move unites all leading collaborative contracts and forms – NEC4, FAC-1 and TAC-1 – under one trusted banner, giving users a single source for framework, project and long-term alliance solutions together with integrated advice and training.
Launched in 2016, FAC-1 provides a multi-party framework that drives shared goals, clear communication and continuous learning among alliance members, while TAC-1 is a versatile term-maintenance contract that promotes better value through BIM integration.
Both were co-authored by King’s College London Emeritus Professor David Mosey CBE FICE, who now joins the NEC4 Contract Board, strengthening TTL’s expertise in alliance delivery.
“NEC4 contracts, FAC-1 and TAC-1 are ideally suited to work hand-in-hand,” said Rekha Thawrani OBE, global director of NEC Contracts.
“This acquisition will improve user experience by offering an integrated, highly experienced team with unrivalled knowledge of collaborative contracting throughout the project lifecycle.”
Professor Mosey welcomed the development: “The FAC-1 and TAC-1 forms have gained extensive traction, including strong recommendation of FAC-1 in the UK Construction Playbook.
Embedding them within the NEC family will extend their reach and help more teams realise the benefits of shared goals, early risk management and improved learning.”
Janet Young, ICE director general, added: “Ensuring professionals can draw on a comprehensive suite of contracts under one roof makes it easier to foster the collaborative behaviours needed to deliver decarbonised, sustainable and successful projects.
“This acquisition confirms Thomas Telford Ltd as the home of collaborative contracting.”