(What is the maximum period for the Engineer to issue the Notice of Commencement Date?

Under FIDIC 1999 and 2017 editions (e.g., Sub-Clause 8.1 [Commencement of Works]), the Engineer is required to give the Contractor not less than 7 days’ notice of the Commencement Date. However, the contract also establishes an upper limit for when the Commencement Date must be determined.

The Commencement Date must be within 42 days after the Contractor receives the Letter of Acceptance (1999) or after the Contract Agreement (2017, depending on drafting). This effectively creates the maximum timeframe within which the Engineer must issue the Notice of Commencement.

This provision ensures that the project begins within a reasonable and predictable period after contract formation, preventing undue delay by the Employer or Engineer. It also provides certainty for the Contractor in terms of mobilization, resource planning, and scheduling.

The 42-day limit reflects FIDIC’s emphasis on timely project initiation and aligns with other time-bound obligations in Clause 8, which governs commencement, delays, and completion.

Options A (84 days), C (21 days), and D (14 days) are not consistent with FIDIC provisions and therefore are incorrect.