FAC-1, TAC-1, PPC2000 and TPC2005

FAC-1, TAC-1, PPC2000 and TPC2005 are the principal forms of contract published by the Association of Consultant Architects as part of a suite of partnering and alliancing contracts.

FAC-1 is a standard form of framework agreement designed to be suitable for use with other standard forms of project contract (e.g. JCT, NEC, PPC2000, FIDIC) in any jurisdiction. It is intended to achieve efficiencies in framework procurement by combining consistency of approach with alliancing principles to improve value and delivery for multiple projects.

PPC2000 and TAC-1 (and its predecessor, TPC2005) are contracts that create multi-party two-stage forms of project contract and long-term contract. They provide an integrated design, costing, risk management, supply and construction process for the project team under a single, multi-party contract. One contract is signed at an early stage to create conditional appointments for the main contractor, consultants and specialist subcontractors who all agree to work together towards an agreed timeline.

All parties are encouraged to work together, including the client, creating a team who are involved in every aspect of the task. Key specialists can also join the team when they are appointed.

Typical users of these contracts include central and local government, housing associations, and private sector owners/developers.

Both PPC2000 and TPC2005 (and therefore TAC-1) are recommended by the government for use when implementing the ‘two-stage open book’ and ‘supply chain collaboration’ procurement and delivery models that, through a series of trial projects, have demonstrated substantial savings and improved value. PPC2000 is shown to be particularly suitable for use with level 2 and level 3 BIM and with integrated project insurance.

The TAC-1 is a term alliance contract and the successor to TPC2005.  It closely follows the provisions of TPC2005 and combines TPC2005 with the structure and features of FAC‑1 to provide a contract that is intended to support and integrate the provision of any type or scale of works and/or services and/or supplies.

The FAC-1 Framework Alliance Contract (published in June 2016) and the TAC-1 Term Alliance Contract (published in June 2017) were drafted and developed by Professor David Mosey of King's College London Centre for Construction Law and Dispute Resolution, with input from a consultation group of over 120 organisations in the legal profession and the construction industry.

In December 2020, Cabinet Office issued The Construction Playbook, which mandated for central government projects a number of the principles and policies that are entrenched in this suite of contracts. The Construction Playbook explicitly suggests the use of PPC2000, TAC-1, and FAC-1. The Construction Playbook principles are further supported by the practical steps set out in the Constructing the Gold Standard written by King's College London and published by the Cabinet Office.

This section is maintained by Assad Maqbool of Trowers & Hamlins LLP.

Document template: PPC 2000 process