EXAMPLES OF ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION LETTERS

　　工程付款(Payment for the Works)

　　工程的進度款是以當月完成的工程量為基礎進行計算的，有時為了核定承包商應得到的期中付款的額度,業(yè)主的工程師通知承包商協助其對完成的工作進行計量 。

　　范例1

　　Date:

　　Dear Sirs,

　　Sub: Works to be Measured

　　In accordance with Sub-clause 12.1 and for the purpose of determining the interim payment, we give you notice of our requirement for the following parts of the Works to be measured:

　　(Description of such parts)

　　You are required to attend forthwith to assist us in making such measurements and to supply the following particulars:

　　(Description of the required instruments and personnel)

　　Yours faithfully,

　　Engineer

　　[講解] 這是業(yè)主的工程師致承包商的一封關于工程計量的通知函。

　　第一段說明，根據合同，為了決定期中付款的額度，工程師通知承包商，要求對工程的某些部分進行測量。

　　第二段說明，工程師要求承包商協助其進行測量，并提供有關儀器和人員。

　　[注釋]

　　1、determining the interim payment: 決定期中付款(的額度)

　　進度付款申請與支付

　　進度付款申請一般隨月進度報表提交，有的合同規(guī)定，進度報表可被視為該月的進度付款申請。

　　范例2

　　Date:

　　Dear Sirs,

　　Sub: Application for Progress Payment

　　Attached, please find our app1ication for Monthly Progress Payment of (month of the year).

　　Your prompt review and early approval will be highly appreciated.

　　Yours faithfully,

　　Contractor

　　[講解]

　　這是承包商致業(yè)主方的一封付款申請的前附函，向業(yè)主申請支付月進度款。隨信附上申請書，并希望業(yè)主方及時進行審查和批準。

　　范例3

　　Date:

　　Dear Sirs,

　　Sub: Interim Payment Certificate No.2

　　Your application No. 2 of the 5, 1996 for the work done in April is wrongly dated. You are not entitled to 4-weekly Payment but by calendar month only.

　　I have today issued the following certificate:

　　You will note that I here again reduced the amount of Preliminary Items and the value of fencing as before.

　　I have also deduced an amount of US $3 300 for fencing materials which were stolen during the preceding month.

　　Since the net amount due to you is less than the minimum of US $l50, 000, as shown in the Appendix to the Tender, I hereby certify that you are not entitled to any payment in respect of your Application NO.2 and I have notified the Employer accordingly. This amount will be paid together with the amount to be certified for the month of June.

　　Yours faithfully,

　　Engineer

　　[講解]

　　這是業(yè)主的工程師關于期中支付證書致承包商的一封信函。

　　第一段：說明工程師認為承包商計算期中支付款的時間有誤，每次付款應按日歷月而不是按每四周來付款。

　　第二段：說明工程師給出了他簽發(fā)的期中支付證書的內容，涉及的工作項包括：準備工作;拆除工作;設置圍欄;開挖工作;結構工程;運達現場的材料等，并給出了扣除了5%的保留金和以前支付的款項后承包商應得到的進度款凈額。

　　第三段：說明工程師在準備工作項和設置圍欄這兩項下，對承包商申請的金額進行了扣減。

　　第四段：說明工程師還扣除了上個月在現場被盜的圍欄材料的價值。

　　第五段：說明由于承包商該月應得到的付款的凈金額低于投標書附錄規(guī)定的月最小付金額，工程師決定，這筆金額在當月暫時不支付，與下月的應支付款一起支付，并同時將這決定通知業(yè)主。

　　[注釋]

　　1、interim payment certificate: 期中支付證書。

　　2、4-weekly payment: 按每四個星期支付。

　　范例4

　　Date:

　　Dear Sirs,

　　Sub: Progress Payment

　　Contractor's Reference Letter No.__

　　Enclosed is a copy of the wire request utilized by the Owner in making payment for the period of December l, 1995 through December 31, 1995.

　　This transfer of funds was made into the bank account nominated by you in your letter referenced above.

　　Yours faithfully,

　　Owner

　　[講解]

　　這是業(yè)主在支付了該月進度款之后致承包商的通知函。

　　第一段說明，隨信附上業(yè)主用來支付12月份的進度款的電匯申請表。

　　第二段說明，這筆資金是按承包商來信的要求匯人其指定的賬戶的。

　　[注釋]

　　1、wire request: 電匯申請單，電匯申請表。

　　2、transfer of funds: 劃撥資金，匯款。

　　3、bank account: 銀行賬戶。

　　4、your letter referenced above: 上面所參照的你方的信函。

　　拖期付款

　　在工程款的支付中，業(yè)主拖欠承包商工程款的現象是屢見不鮮的。但由于工程付款程序比較復雜，有時付款過程中可能會出現一些問題，導致雙方對問題的不同看法。

　　范例5

　　Date:

　　Dear Sirs,

　　Sub: Notification of Non-Payment

　　We refer to our monthly statement No. ____ delivered to you on ____and regret to advise you that we have not yet received the payment against this statement within the stipulated period of 56 days pursuant to Sub-clause 14.7.

　　Under the circumstances and without prejudice to our interest entitlement at the rate specified in the Appendix to tender ,we request you to make the payment immediately. We will be compelled to make such action as is appropriate under the Contract, should the payment be further delayed.

　　Yours faithfully,

　　Contractor

　　[講解]

　　這是承包商致業(yè)主的一封通知函，說明在付款期限內承包商還沒有收到業(yè)主的付款。

　　第一段：說明承包商于某日期向業(yè)主提交了第___號月報表，但在合同規(guī)定的56天內仍沒有收到業(yè)主對這份報表的付款。

　　第二段：說明承包商要求業(yè)主立即付款，并聲稱享有拖期付款利息的權利。同時威脅，如果業(yè)主仍不付款的話，承包商將按照合同采取相應的行動。

　　[注釋]

　　1、monthly payment: 每月報表。

　　在FIDIC等編制的合同條件中，承包商申請每月的期中付款(進度款)時，需要提交一份monthly statement，這實際是一份付款申請書。

　　2、payment against this statement: 針對該報表的付款。against在此的意思是relating to(與相關)。

　　范例6

　　Date:

　　Dear Sirs,

　　Sub: Issues on Progress Payments

　　In response to your letter dated September 2nd ,1996,this is our position as we relate to the following:

　　1. You stated in your letter that The Owner’s untimely reimbursement after the Contractor’s request for monthly progress payment has indeed aggravated that situation.

　　Our response: First, let us make one very important clarification to you. Progress payments are not reimbursement payment to you. A progress payment by contract definition is found in Article 7.6 of the Contract Condition and is as follows:

　　The Contractor shall prepare and submit an Application for Progress Payment for the progress payment payable upon completion of stage of the Work done during the preceding month based on a schedule of values and work breakdown that allocates the Contract Price among the various elements of work.

　　Thus, an application of progress payments should represent work achieved for that period, not repayment to the Contractor for money spent. Second, thus far the Contractor has invoiced the Owner for the months of January and February,1996 for progress payments. Below is a summary for the Contractor’s edification of the actual events as they have transpired.

　　NOTE: Twenty-two days expired from submittal to payment.

　　Under Article 7.1 of the Contract Conditions, the Owner is only required to pay and we quote, "within thirty (30) days after the receipt of any application for Progress Payment, ninety percent of such progress. Based on the past two progress payments, we have honoured this obligation.

　　Therefore, your charge that we were delinquent in making progress payment is simply but untrue. We cannot comprehend your reasons and/or motives for this unfounded statement. We have taken great effort to forward funds to you as quickly as possible to support your operations in this project. To say or imply otherwise is discouraging.

　　2. In your letter, you requested for progress payments to be made within one week after submitted of application for progress payment. The payment to be made in a shorter period will be to enable you to expedite construction and to regain the schedule slippage.

　　Our response: As in the past, we will process and approve properly presented application for Payments from you as per the Contract requirements. As for scheduled achievements and recovery of work slippage, these are your contractual ob1igations and we strongly advise you to move forward with the necessary action to regain the project's schedule. Your lack of schedule adherence has nothing to do with our progress payments, which have been made properly and promptly.

　　The above reflects our firm position on the issues discussed and we all put our time and effort towards moving the project forward.

　　Yours faithfully,

　　Owner’s Representative

　　[講解]

　　這是業(yè)主的代表致承包商的一封信，分兩大部分，第一部分是反駁承包商關于業(yè)主不按時付款的說法;第二部分是拒絕承包商的無理要求。寫信的方式是，先引述承包商信中的觀點，然后逐一進行反駁。

　　第一部分包括若干段落，在這一部分中，業(yè)主首先引用了承包商意見，即：業(yè)主不及時對進度款補償(reimbursement)，從而惡化了項目目前執(zhí)行的處境。業(yè)主首先指出承包商用補償一詞的錯誤，然后引用合同，說明進度款是業(yè)主按承包商在某一時期完成的工作根據合同進行的支付，而不是對承包商實報實銷。接著，用兩次進度款支付的過程說明業(yè)主每次均是按時支付的。同時指出，承包商指責業(yè)主不按時支付是不能理解的;否認事實是對業(yè)主積極付款態(tài)度的一種傷害(To say or imply otherwise is very discouraging.)。

　　第二部分包括若干段落，在這一部分中，業(yè)主引用了承包商的要求，即：承包商聲稱，為了能使承包商趕工，希望業(yè)主在收到付款申請一周內付款。業(yè)主對此要求予以拒絕，并說明業(yè)主將一如既往地按合同規(guī)定的程序來支付進度款。趕工是承包商自己的合同義務，與進度款的支付無關，而事實上，業(yè)主的支付是恰當而迅速的。

　　在最后一段，業(yè)主建議，雙方應把時間和精力投人到項目的實施中去。

　　保留金的返還

　　一般情況下，合同規(guī)定，在業(yè)主的工程師(或代表)為工程或工程的某個區(qū)段或部分簽發(fā)了移交證書之后，應返還全部或相應比例的保留金。此時，承包商應主動向業(yè)主的工程師或代表)提出歸還保留金的要求。

　　范例7

　　Date:

　　Dear Sirs,

　　Sub: Release of Retention Money

　　We write to acknowledge receipt of the Taking-over Certificate for Section D of the works and would ask that you certify the appropriate proportion of the Retention Money pursuant to Clause 60 of the Conditions of Contract.

　　Yours faithfully,

　　Contractor

　　[講解]

　　這是承包商致業(yè)主的工程師(或代表)的一封信，說明承包商已收到了工程D區(qū)段的移交證書，因而，根據合同，要求對方簽發(fā)相應比例的保留金的支付證書。

　　1、release of retention money: 退還保留金。

　　release既可以作動詞也可以作名詞，用來表示(將暫扣的款項等的)返還或解凍。

　　retention: n. 保留，保持;保持物;記憶力。

　　2、certify the payment: 為付款開據證明，開據支付證書。

　　竣工報表，結清單與最終支付證書

　　在簽發(fā)移交證書之后，合同要求承包商在規(guī)定的時間內向業(yè)主的工程師(或代表)提交一份竣工報表;在簽發(fā)缺陷責任證書或履約證書(Performance Certificate)后，承包商還應提交最終報表和結清單。

　　范例8

　　Date:

　　Dear Sirs,

　　Sub: Statement at Completion

　　We enclosed our Statement at Completion together with supporting documents pursuant to Clause14.10 of the Conditions of Contract.

　　This shows the final value of all work done in accordance with the Contract up to the date stated in the Taking-over Certificate.

　　In addition, we have stated the further sums which we consider to be due together with an estimate of amounts which we consider will become due to us under the Contract.

　　Yours faithfully,

　　Contractor

　　[講解]

　　這是承包商向業(yè)主的工程師(或代表)提交竣工報表的一封前附函。

　　第一段：說明按照合同，承包商隨信提交竣工報告表，并附有有關證明文件。

　　第二段：說明竣工報表列出了截止到移交證書中所述的日期承包商完成工作的最終價值。

　　第三段：說明承包商還列出了到期應支付的款項以及按照合同今后還應支付給承包商的估算值。

　　范例9

　　Date:

　　Dear Sirs,

　　Sub: Discharge Pursuant to Sub-Clause 14.12

　　The Final Statement has now been submitted to the Engineer and pursuant to Sub-clause 14.12 of the Conditions we write to confirm that the total of the Final Statement represents full and final settlement of all monies due to us arising out of the Contract. This discharge will only become effective after we receive the outstanding balance of this total under the Final Payment Certificate and performance security referred to in Sub-clause 4.2.

　　Yours faithfully,

　　Contractor

　　[講解]

　　這是承包商向業(yè)主的工程師(或代表)提交的一封結清單。

　　整個信函只有一段，首先說明，承包商已經向工程師提交了最終報表，并確認，在最終報表中所述的總額即為承包商有權得到的全部的和最終的合同金額。同時說明，只有到最終支付證書總的剩余合同款項支付給承包商并且將履約保證退還給承包商之后，本結清單才生效。

　　范例10

　　Date:

　　Dear Sirs,

　　Sub: Final Payment Certificate

　　In accordance with Sub-clause 14.13 of the Conditions, we hereby certify that the amount finally due under the Contract is as follow:

　　Final Value of the Works:

　　Less amounts previously paid by Employer:

　　Less sums to which Employer is entitled under the Contract:

　　Balance due from Employer to Contractor:

　　Yours faithfully,

　　Engineer

　　[講解]

　　這是業(yè)主的工程師向業(yè)主發(fā)出的最終支付證書，同時抄送承包商。

　　整個信函的內容十分簡單，工程師說明了合同最終結算內容：工程最終價值;扣除業(yè)主已經支付的款項;扣除業(yè)主按合同有權從承包商收回的款項;最后得出業(yè)主應支付給承包商的余額。

　　[注釋] balance due from Employer to Contractor: 業(yè)主應支付給承包商的金額。

　　工程變更與費用調節(jié) (Variation and Cost Adjustment)

　　變更建議書

　　范例11

　　Date:

　　Dear Sirs,

　　Sub: Request for Change Proposal

　　With reference to Clause 13 of the Conditions of Contract, you are requested to prepare and submit a Chang Proposal for the Change noted below in accordance with the following instructions within of the date of this letter.

　　(Detailed description of the special requirements on the requested change)

　　The General Terms and Conditions for this change proposal:

　　(l) Please submit your estimate to us showing what effect the requested Change will have on the Contract Price.

　　(2) Your estimate shall include your claim for the additional time, if any, for completion of the requested change.

　　(3) If you have any opinion negative to the adoption of the requested Change in connection with the conformability to the other provisions of the Contract or the safety of the Works, please inform us of your opinion in your proposal of revised provisions.

　　(4) Any increase or decrease in the work of the Contractor relating to the services of its personnel shall be calculated.

　　(5) You shal1 not proceed with the execution of the work for the requested Change until we have accepted and confirmed the amount and nature in writing.

　　Yours faithfully,

　　Employer

　　[講解]

　　這是業(yè)主向承包商發(fā)出的一封信函，要承包商針對業(yè)主的意見提出變更建議書。

　　第一段：說明業(yè)主依據合同條件要求承包商按所給出的指示在收到信函的 天內提出變更建議書。

　　第二段：說明業(yè)主提出了該變更建議書的條件，包括：承包商應提交該變更費用估算和對合同價格的影響;承包商還應提交變更工作對工期的影響;如果承包商認為業(yè)主要求的變更會導致與合同的其他規(guī)定不一致或影響工程的安全，承包商應在建議書中提出對有關規(guī)定的修改意見;變更導致承包商人員的工作量的增減情況;承包商只能在業(yè)主書面接受和確認變更的工作量與性質之后才能開始執(zhí)行變更的工作。

　　[注釋]

　　1、change proposal: 變更建議書。

　　2、what effect the requested Change will have on the Contract Price: (業(yè)主)要求的變更對合同價格的影響

　　3、your claim for the additional time，if any，for completion of the requested change: 你方為完成業(yè)主要求的變更工作所提出的工期索賠(如果有的話)。

　　范例12

　　Date:

　　Dear Sirs,

　　Sub: Cost for Preparing the Change Proposal

　　With reference to your Request for Change Proposal, we are pleased to notify you of the approximate cost of preparing the Change Proposal in accordance with the Conditions of the Contract. We acknowledge that your agreement to the cost of preparing the Change Proposal, in accordance with Sub-clause 13 .3, is required. before estimating the cost for change work.

　　The following is the cost for preparation of Change Proposal:

　　(1) Engineering Amount

　　(2) Other Cost

　　Total Cost (1)+(2)

　　We look forward to your reply

　　Yours faithfully,

　　Contractor

　　[講解]

　　這是承包商接到業(yè)主要求其編制變更建議書之后致業(yè)主的一封信函，說明編制的費用。

　　第一段：說明根據合同條件，承包商將編制變更建議書的費用通知業(yè)主，并說明，按合同的有關規(guī)定，在估算變更工作的費用之前，編制變更建議書的費用需要取得業(yè)主的同意。

　　第二段：列出了編寫變更建議書的各項費用，包括設計人工費和其他費用。

　　從信函的內容來看，建議書是關于設計變更的內容。