The Defects Liability Period commences on Completion (and not when Takeover, being an internal Defence process only, is completed). Accordingly, this stage operates concurrently with Step 8 (Takeover).

The Defects Liability Period usually extends for up to 12 months after Completion, but may be subject to extension in accordance with the provisions of the construction contract.

The main purpose of the Defects Liability Period is to rectify Defects (as defined in the construction contract) in the Works. The construction contract contains detailed procedures in respect of the timing, responsibility and costs of rectifying such defects.

The construction contract and the Commissioning and Handover Plan will also identify the extent of any planned and unplanned maintenance, and building tuning to be conducted by the construction contractor during the Defects Liability Period.

This is intended to assist IAD / Project Director and NOD to distinguish between the respective responsibilities of the construction contractor and the CMS/GSS Contractors.

Accordingly, the Defects Liability Period will be primarily managed by the IAD project team / Project Director having regard to the provisions of the:

• construction contract; and
• CMS and GSS contracts,

with co-operation and assistance from NOD (Regional Office and Manager Technical Services).

At the end of the defects liability period post occupancy evaluation should be undertaken by IAD in accordance with the commissioning / handover / takeover process on the IM.

Key considerations of the POE include:

• Obtain user feedback on operational effectiveness of new assets;
• Determine actual performance (e.g. ESD performance like energy and water);
• Compare the original DBC operating and life cycle budgets to the final contracted services and costs;
• Obtain feedback from NOD/Region/CMS/GSS on maintainability and potential design improvements;
• Review the Commissioning, Handover and Takeover process and identify areas to improve;
• Identify recommendations for improvement to the detailed business case, design delivery, construction delivery and operation phases that can be incorporated into new projects;
• Buildings tuning (typically quarterly reviews) are carried out during the DLP whereby the operations of building systems are refined to ensue that the building meets its design expectation and expected energy and water efficiency at the end of the DLP; and
• CMC/CMS contractors may undertake a detailed review of the building 3-4 months or at an appropriate stage before the end of the DLP and will submit a list of issues and outstanding defects to IAD / NOD. IAD / NOD will then review the defects list so that the Construction Contractor can attend to those defects prior to the end of the DLP.