What are the three contract types?

Asked by: Mrs. Hortense Williamson  |  Last update: February 5, 2026
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The three primary contract types in procurement are Fixed-Price, Cost-Reimbursable, and Time & Materials (T&M), each shifting risk and cost responsibility differently between buyer and seller; Fixed-Price offers price certainty (high seller risk), Cost-Reimbursable covers actual costs plus a fee (high buyer risk for unknown scopes), while T&M pays for hours and materials up to a potential cap, balancing risk.

What are the three main types of contracts?

Contracts can range from simple agreements to complex documents, depending on the scope of the work involved. The main contract types include fixed-price contracts, incentive contracts, and government contracts. Other types include: cost reimbursement contract, time and materials contract, cost plus contract, and more.

What are JCT and NEC contracts?

Both NEC and JCT contracts are standard forms of contract that are part of standard families for procuring works or consultancy services (JCT), goods, works or services (NEC). Each has an allotted person to act on behalf of the employer (contract administrator in JCT, project manager in NEC).

What is a mode 3 contract?

Mode 3: Work is conducted at the contractor's site and HSSE Risks are managed under the Contractor's HSS-MS. Contractor is not required to report HSSE performance data. Multi-Mode: In certain circumstances, contracted services span a number of activities and/or are delivered at various locations.

What are the three types of contract terms?

Condition, warranty and innominate term

These are three types of contract terms and the severity of a breach of contract will depend on which type it is. It's important to understand where you stand here, so you know your rights should anything need to be disputed.

What Are The Different Types Of Contracts In Business Law? - CountyOffice.org

19 related questions found

What are the 3 C's of a contract?

The "3 Cs of a contract" usually refer to Character, Capacity, and Capital, used by surety bond underwriters to assess contractor risk, but can also mean Certainty, Commitment, and Consideration in basic contract formation, or even Contracts, Communication, and Client Documentation for A&E firms. The most common interpretation, especially in construction, focuses on the surety's evaluation of a contractor's integrity (Character), ability to perform (Capacity), and financial strength (Capital). 

What are the 3 P's of a contract?

The Statute of Frauds and Canadian jurisprudence require that for any contract of real property to be enforceable, it must contain an agreement with respect to three essential elements knowns as the 3 P's: parties, property and price.

What are the three pillars of a contract?

Contracts are made up of three basic parts – an offer, an acceptance and consideration. The offer and acceptance are what the purpose of the agreement is between the parties. A public relations firm offers to provide its services to a potential client.

What is a C-type contract?

C contracts refer to the standard contract vehicle type (Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 16, n.d.), generally used when initial requirements are more definite and there is a more established schedule.

What is a 3rd tier contract?

Third Tier Contracting means the situation in which a prime contractor subcontracts a portion of an original contract to a subcontractor who in turn subcontracts a portion of a subcontract to a third party.

What are the 4 types of construction contracts?

The four primary types of construction contracts are Lump Sum (Fixed Price), where one price covers the entire project; Cost-Plus, where costs are reimbursed plus a fee; Time and Materials (T&M), paying hourly for labor and material costs; and Unit Price, paying for measured units like cubic yards or linear feet, with Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) also being a very common fifth type, combining cost-plus with a cap.
 

What does the JCT stand for?

The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) is a nonpartisan congressional committee in the United States that assists both the House and Senate with tax legislation.

What are the 5 basic principles of a contract?

Let's delve into these five essential principles of contract law: offer and acceptance, consideration, intention to create legal relations, capacity to contract, and legality of purpose. Understanding these principles is not only important for real-life applications but also crucial for academic purposes.

What are the 4 C's of contracts?

The document discusses the four key attributes of solid contracts: clarity, certainty, consensus, and consciousness. Clarity means clearly defining the details of the agreement. Certainty means using precise language like 'will' and 'shall'.

What are the three stages of a contract?

A contract has three distinct stages: preparation, perfection, and consummation. Preparation or negotiation begins when the prospective contracting parties manifest their interest in the contract and ends at the moment of their agreement.

What are the 4 classifications of contracts?

While many types exist, four common contract classifications include Bilateral (mutual promises), Unilateral (promise for an act), Express (explicit terms), and Implied (inferred from actions), often categorized by the exchange, formation, or performance status of the agreement, with others focusing on payment (Fixed-Price) or enforceability (Voidable).
 

What is a class B contract?

A Class B contractor is a license classification for general contractors. In Arizona, for example, Class B contractors perform most types of building and sub-trade construction work associated with the completion of buildings, including residential and commercial projects.

What is S2P and P2P?

In procurement and supply chain management, two processes often come to the forefront: Source-to-Pay (S2P) and Procure-to-Pay (P2P). Both processes are vital for optimizing procurement operations and spend, ensuring compliance, and achieving a smooth supply chain flow.

What does C2C contract mean?

Definition: Contract to Contract (C2C) is a business arrangement where a corporation or business entity (often a consultancy or staffing agency) hires or contracts another corporation (which could be an individual operating as a corporation, such as an LLC or S-Corp) to provide services for a specific project or for a ...

What are the three basic types of contracts?

Generally you'll come across one of three types of contract on a project: fixed price, cost-reimbursable (also called costs-plus) or time and materials.

What are the three bases of contract?

Not every promise constitutes a contract. For a promise to be legally binding, it must include the three fundamental elements: offer, acceptance, and consideration.

What are common contract mistakes?

Common mistakes when drafting contractual terms include: Using vague or ambiguous language that can create multiple interpretations; Failing to specify important details such as payment terms, delivery schedules, or performance standards; or. Including contradictory or confusing provisions that create uncertainty.

What are the three basics of a contract?

There are three essential components of any contract: the offer, the acceptance, and the consideration. If all three of these characteristics aren't present, a document is not considered a contract.

What are the three basic elements of negotiation?

Elements in negotiation

In negotiation, the three key elements are often referred to as "The Three P's": People, Problem, and Process. People: People focus on the individuals involved in the negotiation. It encompasses their personalities, emotions, values, perceptions, and communication styles.

What are the three major procurement contracts?

There are three main types of procurement contracts: fixed-priced contracts, cost-reimbursable contracts, and time and materials (T&M) contracts.