DUTY TO COORDINATE THE WORK OF MULTIPLE PRIME CONTRACTORS

The Owner in a multi-phase project is under a duty to coordinate the work of all prime contractors. The law requires the Owner to schedule and execute the work of the various prime contractors in a normal and reasonable sequence of construction events. The courts have allowed recovery to the delayed prime contractor where the Owner has allowed another prime contractor's work to delay access to the site or even where the Owner's failure to accelerate preceding contractors has caused a delay in the receipt of access to another prime contractor.

• Head Construction Company, ENG 3537, 77-1 BCA
• Pierce Associates, GSBCA 4163, 77-2 BCA 12,746 78-1 BCA 13,078
• Fruehauf Corp. v. United States, 587 F.2d 486 (ct. cl. 1978)