What is the main purpose of contract administration?

The main purpose of contract administration is to manage communications and ensure compliance throughout the lifecycle of a contract. This involves monitoring the performance of both parties to make certain that all terms and obligations set forth in the contract are being met effectively. Effective contract administration helps to minimize risks and resolve issues that may arise during the execution of the project. It includes activities such as tracking deliverables, managing changes, ensuring that both parties adhere to timelines, and facilitating communication. This ongoing oversight is essential for maintaining the relationship between the contracting parties and for ensuring that the goals of the agreement are fulfilled.

Creating new contracts pertains to the initial phase of the contracting process and is not a function of administration, while negotiating contract terms is typically part of the pre-contracting phase. Evaluating contractor qualifications happens before contracts are awarded, making it separate from the duties involved in administering existing contracts.