lappaltante

L'appaltante, written in Italian as l'appaltante, is the party that awards a contract for construction or other works and ultimately receives the completed project. In a contract of appalto, the appaltante acts as the client or owner who finances the work and defines its objectives, scope, and desired outcomes. The term distinguishes the client from the appaltatore, the party responsible for executing the works.

Key roles and responsibilities of the appaltante include setting the project requirements, quality standards, and delivery timelines; providing access to the site, permits, and any necessary information for proper execution; and appointing supervisory or technical staff, such as the direttore dei lavori (or project supervisor), to oversee progress and compliance. The appaltante is also usually obliged to make payments in accordance with the contract, provide timely decisions and information, and ensure safety and regulatory compliance on site. If the contract allows, the appaltante may issue change orders to modify scope, which can affect price and schedule.

Risk and liability in an appalto are typically allocated between the appaltante and the appaltatore. The appaltante bears risks related to design defects, incomplete information, or changes in project requirements, while the appaltatore bears the risk for execution, workmanship, and timely completion, subject to contract terms and variations.

In public procurement, l'appaltante is often a public authority governed by specific procurement rules and competitive bidding processes, aiming for transparency and value for money. Subcontracting may be allowed with conditions, and the appaltante may require performance guarantees or bonds.

In summary, l'appaltante is the principal in a works contract, responsible for defining, funding, supervising, and final acceptance of the project.