The distinction made between public and private contracts
[C 70]
remains useful for differentiating the applicable contractual documents.
In public works contracts, an essential document is the Cahier des clauses administratives générales des marchés publics de travaux (CCAG-Travaux), the most recent version of which was approved by decree on March 30, 2021 and last amended by decrees on September 30, 2021 and December 29, 2022.
In private works contracts, where contractual freedom is the rule, Afnor standard NF P 03-001 (October 2017), which aims to define "in a general way the rights and obligations of each contracting party" in a private building works contract, is not binding and only applies if it is made contractual by the contract. Although it is often derogated from in specific contract documents, it constitutes a reference document.
That said, both public and private sector contracts feature inter-company cooperation (subcontracting, grouping), as well as professional supervision (project management, scheduling, management and coordination, health and safety, technical control).