A project to extend an existing manufacturing facility is being undertaken using the NEC$4$ Engineering and Construction Contract main option C and X$5$ and X$7.$ The period between Completion of the whole of the works and the defects date is $52$ weeks. The works include the construction of a new warehouse which will link to the existing production building. Section $(1)$ of the warehouse is a reinforced concrete slab with a completion date of $30$ October. No programme is identified in the Contract Data and the period after the Contract Date within which the Contractor is to submit a first programme for acceptance is four weeks. The period for reply is three weeks.

QUESTION $10$

Following further instructions to change the Scope and implementation of the compensation events the Completion Date has been changed to a date $3$ months later than the Client originally required. Planned Completion is forecast for one week before the revised Completion Date. The Project Manager makes a proposal to the Contractor for acceleration, which the Contractor confirms it's willing to consider. Following instruction by the Project Manager, the Contractor submits a quotation for an earlier Completion Date to the Project Manager for acceptance. The Client informs the Project Manager that it only has $50\%$ of the amount quoted.

Which ONE of the following actions should the Project Manager now take?

Notify the Contractor that the quotation is not accepted and that the Completion Date is not changed.

Notify the Contractor that the quotation is not accepted, give an instruction to the Contractor omitting work from the Scope, notify a compensation event and instruct the Contractor to provide a quotation for reduced Prices and an earlier Completion Date.

Notify the Contractor that the quotation is not accepted, notify an early warning and advise the Contractor that delay damages will be applied.

Notify the Contractor that the quotation is not accepted and that the Project Manager will now be doing its own assessment.

Notify the Contractor that the quotation is accepted stating the Client will pay $50\%$ of the quotation and the remaining $50\%$ will be dealt with under the Contractor's share.