Subcontractor

A subcontractor delivers a defined portion of a project or service on behalf of the primary contractor, who remains responsible to the buyer for the whole. Subcontracting is common in construction, engineering, IT and facilities work, where specialist tasks are handed to firms with specific expertise or capacity. The buyer's contract is usually with the main contractor, not the subcontractor.

Because subcontractors affect quality, timing and compliance without a direct contract with the buyer, main contracts often include controls — approval of key subcontractors, flow-down of standards, and clauses on liability and payment. In Malaysian construction, subcontractor arrangements and CIDB registration are important considerations for governance and eligibility on projects.