§21-11A-12. Timetable.

(a) Following receipt of a claimant's notice of claim, the contractor or other designated representative shall review the claimant's claim and initiate negotiations with the claimant to attempt to resolve the claim.

(b) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, the parties shall begin negotiations within a reasonable period of time not to exceed thirty days following the date the contractor receives the claimant's notice of claim.

(c) The parties may conduct negotiations according to an agreed schedule, but must begin negotiations no later than the deadline set forth in subsection (b) of this section.

(d) Subject to subsection (e) of this section, the parties shall complete the negotiations that are required by this article within ninety days after the contractor receives the claimant's notice of claim.

(e) The parties may agree in writing to extend the time for negotiations, on or before the ninetieth day after the contractor receives the claimant's notice of claim. The agreement shall be signed by representatives of the parties with authority to bind each respective party and shall provide for the extension of the statutory negotiation period until a date certain. The parties may enter into a series of written extension agreements that comply with the requirements of this section.