Understanding Bills of Quantities and Tendering Processes
Learn the fundamentals of construction tenders, the structure of a Bill of Quantities (BoQ), and the different stages of the procurement process.
Tendering & Bill of Quantities
Fundamentals, Process Stages, and Measurement Logic
What is a Tender?
Concept: A formal competition where an authority announces a project.
Participants: Engineering offices, contractors, or investors submit proposals.
Goal: Select the most suitable proposal based on scope, cost, and quality.
Distinction:
• Tender: The formal offer/document.<br>• Tendering: The process of submitting prices and proposals.
Stages of Project Tendering
1. Inception (Pre-Tender)
Economic analysis, feasibility study, collecting data.
2. Tender Stage
Design, BoQ preparation, defining contract conditions.
3. Pre-Contract
Evaluation of offers (Tech & Fin), selecting contractor.
4. Contract & Execute
Signing agreement, applying controls, monitoring quality.
Types of Tenders
Open Tender
Publicly announced; open to all interested parties.
Selective Tendering
Invitation only (approx. 3 companies) based on reputation.
Negotiated Tendering
Direct discussion on price. Higher risk, often based on relationships.
Staged Tendering
Two stages: Technical shortlisted first, then Financial review.
The Submission Process
1. Pre-Bid Meeting & Site Visit
2. Sealed Envelopes Submission
Technical Proposal
Experience, Qualification, Certificates (Opened First)
Financial Proposal
Pricing & Costs (Opened only if Technical passes)
What is the Bill of Quantities (BoQ)?
The BoQ is the most critical document in the tender package. It translates engineering drawings into measurable items.
Key Purposes:
Scope Definition: Defines specific materials, costs, and execution methods.
Standardization: Allows accurate price comparison between different contractors.
Organization: Prevents randomness and execution disputes.
Structure of the BoQ
A standard BoQ page contains the following key columns:
Item No.
Description
Unit
Quantity
Rate (Price)
Total Amount
A.1
Supply and install internal masonry walls (10cm thick block)...
m²
150
$20
$3,000
Measurement & Contingency
Works are sectioned (Civils, Masonry, Woodwork). A Contingency Allowance is added to the total estimation (usually around 10%) to cover calculation errors or unforeseen execution issues.
Typical Estimation Breakdown with Contingency
Transparency & Local Context
Ideal Process:
Transparent, official announcements, clear contractual agreement between Owner, Engineer, and Contractor.
Issues in Palestine:
Some tenders awarded via personal connections vs. public announcements (less transparent).
Role of QS:
Globally, a Quantity Surveyor reduces BoQ. Locally, the Designer often does this work.
Real-Life Example: Beit Surik Art Center
A practical example of a design services tender.
Scope: Design, licensing, supervision, restoration, and finishing.
Target: Engineering offices submitted financial proposals.
Documents: Included location constraints, budget, and design stages.
Term: Vendors
The service providers/contractors selected through this process.
- bill-of-quantities
- construction-tendering
- procurement-process
- civil-engineering
- quantity-surveying
- project-management