Watertight tenders and contracts
Detailed tender documents and tailored technical specifications. Bid analysis, commercial negotiation and selection of reliable suppliers, backed by clear contracts that close commercial and performance loopholes.
From estimate to signed contract
- 01
BOQ and estimate
The basis for the tender, from our quantity surveying or from your consultants. Quantity surveying & BOQs
- 02
Tender documents
Project specification, commercial terms and programme.
- 03
Bid analysis
A like-for-like comparison: what's included, what's missing and where the risk lies.
- 04
Negotiation and contract
Agreeing price and terms, with a contract that sets out up front how variations will be priced.
Six definitions that prevent disputes
A detailed BOQ
Even under a lump-sum contract. It's the basis for comparing bids and pricing variations.
Project specification
Materials, finish standards and requirements not covered by the standard specification.
Inclusions and exclusions
Site set-up, protection, waste removal, coordination and as-built drawings.
A variation pricing mechanism
Contract rates, or a schedule of rates agreed in advance.
Payment, retention and guarantees
Clear payment terms and a retention release mechanism.
Indexation
Whether it applies, which index, and the base index date.
Frequently asked questions
Lump sum or remeasurable contract?
It depends on how complete the design is and how much cost certainty you need. Either way, a detailed BOQ is worth having, to compare bids and price variations later.
Why isn't the lowest bid always the cheapest in the end?
Because you need to check what it excludes, what programme the contractor commits to, and how variations will be priced. A like-for-like comparison brings all of that to light.
Who prepares the BOQ and the estimate?
We do, as part of our quantity surveying service. A detailed estimate by trade lets you make decisions before tender and test bids against a realistic number.
Further reading
How to calculate the estimate at completion for a construction project
How to calculate the estimate at completion for each trade in a construction project, what it is made of, and where people tend to get it wrong.
Read →
What the landlord delivers: shell, delivery spec and the landlord's fit-out contribution
Shell & Core, the delivery specification and the landlord's contribution to fit-out works: what to check in the lease so you don't discover extras during construction.
Read →
Lump-sum contract or BOQ: which suits your project
The difference between a lump-sum contract and a BOQ-based contract, when each one fits, and what must be in the tender documents.
Read →
Ready to get started? Let's talk.
A short, no-obligation consultation. We'll talk through your project and see how we can help.