Preliminaries in construction - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 07:49, 17 August 2026

2026-08-17T07:49:52Z

Designing Buildings at 08:05, 17 January 2023

2023-01-17T08:05:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:05, 17 January 2023
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	= What are preliminaries? =		= What are preliminaries? =

Designing Buildings at 08:03, 17 January 2023

2023-01-17T08:03:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:03, 17 January 2023
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−	Preliminaries (or 'prelims') may appear in tender documents, providing a description of a project that allows the contractor to assess costs which, whilst they do not form a part of any of the package of works required by the contract, are ~~required by the method and circumstances of the works.~~	+	= What are preliminaries? =

−	NBS suggest that 'the purpose of preliminaries is to describe the works as a whole, and to specify general conditions and requirements for their execution, including such things as subcontracting, approvals, testing and completion.' Preliminaries and work sections together describe what is required to complete the works required by the contract.	+	Preliminaries (or 'prelims') may form part of tender documents used to obtain bids for construction works or for the supply of goods or materials. Preliminaries provide a description of a project that allows the supplier (often a contractor or subcontrator) to assess costs which, whilst they do not form a part of any of the packages of works required by the contract, are required by the method and circumstances of the works. NBS suggest that 'the purpose of preliminaries is to describe the works as a whole, and to specify general conditions and requirements for their execution, including such things as subcontracting, approvals, testing and completion.' Preliminaries and work sections together describe what is required to complete the works required by the contract.

−	The costs attached to preliminaries may also be referred to as 'preliminaries' or 'prelims', or as 'site overheads', or general cost items or expenses. The Code of Estimating Practice published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) describes preliminaries as:	+	The costs attached to preliminaries may also be referred to as 'preliminaries' or 'prelims', or as 'site overheads', or general cost items or expenses. The Code of Estimating Practice published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) describes preliminaries as: '...the cost of administering a project and providing general plant, site staff, facilities, and site based services and other items not included in the rates.'

−	~~'...the cost of administering a project and providing general plant, site staff, facilities, and site based services and other items not included in the rates.'~~	+	= What might preliminaries include? =

−	Preliminaries in tender documents ~~may~~ include:	+	Preliminaries in tender documents might include:

	* A general summary.		* A general summary.
	* Method statements.		* Method statements.
	* Pre-construction information.		* Pre-construction information.
−	* A description of any planning conditions or other conditions that may affect the ~~work to be carried out by the contractor~~.	+	* A description of any planning conditions or other conditions that may affect the works.
−	* A description of any outstanding statutory approvals that may fall to the ~~contractor~~ to satisfy.	+	* A description of any outstanding statutory approvals that may fall to the supplier to satisfy.
	* Party wall requirements or other agreements with, or rights of, neighbours (such as rights to light).		* Party wall requirements or other agreements with, or rights of, neighbours (such as rights to light).
	* Any emergency services obligations.		* Any emergency services obligations.
−	* A description of the reporting information that the ~~contractor~~ will be required to submit (often on a monthly basis) describing construction progress (including a detailed critical path programme, key performance indicators and earned value analysis). See Construction progress reports for more information.	+	* A description of the reporting information that the supplier will be required to submit (often on a monthly basis) describing construction progress (including a detailed critical path programme, key performance indicators and earned value analysis). See Construction progress reports for more information.
	* A description of the commissioning strategy, separating setting to work and balancing tasks from independent verification by the consultant team.		* A description of the commissioning strategy, separating setting to work and balancing tasks from independent verification by the consultant team.
	* Relevant reports (such as [[Soil_report\|soil reports]]).		* Relevant reports (such as [[Soil_report\|soil reports]]).
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	* Quality management procedures.		* Quality management procedures.
	* Labour relations.		* Labour relations.
−	* Schedules of mock-ups, testing and samples required from the ~~contractor~~.	+	* Schedules of mock-ups, testing and samples required from the supplier.
	* The method of sub-contracting.		* The method of sub-contracting.
−	* Requirements for insurance, performance bonds, warranties and product guarantees ~~(for the contractor and sub-contractors)~~.	+	* Requirements for insurance, performance bonds, warranties and product guarantees.
−	* Requirements for the operating and maintenance manual ~~(the client's facilities management team may wish to comment on this)~~.	+	* Requirements for the operating and maintenance manual.
	* Requirement for progress photos to be taken on site during construction and off-site during fabrication.		* Requirement for progress photos to be taken on site during construction and off-site during fabrication.
	* Dates for partial possession.		* Dates for partial possession.
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	NB: Preliminaries should not be confused with 'preambles' which set out things such as tendering procedures, that will not affect the contractor's price. For more information, see Difference between preliminaries and preambles.		NB: Preliminaries should not be confused with 'preambles' which set out things such as tendering procedures, that will not affect the contractor's price. For more information, see Difference between preliminaries and preambles.

−	~~According to NRM1: Order~~ of ~~cost estimating and cost planning for capital building work, main contractor’s~~ preliminaries ~~are;~~	+	= Other definitions of preliminaries =

−	'...items which cannot be allocated to a specific element, sub-element or component. Main contractor’s preliminaries include the main contractor’s costs associated with management and staff, site establishment, temporary services, security, safety and environmental protection, control and protection, common user mechanical plant, common user temporary works, the maintenance of site records, completion and post-completion requirements, cleaning, fees and charges, sites services and insurances, bonds, guarantees and warranties. Main contractor’s preliminaries exclude costs associated with subcontractor’s preliminaries, which are to be included in the unit rates applied to building works.'	+	According to NRM1: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital building work, main contractor’s preliminaries are; '...items which cannot be allocated to a specific element, sub-element or component. Main contractor’s preliminaries include the main contractor’s costs associated with management and staff, site establishment, temporary services, security, safety and environmental protection, control and protection, common user mechanical plant, common user temporary works, the maintenance of site records, completion and post-completion requirements, cleaning, fees and charges, sites services and insurances, bonds, guarantees and warranties. Main contractor’s preliminaries exclude costs associated with subcontractor’s preliminaries, which are to be included in the unit rates applied to building works.'
		+
		+	NRM1 defines ‘subcontractor’s preliminaries’ as; ‘…preliminaries that relate specifically to building work which is to be carried out by a subcontractor. Costs associated with subcontractor’s preliminaries are to be included in the unit rates applied to sub-elements and individual components.’

	According to ‘Elemental Standard Form of Cost Analysis, Principles, Instructions, Elements and Definitions, 4th (NRM) Edition’ written by RICS in 2012 and published by BCIS, ‘the cost of preliminaries for the building being analysed should be stated and expressed as a percentage of the contract sum excluding preliminaries, contingencies and, where appropriate, contractor’s design fees.’		According to ‘Elemental Standard Form of Cost Analysis, Principles, Instructions, Elements and Definitions, 4th (NRM) Edition’ written by RICS in 2012 and published by BCIS, ‘the cost of preliminaries for the building being analysed should be stated and expressed as a percentage of the contract sum excluding preliminaries, contingencies and, where appropriate, contractor’s design fees.’

−	~~NRM1 defines ‘subcontractor’s preliminaries’ as;~~	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =
−		+
−	‘…preliminaries that relate specifically to building work which is to be carried out by a subcontractor. Costs associated with subcontractor’s preliminaries are to be included in the unit rates applied to sub-elements and individual components.’	+
−		+
−	= Related articles on Designing Buildings ~~Wiki~~ =	+

		+	* Bill of quantities BOQ
		+	* Code of estimating practice
		+	* Contingencies in construction
	* Difference between preliminaries and preambles		* Difference between preliminaries and preambles
−	* ~~Bill~~ of ~~quantities BOQ~~	+	* Form of tender
−	* Profit and overheads on construction projects	+
−	* Preamble in construction contracts	+
−	* Tender documentation for construction projects	+
−	* The difference between a prime cost sum and a provisional sum	+
	* Method statement for construction		* Method statement for construction
−	* Pre-construction information
	* New code of estimating practice		* New code of estimating practice
−	* Provisional sum
−	* Site clearance.
−	* NBS
	* Overheads		* Overheads
−	* ~~Form of tender~~	+	* Preamble in construction contracts
		+	* Pre-construction information
	* Prime cost sum		* Prime cost sum
−	* ~~Code of estimating practice~~	+	* Profit and overheads on construction projects
		+	* Provisional sum
	* Subcontractor’s preliminaries		* Subcontractor’s preliminaries
−	* ~~Contingencies in~~ construction	+	* Tender documentation for construction projects
−	* ~~Invitation to tender for construction contracts~~	+	* The difference between a prime cost sum and a provisional sum

	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Procurement]]		[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Procurement]]

Designing Buildings at 10:30, 20 September 2021

2021-09-20T10:30:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:30, 20 September 2021
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	‘…preliminaries that relate specifically to building work which is to be carried out by a subcontractor. Costs associated with subcontractor’s preliminaries are to be included in the unit rates applied to sub-elements and individual components.’		‘…preliminaries that relate specifically to building work which is to be carried out by a subcontractor. Costs associated with subcontractor’s preliminaries are to be included in the unit rates applied to sub-elements and individual components.’
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−	~~{{:Deltek_CTA_setup}}~~

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

Designing Buildings at 10:05, 20 July 2021

2021-07-20T10:05:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:05, 20 July 2021
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	‘…preliminaries that relate specifically to building work which is to be carried out by a subcontractor. Costs associated with subcontractor’s preliminaries are to be included in the unit rates applied to sub-elements and individual components.’		‘…preliminaries that relate specifically to building work which is to be carried out by a subcontractor. Costs associated with subcontractor’s preliminaries are to be included in the unit rates applied to sub-elements and individual components.’
		+
		+	{{:Deltek_CTA_setup}}

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

Designing Buildings: Reverted edits by 112.213.136.223 (talk) to last revision by Designing Buildings

2020-09-26T07:12:25Z

Reverted edits by 112.213.136.223 (talk) to last revision by Designing Buildings

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:12, 26 September 2020
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	The costs attached to preliminaries may also be referred to as 'preliminaries' or 'prelims', or as 'site overheads', or general cost items or expenses. The Code of Estimating Practice published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) describes preliminaries as:		The costs attached to preliminaries may also be referred to as 'preliminaries' or 'prelims', or as 'site overheads', or general cost items or expenses. The Code of Estimating Practice published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) describes preliminaries as:

−	'...the cost of administering a project and providing general plant, site staff, facilities, and site-based services and other items not included in the rates.'	+	'...the cost of administering a project and providing general plant, site staff, facilities, and site based services and other items not included in the rates.'

−	Preliminaries in tender documents may ~~not~~ include:	+	Preliminaries in tender documents may include:

	* A general summary.		* A general summary.
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	* Invitation to tender for construction contracts		* Invitation to tender for construction contracts

−	~~[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]]~~ [[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Procurement]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Procurement]]

112.213.136.223 at 04:57, 26 September 2020

2020-09-26T04:57:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:57, 26 September 2020
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	The costs attached to preliminaries may also be referred to as 'preliminaries' or 'prelims', or as 'site overheads', or general cost items or expenses. The Code of Estimating Practice published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) describes preliminaries as:		The costs attached to preliminaries may also be referred to as 'preliminaries' or 'prelims', or as 'site overheads', or general cost items or expenses. The Code of Estimating Practice published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) describes preliminaries as:

−	'...the cost of administering a project and providing general plant, site staff, facilities, and site based services and other items not included in the rates.'	+	'...the cost of administering a project and providing general plant, site staff, facilities, and site-based services and other items not included in the rates.'

−	Preliminaries in tender documents may include:	+	Preliminaries in tender documents may not include:

	* A general summary.		* A general summary.
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	* Invitation to tender for construction contracts		* Invitation to tender for construction contracts

−	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Procurement]]	+	[[Category:Articles_needing_more_work]] [[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Procurement]]

Designing Buildings at 05:48, 27 August 2020

2020-08-27T05:48:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:48, 27 August 2020
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	* Invitation to tender for construction contracts		* Invitation to tender for construction contracts

−	[[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Procurement]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Procurement]]

Designing Buildings: Reverted edits by 115.132.28.46 (talk) to last revision by Designing Buildings

2020-08-17T07:15:36Z

Reverted edits by 115.132.28.46 (talk) to last revision by Designing Buildings

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:15, 17 August 2020
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	NBS suggest that 'the purpose of preliminaries is to describe the works as a whole, and to specify general conditions and requirements for their execution, including such things as subcontracting, approvals, testing and completion.' Preliminaries and work sections together describe what is required to complete the works required by the contract.		NBS suggest that 'the purpose of preliminaries is to describe the works as a whole, and to specify general conditions and requirements for their execution, including such things as subcontracting, approvals, testing and completion.' Preliminaries and work sections together describe what is required to complete the works required by the contract.

−	The costs attached to preliminaries may also be referred to as 'preliminaries' or 'prelims', or as 'site overheads', or general cost items or expenses. The Code of Estimating Practice published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) describes preliminaries as: ~~iiiiiiiiiiiiiii~~	+	The costs attached to preliminaries may also be referred to as 'preliminaries' or 'prelims', or as 'site overheads', or general cost items or expenses. The Code of Estimating Practice published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) describes preliminaries as:

	'...the cost of administering a project and providing general plant, site staff, facilities, and site based services and other items not included in the rates.'		'...the cost of administering a project and providing general plant, site staff, facilities, and site based services and other items not included in the rates.'

115.132.28.46 at 02:56, 17 August 2020

2020-08-17T02:56:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:56, 17 August 2020
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	NBS suggest that 'the purpose of preliminaries is to describe the works as a whole, and to specify general conditions and requirements for their execution, including such things as subcontracting, approvals, testing and completion.' Preliminaries and work sections together describe what is required to complete the works required by the contract.		NBS suggest that 'the purpose of preliminaries is to describe the works as a whole, and to specify general conditions and requirements for their execution, including such things as subcontracting, approvals, testing and completion.' Preliminaries and work sections together describe what is required to complete the works required by the contract.

−	The costs attached to preliminaries may also be referred to as 'preliminaries' or 'prelims', or as 'site overheads', or general cost items or expenses. The Code of Estimating Practice published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) describes preliminaries as:	+	The costs attached to preliminaries may also be referred to as 'preliminaries' or 'prelims', or as 'site overheads', or general cost items or expenses. The Code of Estimating Practice published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) describes preliminaries as: iiiiiiiiiiiiiii

	'...the cost of administering a project and providing general plant, site staff, facilities, and site based services and other items not included in the rates.'		'...the cost of administering a project and providing general plant, site staff, facilities, and site based services and other items not included in the rates.'

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:49, 17 August 2026
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	= What are preliminaries? =		= What are preliminaries? =

−	Preliminaries (or 'prelims') may form part of tender documents used to obtain bids for construction works or for the supply of goods or materials. Preliminaries provide a description of a project that allows the supplier (often a contractor or ~~subcontrator~~) to assess costs which, whilst they do not form a part of any of the packages of works required by the contract, are required by the method and circumstances of the works. NBS suggest that 'the purpose of preliminaries is to describe the works as a whole, and to specify general conditions and requirements for their execution, including such things as subcontracting, approvals, testing and completion.' Preliminaries and work sections together describe what is required to complete the works required by the contract.	+	Preliminaries (or 'prelims') may form part of tender documents used to obtain bids for construction works or for the supply of goods or materials. Preliminaries provide a description of a project that allows the supplier (often a contractor or subcontractor) to assess costs which, whilst they do not form a part of any of the packages of works required by the contract, are required by the method and circumstances of the works. NBS suggest that 'the purpose of preliminaries is to describe the works as a whole, and to specify general conditions and requirements for their execution, including such things as subcontracting, approvals, testing and completion.' Preliminaries and work sections together describe what is required to complete the works required by the contract.

−	The costs attached to preliminaries may also be referred to as 'preliminaries' or 'prelims', or as 'site overheads', or general cost items or expenses. The Code of Estimating Practice published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) describes preliminaries as: '...the cost of administering a project and providing general plant, site staff, facilities, and site based services and other items not included in the rates.'	+	The costs attached to preliminaries may also be referred to as 'preliminaries' or 'prelims', or as 'site overheads', or general cost items or expenses. The Code of Estimating Practice published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) - now published as the New Code of Estimating Practice (2018) - describes preliminaries as: '...the cost of administering a project and providing general plant, site staff, facilities, and site based services and other items not included in the rates.'

	= What might preliminaries include? =		= What might preliminaries include? =
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	* A description of the reporting information that the supplier will be required to submit (often on a monthly basis) describing construction progress (including a detailed critical path programme, key performance indicators and earned value analysis). See Construction progress reports for more information.		* A description of the reporting information that the supplier will be required to submit (often on a monthly basis) describing construction progress (including a detailed critical path programme, key performance indicators and earned value analysis). See Construction progress reports for more information.
	* A description of the commissioning strategy, separating setting to work and balancing tasks from independent verification by the consultant team.		* A description of the commissioning strategy, separating setting to work and balancing tasks from independent verification by the consultant team.
−	* Relevant reports (such as ~~[[Soil_report\|~~soil reports]]).	+	* Relevant reports (such as soil reports).
	* An information release schedule.		* An information release schedule.
	* Quality management procedures.		* Quality management procedures.
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	= Other definitions of preliminaries =		= Other definitions of preliminaries =

−	According to NRM1: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital building work, main ~~contractor’s~~ preliminaries are; '...items which cannot be allocated to a specific element, sub-element or component. Main ~~contractor’s~~ preliminaries include the main ~~contractor’s~~ costs associated with management and staff, site establishment, temporary services, security, safety and environmental protection, control and protection, common user mechanical plant, common user temporary works, the maintenance of site records, completion and post-completion requirements, cleaning, fees and charges, sites services and insurances, bonds, guarantees and warranties. Main ~~contractor’s~~ preliminaries exclude costs associated with ~~subcontractor’s~~ preliminaries, which are to be included in the unit rates applied to building works.'	+	According to NRM1: Order of cost estimating and cost planning for capital building work (2nd edition, as amended in October 2021 and reissued as RICS practice information in October 2022), main contractor's preliminaries are; '...items which cannot be allocated to a specific element, sub-element or component. Main contractor's preliminaries include the main contractor's costs associated with management and staff, site establishment, temporary services, security, safety and environmental protection, control and protection, common user mechanical plant, common user temporary works, the maintenance of site records, completion and post-completion requirements, cleaning, fees and charges, sites services and insurances, bonds, guarantees and warranties. Main contractor's preliminaries exclude costs associated with subcontractor's preliminaries, which are to be included in the unit rates applied to building works.'

−	NRM1 defines ~~‘subcontractor’s preliminaries’~~ as; ~~‘…preliminaries~~ that relate specifically to building work which is to be carried out by a subcontractor. Costs associated with ~~subcontractor’s~~ preliminaries are to be included in the unit rates applied to sub-elements and individual components.’	+	NRM1 defines 'subcontractor's preliminaries' as; '…preliminaries that relate specifically to building work which is to be carried out by a subcontractor. Costs associated with subcontractor's preliminaries are to be included in the unit rates applied to sub-elements and individual components.'

−	According to ~~‘Elemental~~ Standard Form of Cost Analysis, Principles, Instructions, Elements and Definitions, 4th (NRM) ~~Edition’~~ written by RICS in 2012 and published by BCIS, ~~‘the~~ cost of preliminaries for the building being analysed should be stated and expressed as a percentage of the contract sum excluding preliminaries, contingencies and, where appropriate, ~~contractor’s~~ design fees.’	+	According to 'Elemental Standard Form of Cost Analysis, Principles, Instructions, Elements and Definitions, 4th (NRM) Edition' written by RICS in 2012 and published by BCIS, 'the cost of preliminaries for the building being analysed should be stated and expressed as a percentage of the contract sum excluding preliminaries, contingencies and, where appropriate, contractor's design fees.'

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

−	* Bill of quantities BOQ	+	* Bill of quantities BOQ.
−	* Code of estimating practice	+	* Code of estimating practice.
−	* Contingencies in construction	+	* Contingencies in construction.
−	* Difference between preliminaries and preambles	+	* Difference between preliminaries and preambles.
−	* Form of tender	+	* Form of tender.
−	* Method statement for construction	+	* Method statement for construction.
−	* New code of estimating practice	+	* New code of estimating practice.
−	* Overheads	+	* Overheads.
−	* Preamble in construction contracts	+	* Preamble in construction contracts.
−	* Pre-construction information	+	* Pre-construction information.
−	* Prime cost sum	+	* Prime cost sum.
−	* Profit and overheads on construction projects	+	* Profit and overheads on construction projects.
−	* Provisional sum	+	* Provisional sum.
−	* ~~Subcontractor’s~~ preliminaries	+	* Subcontractor's preliminaries.
−	* Tender documentation for construction projects	+	* Tender documentation for construction projects.
−	* The difference between a prime cost sum and a provisional sum	+	* The difference between a prime cost sum and a provisional sum.

	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Procurement]]		[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Contracts_/_payment]] [[Category:Cost_/_business_planning]] [[Category:Procurement]]