Bill of quantities v Schedule of rates

The decision about whether to use a bill of quantities (BoQ) or a schedule of rates depends on the nature of the project as well as the chosen procurement route. Both can be used to obtain prices from contractors and for valuing variations.

A bill of quantities is a document prepared by the cost consultant (often a quantity surveyor) that provides project specific measured quantities of the items of work identified by the drawings and specifications in the tender documentation. It is issued to tenderers to help them prepare a price for carrying out the works. Typically a bill of quantities will be appropriate where a project has been designed in detail, and so the precise quantities required are known.

For more information see: Bill of quantities.

A schedule of rates is a list in a contract setting out the staff, labour and plant hire rates etc that a contractor will use for pricing cost reimbursable work. It does not contain any quantities for the specific work items and is typically used when the nature of work required is known but it cannot be quantified, or if continuity of programme cannot be determined.

For more information see: Schedule of rates.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Admeasurement.
• Bill of quantities.
• Construction contract.
• Difference between lump sum and measurement contracts.
• Measurement contract.
• Preliminaries.
• Procurement route.
• Remeasurement.
• Schedule of rates.
• Tender documents.
• Term contract.
• Unit rates basis of payment.