“Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’’ (Luke 14; 28-30 MSG)
Who do you contact first and why?
Bill of Quantities (BoQ) is a contract document used for pricing of works by contractors. It provides a description and methodology of doing construction tasks and outlines the quantity of work measured from construction drawings and specifications.
BoQs are prepared by qualified professionals called Quantity Surveyors using a Standard Method of Measurement; SMM7 for building works or the New Rules of Measurement (NRM2) as its replacement as of July 2013; and CESMM4 for Civil Engineering works.
The SMM/NRM/CESMM4 provides an equal platform of measurement for all Quantity surveyors irrespective of training or experience and this reduces disparities/ misinterpretations.
Priced BoQs help form the Contract price or Amount on a project, this forms a basis of payment for Contractors and hence helps to potentially save money on a project before, during, and after construction of a project.
All construction projects i.e. residential buildings, commercial, bridges, dams, airports, hotels, hospitals, etc require BoQs for contract administration and payments.
There are two main types of BOQs
⁃ Firm; quantities of items are measured from high-level detailed drawings; often used for lump sum contracts
⁃ Approximate; prepared when the level of detail is not sufficient and approximate quantities measured and subject to remeasurement upon execution of works; often used in admeasurement contracts
Common practice – is that a client will ask tradesmen to prepare for them quotations to execute their project and this forms the basis for payment for the project once there are agreeable terms between the parties; this is typically characterized by claims by tradesmen along the way that certain materials are insufficient which often finds the client unprepared for such sudden shocks.
Clients do this largely to cut corners and avoid professional fees charged by quantity surveyors. Still, the result is that they fall prey to quack individuals whose major target is to get work and quick pay and not provide professional advice.
In Uganda; BOQs are recognized under PPDA as Bills of Quantities for remeasurement contracts or Activity schedules under lump-sum contracts.
A few decades ago, even architectural plans were never a mandatory requirement but with the recent developments in policy and regulations, even a small fit-out requires approved drawings. Similarly, the need for BOQs is gathering fast pace.
Whereas BOQs have not been a requirement for municipal approval of designs, recent developments in policy have started demanding so. Starting with KCCA, the Quantity surveyor’s stamp is now a requirement for submission of plans for approvals. This is a regulation following the Building Control Regulations 2020. Sooner or later, formal submission of BOQs stamped by a registered Quantity Surveyor will become a mandatory requirement.
Presently; NEMA requires a stamped BOQ to issue a certificate of approval of Environment Impact Assessment to clients who wish to undertake construction projects that are categorized to directly impact the environment eg. Fuel stations. Banks also require stamped BOQs for issuing mortgage loans for construction to clients.
It is upon this background, that we advise clients to appreciate the value of BoQs as a handy document to help them manage costs on their projects regardless of the magnitude. It is also good practice to compute and compare planned with actual costs during construction to be able to come up with facts and superior forecasts for any future projects.
At Gridway, we pride ourselves on having immense experience and expertise in preparing Bills of Quantities for all Building, Civil, Water, Electrical and Mechanical works for small and Multi-million projects.
