ENGINEERING DIVISION

Civil and Construction

Engineering Department

NATIONAL DIPLOMA

IN

QUANTITY SURVEYING

GUIDELINES FOR THE

ND3 QUANTITY SURVEYING PROJECT

575/15/S04

JANUARY 2019 EDITION

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1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Quantity Surveying Project is a TVET project based on some of the guidelines for Research
Methods (588/15/S03) and guidelines for the Quantity Surveyor’s training and work
competencies. Some guidelines include the design process, industrial attachment experience and
the QS Project requirements for the HEXCO Midlands North Region.

The QS Project guidelines are presented in the lectures for Research Methods (588/15/S03) and
for Quantity Surveying Project (575/15/S04) which should all be attended on a compulsory basis.
A candidate who fails to attend all the related subject lectures will not be presented for
assessment.

Ground work including the Research Proposal and an approval for the QS Project shall be done
in the ND2 Year on attachment while the final work will be done in ND3 Year when the student
returns to the Polytechnic.

While on attachment, the candidate shall look for the working drawings that he/she shall use for
the TVET research project once his/her research proposal has been approved.

2.0 PROJECT TASKS

Please note that the project task to be worked on will be announced by the Academic Supervisor
at the beginning of the project work year. If project task number one is decided on, every
candidate will be required to come up with a topic related to the task.

2.1 Project Task Number One

A Professional Quantity Surveyor is employed as a cost advisor and project manager to the
client’s party and helps in selecting the best contractor for a civil or construction engineering
infrastructural project.

Using a selected client’s working drawings for a community project that you prepared or that
were provided by an Architect or local authority or the Ministry of Public Works and National
Construction or contractor to solve an existing problem, prepare;

 Take off sheets,

 Abstract sheets,
 Estimation and Pricing sheets,
 Tender advert or tender invitation,
 Estimated and priced BOQs,
 Estimated and priced schedule of materials and
 A programme of works.

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2.2 Project Task Number Two
A Quantity Surveyor is employed as a cost advisor and project manager for a civil or
construction engineering project.

Identify a community project under construction. Present or prepare all its contract documents
necessary for the Quantity Surveyor’s work as a cost advisor and project manager for the
contractor’s party.

Attend site management meetings and prepare;

 Bills of Quantities,
 Programmes of Work,
 Cost Control Schedules,
 Cost Analysis Schedules,
 Weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual technical reports for project evaluation purposes.

2.3 Project Task Number Three

Identify a community project under construction. Present or prepare all its contract documents
necessary for the Quantity Surveyor’s work as a cost advisor and project manager for the client’s
party.

Attend site management meetings and prepare;

 Bills of Quantities,
 Programmes of Work,
 Cost Control Schedules,
 Cost Analysis Schedules,
 Weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual technical reports for project evaluation purposes.

3.0 POSSIBLE COMMUNITY PROJECTS

1. Abattoirs.
2. Ablution blocks for schools, colleges, polytechnics, universities, growth points, business
centres and towns.
3. Administration blocks for schools, colleges, universities or government composite
blocks.
4. Airport or aerodrome runways.
5. Airport structures.
6. Bakeries.
7. Bank construction.
8. Beer hall/garden.

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9. Bottle Stores.
10. Boundary walls for government complex, schools, colleges, polytechnics, private
companies and universities.
11. Bus rank or bus terminus.
12. Bus sheds for schools, colleges, polytechnics, private companies, universities and local
authorities.
13. Car dealers’ sheds or carports.
14. Car park sheds.
15. Car park surfaces.
16. Car wash facilities or structures.
17. Cattle abattoir.
18. Church camping site hostels or residential structures.
19. Church Temples.
20. City centre night spot.
21. Civic centre payments offices or halls.
22. Classroom blocks or lecture rooms.
23. Clinic for schools, colleges, polytechnics, private companies, universities and local
authorities.
24. Clinic in a rural or urban high or medium or low density suburb.
25. Comfortable extended family house model.
26. Comfortable low cost house model.
27. Comfortable small family house model.
28. Community kiosk blocks.
29. Commuter omnibus rank or commuter omnibus terminus.
30. Conference centre or hall at a hotel or lodge.
31. Dam construction.
32. Dam walls.
33. Doctor’s surgery.
34. Entrance Gate offices for government complex, schools, colleges, polytechnics, private
companies and universities.
35. Farm structures such as agricultural farm sheds or milking sheds.
36. Fence around government complex, schools, colleges, polytechnics, private companies,
universities and local authorities.
37. Flea market.
38. Fly-over pedestrian bridges.
39. Food court.
40. Fuel service stations.
41. General Dealer Shops and or butcheries.
42. Graduation Pavilions.
43. Guest Lodges.
44. Gymnasia.
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45. Hardware shop.
46. Hawkers’ market.
47. Hide out spot.
48. High density house model.
49. Highway Bridges.
50. Highway round-abouts.
51. Hospital laboratory.
52. Hospital ward.
53. Hostels for schools, colleges, polytechnics, private companies, churches, universities and
local authorities.
54. Library for towns, cities, growth points, schools, colleges, polytechnics or universities.
55. Low cost house model any cost even below US$10 000 or below current definition.
56. Low density house model.
57. Medium density house model.
58. Nurses’ surgeries.
59. Open Sheds for government complex, schools, colleges, polytechnics, private companies,
universities and local authorities.
60. Passenger pick-up or drop-off points at congested places.
61. Pastor’s house model.
62. Police stations or police posts.
63. Public halls for schools, colleges, polytechnics, universities, churches and local
authorities.
64. Public stage or auditorium.
65. Recreational park structures.
66. Response to a tender advert for a civil or construction engineering project from a
newspaper.
67. Retaining walls.
68. Road ports.
69. Rural dip tank.
70. Rural Road Bridge.
71. Rural village model (any cost even below $10 000).
72. Science laboratories.
73. Shopping malls.
74. Small scale industrial structures or workshops.
75. Spillways.
76. Sports facilities or grounds for schools, colleges, polytechnics, private companies,
universities and local authorities.
77. Stadium changing rooms for schools, colleges, polytechnics, private companies,
universities and local authorities.
78. Stadium terraces.
79. Staff accommodation.
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 80. Supermarkets.
81. Swimming pools for schools, colleges, polytechnics, private companies, universities and
local authorities.
82. Tarred Roads minimum 10 km stretch.
83. Telecommunications or broadcast services boosters.
84. Truck inn.
85. Workshops for the industry or for schools, colleges, polytechnics and universities.

Please note that the minimum cost allowed for a community project work for this TVET project
is US$500 000 unless otherwise stated. If it can be constructed or erected, it can be estimated by
a quantity surveyor.

No two candidates will be allowed to work on the same project topic. Topic approval may be
done on a first come first serve basis. A viva shall be conducted for topic approval and defence.

Candidates are strongly urged to desist from editing previous candidates’ projects. This may lead
to a disqualification from the examination process.

The Supervising Lecturer or Academic Supervisor has powers to close off a topic that has been
exhausted and over-subscribed over the years as well as to allocate a topic to a candidate who
faces serious problems in coming up with a topic.

The Supervising Lecturer or Academic Supervisor has powers to change the candidate’s topic at
any time during the academic year if the candidate fails to prove the originality of the work being
presented or if the Supervisor is not convinced about the originality of the work by the candidate.

A topic can also be changed if the candidate continuously fails to effect the corrections being
highlighted or if the candidate fails to comply with the requirements of the topic being worked
on.

3.1 Tentative Due Dates:

The tentative due date for the submission of the final copies, QS Project folders and 3D
presentations of the QS Project shall be on Friday 27 September 2019 on or before 1600 hours.
The initial submissions shall be made on Friday 13 September 2019 on or before 1300 hours.

4.0 RESEARCH PROJECT LAYOUT

4.1 Layout

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The TVET research project is expected to be a minimum of 30 pages in length and should not
exceed 60 pages, excluding inserts, references and appendices. A project that substantially
exceeds the limit will be penalized by examiners.

4.2 Numbering and Number of Pages

- Preliminary pages e.g. “Acknowledgements, Abstract, Dedication, etc.” are numbered in
Roman Numerals.
- Preliminary page numbers shall be centred.
- Page numbers for the whole of the project excluding inserts, references and appendices
shall be presented in a required footer format.

4.3 Language
The language to be used shall be English. Spellings shall be consistent, NOT alternating
American and British spellings or words e.g. color and colour respectively.

It is recommended that you match your language of writing to the British English version of your
computer.

4.4 Formatting
(a) Font:
All text including legends should be Times New Roman, 12 point.

(b) Headings:
All first category headings shall be in UPPERCASE BOLD Font 16 and centred for the
following;
 ABSTRACT.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
 DEDICATION.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS.
 LIST OF INSERTS.
 LIST OF DIAGRAMS.
 LIST OF PICTURES.
 LIST OF TABLES.
 LIST OF APPENDICES.
 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.
 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION.
 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW.
 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, WORKING DRAWINGS
AND QUANTITY SURVEYOR’S PRELIMINARY WORK.

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  CHAPTER FOUR: BILLS OF QUANTITIES, TENDER / CONTRACT
DOCUMENTS, DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION.
 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION.
 CHAPTER SIX: RECOMMENDATIONS.
 REFERENCES
 APPENDICES

Second category headings shall be in lower case bold, left aligned and font 14.

Tertiary category text shall be normal text bold font 12 (avoid their use if possible).

(c) Numbering of Second and Tertiary Category Headings:

Second category headings shall be numbered as 1.0, 1.1, 1.2 etc. in Chapter One and as
2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 etc. in Chapter Two and so on.
Headings placed under second category shall be numbered as 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3 and so on
in Chapter Two and as 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 in Chapter Three.

(d) Margins and Paper:

The project shall be printed on A4 paper (210 x 297mm) with clearly defined margin
widths of 20mm top and bottom, 30mm left and 20mm right.
All pages from Chapter One to Chapter Six excluding inserts shall have a required header
format to standard.
Project working drawings shall be presented on suitable size A3 or A2 or A1 or A0 paper
properly bound and folded to A4 size as inserts.
Inserts shall also be accepted in A4 or A3 envelopes properly bound to the project log
book.

(e) Italics or Underlining:

This shall be used for words in other languages e.g. “voetstoots” except the local
vernacular language.

(f) Justification of the Text:

The text shall be justified.

(g) Line spacing:

The text shall be double line spaced.
The list of tables, figures, abstract and references shall be single spaced.

(h) Abbreviations:
Once presented as abbreviation plus full term in the list of abbreviations or on first use of
the term, subsequent use in the text shall be the abbreviation only.

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4.5 Structure
The start of the research project shall contain the following preliminary pages in the order to
follow;

i. Abstract.
ii. Acknowledgements.
iii. Dedication.
iv. Table of Contents.
v. List of Inserts.
vi. List of Diagrams.
vii. List of Pictures.
viii. List of Tables.
ix. List of Appendices.
x. List of Abbreviations.

These pages must be numbered in Roman Numerals.

Thereafter, the TVET Research Project shall be put divided into Chapters as follows;

 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION.

 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW.
 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, WORKING DRAWINGS
AND QUANTITY SURVEYOR’S PRELIMINARY WORK.
 CHAPTER FOUR: BILLS OF QUANTITIES, TENDER / CONTRACT
DOCUMENTS, DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION.
 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION.
 CHAPTER SIX: RECOMMENDATIONS.
 REFERENCES: (Title only no chapter).
 APPENDICES: (Title only no chapter).

Normal page numbering shall be used for the Chapters. Sections and subsections including
second and tertiary category headings shall be numbered in consecutive order as shall be
presented in the lecture guidelines.

All other material to be submitted (e.g. appendices, computer printouts, maps, diagrams, pictures
and hand written worksheets etc.) must be clearly visible, legible and of good quality.

4.6 Title Pages

There shall be two covers i.e. the external cover and the first inside page of your TVET Project.

4.6.1 External Cover:

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The external or front cover shall have the following information in Arial font bold;

 Name of Institution, (CAPS, Font 16).

 Division, (lower case, font 14).
 Kwekwe Polytechnic logo, (do not stretch beyond 30mm wide and 43mm height).
 Title, (lower case, font 16).
 First Name, then Surname, (CAPS, Font 12).
 Declaration, “A TVET RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED TO KWEKWE
POLYTECHNIC IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN QUANTITY SURVEYING.” (CAPS, Font 10).
 Month and Year, October for January Intake and March for May Intake (CAPS, Font 12).

4.6.2 Internal Cover:

 Name of Institution, (CAPS, Font 16).
 Division, (lower case, font 14).
 Kwekwe Polytechnic logo, (do not stretch beyond 30mm wide and 43mm height).
 Title, (lower case, font 16).
 First Name, then Surname, (CAPS, Font 12).
 Name of Academic Supervisor, (lower case, Font 12).
 Declaration, “A TVET RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED TO KWEKWE
POLYTECHNIC IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN QUANTITY SURVEYING.” (CAPS, Font 10).
 Month and Year, October for January Intake and March for May Intake (CAPS, Font 12).

Use the templates provided to the letter only editing personal information. Do not change
anything else such as font type, size, position and spacing.

5.0 PROJECT WORK GUIDELINE

5.1 Project Topic
The project topic should be not more than 23 words uniformly structured as highlighted in the
example below;

5.1.1 Project Task Number One

Quantity Surveyors’ Bills of Quantities for a proposed church temple for the Apostolic Faith
Church in Mazowe by selective tendering.

5.1.2 Project Task Number Two

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A Contractor’s Quantity Surveyor’s work documents for a proposed church temple for the
Apostolic Faith Church in Mazowe by selective tendering.

5.1.3 Project Task Number Three

A Professional Quantity Surveyor’s work documents for a proposed church temple for the
Apostolic Faith Church in Mazowe by selective tendering.

5.2 Abstract
This is the summary of the whole project which states the purpose, methods, findings, conclusion
and recommendations of the whole TVET project. It should be a page in length (not exceeding
300 words). Unlike the rest of the project, this summary should be written in single spacing.

5.2.1 Acknowledgements
A brief statement 5-7 lines thanking anyone whom the researcher thinks helped him/her in the
project work and deserves special mention.

5.2.2 Dedication
A short statement of 2-3 lines presenting and dedicating the project to someone whom the
researcher wishes to recognize as special.

5.2.3 Table of Contents

This is a list of the major topics and sub-topics for the project together with the page number for
each topic or sub-topic.

5.2.4 List of Inserts

These are special documents that have not been prepared as part of the Word Document project
which are presented right on the position where they are needed in the Word Document e.g. the
tender advert or tender invitation, bills of quantities, schedules of work and so on.
The inserts may have a page numbering which may not comply with the Word Document and
where possible, this should be indicated.

5.2.5 List of Diagrams/Figures

A presentation of the diagrams used in the project together with their titles and the pages on
which they are found. These should be referred to, from the text.

5.2.6 List of Pictures/Figures

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A presentation of the pictures used in the project together with their titles and the pages on which
they are found. These should be referred to, from the text.

5.2.7 List of Tables/Figures

A presentation of the tables used in the project together with their titles and the pages on which
they are found. These should be referred to, from the text.

5.2.8 List of Appendices

A presentation of the letters or documents obtained as hard copies or soft copies and used in the
project together with their titles and the pages on which they are found at the end of the project.
These should be referred to, from the text. These are documents which the researcher has not
created e.g. letters from organizations where the research was conducted and or newspapers
cuttings or original information source documents.

5.2.9 List of Abbreviations

A presentation of the abbreviations commonly used in the project write-up together with their
meanings. Once presented in full in this section, the abbreviation may then be used later in the
project without writing it in full again.

5.3 Chapter One

Introduction

The first chapter 3-6 pages containing the following information developed and refined from a
project proposal. It is written to a strict academic standard where citations and or appendices are
necessary to prove the existence of the problem in the problem definition.

Tender adverts from a newspaper and working drawings approved by a local authority or by the
Ministry of Public Works and National Construction are also a proof of the need or existence of
the proposed project.

- Preview
- Situational Background
- Aerial View
- Problem Definition
- Justification of the Existence of the Problem
- Design Scope
- Aim
- Objectives

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 - Hypothesis
- Assumptions
- Definition of Terms
- Limitations
- Solutions to Limitations
- Chapter Summary/Conclusion.

5.4 Chapter Two

Literature Review

A discussion of the aspects related to the research project citing information from established
authors. At least 15 different sources shall be used including textbooks, periodicals, journals,
magazines, newsletters, internet and other authentic sources. The length of this chapter shall
range from12 to 20 pages.

The aspects to be discussed may be reviewed from time to time by the Academic Supervisor in
the QS Project Guideline and Tracking Form.

In writing up a literature review please take note of unreliable and incomplete sources such as
Wikileaks, Wikimedia or Wikipedia and avoid them.

Take note of internet search engines and avoid acknowledging them as sources of information
e.g. www.google.com or www.askjeeves.com or www.bing.com or www.yahoo.com

In all citations and references, the civil engineering discipline strictly recommends and accepts
the use of the Harvard Style. Lectures will be conducted in Research Methods on the use of the
Harvard style. The candidate should stick to the Harvard Style throughout the project.

The laws of recent publications require the use of latest editions for all citations. As a general
guiding rule, the use of publications made before 2010 shall not be accepted in situations where
latest editions are available beyond 2010.

5.5 Chapter Three

Research Methodology, Working Drawings and

Quantity Surveyor’s Preliminary Work.

This chapter presents the following aspects worked out by the candidate;
 Introduction,
 Situation,

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  Design Brief/Scope,
 Research Methodology,
 Construction Project Working Drawings,
 3D Views of the project
 Pictures of similar structures
 Dimensions Sheets,
 Abstract Sheets,
 Estimation and Pricing Sheets and a
 Chapter Summary.

The construction project working drawings should include the Architectural Drawings (Floor
Plans, Sections, Elevations and Site Plans), Structural Drawings, Mechanical Drawings,
Electrical Drawings, Civil Engineering Drawings and Measurement Schedules.

All the main working drawings presented will be referred to as inserts and shall be on any
suitable size paper from A3 to A0.

Where applicable, the drawings may be placed in an appropriately sized envelope which may be
bound to the project booklet or log book right on the position where they are needed.

The part on the research methodology will include a description of the interviews that the
researcher conducted with the client and or contractor of the project being worked on to come
up with information regarding the client’s/contractor’s budget, source of funding and duration of
the project. Interview schedules or questionnaires used shall be a part of the appendices.

Proof of the originality of the field research is an essential component of the project write-up.
The proof of the field research may be in the form of a date-stamped letter from the organisation
or personnel visited and interviewed with full details for such a person to be contacted when
there is a need.

The quantity surveyor’s work sheets (i.e. Dimensions Sheets, Abstract Sheets, Estimation and
Pricing Sheets and Bills of Quantities) should all be presented on QS Excell spread sheets or
appropriate QS softwares such as CS Candy or Revit to demonstrate the candidate’s literacy in
computer trade softwares.

5.6 Chapter Four

Bills of Quantities, Data Presentation,

Analysis and Discussion.

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This chapter presents the following information in the form of written text, Excell spread sheets,
inserts, tables, graphs, pie charts, and diagrams;
 Introduction,
 Tender Advert/Tender Invitation Letter,
 Estimated and Priced Bills of Quantities,
 Estimated and Priced Schedule of Materials,
 Programme of Works, Tender Adjudication Process,
 Tender Comparative Schedules, (optional depending on method of tendering)
 Cost Control Charts (graph charts comparing client’s and contractor’s cost estimates),
 Cost Analysis Chart (pie chart comparing all identified activities’ cost estimates),
 Annual Reports (for Project Task Number Two and Three)
 Work Projection Reports (for Project Task Number Two and Three)
 Analysis and Discussion,
 Chapter Summary.

5.7 Chapter Five

Conclusion

This chapter is usually 1 or 3 pages concluding the whole research project where the researcher
compares what was presented in Chapter One as aims and objectives with what has been
achieved. A statement should be presented to prove whether the project was a success or a
failure. Reasons should also be stated to justify the assertion made.

5.8 Chapter Six

Recommendations

In this chapter, the author makes suitable recommendations observable from the whole research
project. Avoid baseless and isolated recommendations that do not emanate from the research
objectives, discussions and presentations.

5.9 References

5.10 Appendices

6.0 Handouts to Follow

These may come as soft or hard copy hand-outs. Where the hand-outs come as soft copies,
candidates are free to print them out as they wish.

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6.1 Research Proposal.
6.2 Chapter Examples.
6.3 Referencing Styles.
6.4 Preliminary and Title Pages.
6.5 QS Project Tracking Form.
6.6 QS Project Deadlines.
6.7 VIVA Presentation Guideline.

7.0 QS Project Submissions

7.1 2 No. x Spiral bound copies (1 white and 1 black with light blue slide covers).
7.2 1 No. x Black Executive bound copy after assessment of the spiral bound copies.
7.3 QS Project Folder in Accessible File.
7.4 Neat, labelled and complete 3D presentation to scale.
7.5 QS Project Soft Copy Folder (Word Document, QS Excell work, Bills of Quantities,
CAD and 3D animations)

The candidate’s additional copies will be at his/her own cost and are not included in the 2 spiral
and 1 black executive bound copies. The actual submission requirements shall also be stated in
the Project Tracking Form for the candidate’s academic year.

Wish you the best in your QS TVET Project work.

Thank you.

The Civil and Construction

Engineering Department.

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