WEEK 5

LEARNING OUTCOMES (CO1-PO1)

Understand the preparation of bill of quantities

 Preparation of the
bill of quantities

Taking off

Abstracting

Writing a bill of quantities

Preparation Of Bill Of Quantity

1. List down all works related to the project and refer to any standard method of
measurement (SMM) for example:
Piling – Refer to CESMM for piling
Excavation – Refer to CESMM earthwork class
Pile Cap construction – Refer to CESMM concrete class

2. What to refer – unit of measurement and description of works (D.O.W)

3. Taking off quantities based on suggested unit of measurement

4. Write A BQ- refer to SMM for D.O.W and Unit of measurement

 Taking Off

Taking off is the process of measuring from drawings and

recording all dimensions in recognized form on a special ruled
paper called taking off sheet or ‘dimension paper’ as shown
below.
 Abstracting

Transferring the description quantity from the dimension sheet to

the abstract sheet and collecting together items which can be
billed under one item.

Abstract Sheet : The cost

under item of work
calculated from the
quantities already
computed at
workble rate, and the total
cost is worked out in a
prescribed from known as
abstract sheet.
 Writing a bill of quantities

• Ruling of bill of quantities based on CESMM

Writing Bill Of Quantity
There are certain principles, which should always be followed when writing a bill of quantities. It should be
concise, accurate and well written.

Descriptions- Each item should be described in detail enough to enable anyone reading the bill of quantities is
able to locate the item in the works.

Order - Item should be entered in logical order. Example :

Excavation : Cubic

Mass concrete : Cubic

Reinforcement : Largest diameters first

Brickwork : Cubic

Steel work : Heaviest item first

Accuracy - It is usually necessary to re-measure civil engineering works when they are completed to
determine the exact value of the work, and therefore it is not necessary to calculate the quantities
too accurately when preparing the bill.
Writing Bill Of Quantity
Numbering – All items should be measured consecutively page by page
In building work the most usual practice is to letter the item alphabetically on each page to
Avoid the use of large number.
For example, the third item on page 20 of the bill of quantities. Would be referred to as item
20/C (page 20 item C ).

Abbreviations -The following abbreviations are often used on the dimension sheet :
Bwk : Brickwork
C.I : Cast iron
M.S : Mild steel
R.C : Reinforced concrete
P.C : Prime cost
L.S : Lump sum
Thk : Thickness
Ex : Excavation

Abbreviations are acceptable in the dimension sheet but should never be used in the bill
of quantities except for quantity units.
Writing Bill Of Quantity
Units of measurement

The following abbreviation should be used :

Cubic cu

Square sq

Linear in

Milimetre mm

Metre m

Kilometer km

Kilogram kg

Hectare ha
 A complete set of bill of quantities

PROVISIONAL PROVISIONAL PRIME COST PREAMBLES DAY WORK

SUM QUANTITIES ITEMS ITEMS SCHEDULES
amount or a Items or prime cost sum is A preamble is Daywork is a
sum given for components of an allowance, means by which
an explanation
usually calculated by
the works that work for which of a document, a contractor is
the cost consultant,
cannot be exact for the supply of commonly paid for
predicted, requirements work or materials found in specifically
defined, or and quantities to be provided by a contracts, instructed
described in are not known sub-contractor or specifications work on the
detail at the at the time of supplier that will basis of the
and bills of
be nominated by the
time of the tendering. quantities. It cost of labour,
client - that is, a
tender Payment to the supplier that is can help with materials
document are contractor is on selected by the client The and plant plus
issued. the basis of the to carry out an interpretation a mark up for
actual work element of of the overheads and
carried out at the works and profit. It is
document.
imposed on the
rates agreed in generally used
main contractor after
the contract. the main contractor when work can
has been appointed. not be priced in
the normal way.
A complete set of bill of quantities

The example of a bill of quantities for a river works contract for a

new power station might contain the following;

Section A - list of principal quantities

Section B - Preamble
Section C - Day work schedule
Section D - Work items
Section E - Grand Summary

List of Section D-Work item:-

Part 1 - General Items
Part 2 - Demolition and site works
Part 3 - Access roads
Part 4 - Pipe work
Part 5 - Dredging
Part 6 - Pump chambers
Part 7 - Circulating water ducts
Part 8 - Wharf wall
Part 9 - Jetty
Section A- List of Principal Quantities
The list of principal quantities being the main components of the works, with their approximate
estimated quantities, so that tenderers obtain an overall picture of the general scale and
character of the proposed works at the outset.

A list of principal quantities relating to a reservoir as follows:

Section B - Preambles

• Introductory clauses inserted at the commencement of bill of quantities containing any

necessary instructions, references to obligations imposed on the contractor under the term of
the contract.

A preamble might include:

• A description of the parties to the contract.

• A description of the competence (or lack of it) of the parties to the contract. This can be
taken to set a general standard for the quality of goods or services expected, or the level
of support required.
• The background to the document.
• A summary of the negotiations.
• Tendering procedures.
• The objectives of the project.
• Other related documents or previous contracts and their relationship to the current
document.
It should only include important information and should avoid including or repeating rights or
obligations which should be set out in the main body of the document.
Section C – Daywork schedule/rates

It is necessary to make provision for a daywork evaluation of work which cannot be assessed at
bill rates. CESMM provides three alternative procedures :

• A list of the various classes of labor, material and plant for which daywork rates or prices
are to be inserted by the tenderer.
• Provision for payment at the rates and prices and prices and percentage variations
contained in the current federation schedules of daywork.
• The insertion of provisional sums in the bill of quantities for work executed on a daywork
basis comprising separate items for labor, materials, plants etc.
Section D – Work Items
Part 1 : General Item
i)Prime Cost Items
-Shall be inserted in BOQ under General Items (Class A) to cover work carried out by
nominated sub contractors.
- A prime cost sum is an allowance, usually calculated by the cost consultant, for the
supply of work or materials to be provided by a sub-contractor or supplier that will be
nominated by the client - that is, a supplier that is selected by the client to carry out an
element of the works and imposed on the main contractor after the main contractor has
been appointed.
-work or materials by a specialist contractor or statutory body, e.g. gas, electricity, water
and sewer connections.
ii)Provisional sums
- A provisional sum is an allowance, usually estimated by a cost consultant, for a
specific element of the works that is not yet defined in enough detail for tenderers to
accurately price.
- Shall be used to cover contingencies of various types and they can be entered in
various section of the BOQ for subsequent adjustment.
- Is a monetary amount for work for which the full extent or character cannot be
determined precisely at the time of preparing tender documents.
Provisional quantites- cannot be determined precisely at the time of preparing tender
documents. (subjected to remeasurement)
Provisional Sum Example
Provisional sum items shall be added in the separate bill called Provisional sums or Prime
cost and Provisional sums in the Bills of Quantities.
1. Construction of the below-ground drainage system. (When there are no tender drawings)
2. Landscaping works
3. Road marking for car park

Quantity column and rate columns are usually not filled in this bill section. In the unit
column, “Pro Sum” or “Item” can be used as a unit.
In the amount column, the consultant will add a rounded provisional amount based on the
experience or previous records of projects.
Section E – General Summary

• Total cost for the sections

Past Year Questions
JUNE 2016

DEC 2016
Past Year Questions
JULY 2017
Past Year Questions
JAN 2018

JUNE 2018
Past Year Questions
DEC 2018

DEC 2019