Commercial construction can be a funny old world. From BOQ to RFQ, there are so many niche terms and acronyms sometimes it sounds like a completely different language. We’ve pulled together a quick glossary so when it comes to getting on site you can both walk the walk, and talk the talk.
Who’s who on the job?
Client: This is the person or organisation who’s commissioning and paying for the building work. They are the key decision maker on any construction project.
Client side project manager: This is the representative of the client – their job is to make sure everything is built aligned to the clients needs (aka, done right and done on budget).
Head contractor: The head contractor – often referred to as the builder – is the company put in charge of the building project. They talk to the client and procure a series of subcontractors to ensure the project is built.
Subcontractor: Affectionately referred to as a ‘subbie’, a subcontractor is a person or organisation contracted under the builder (head contractor) to perform a specific scope of works.
When it comes to the docs:
RFQ: Request for quotation – These are the invitations head contractors send to subbies and suppliers asking them to price a project.
BOQ: Bill of quantities. Bill of quantities – an itemised list of the products to be supplied in the project.
EOI: Expression of interest – This is when a subcontractor expresses interest in supplying a quote for a project.
SOW: Scope of works – this is a list of all the requirements for a subcontractor to complete on the job.
RFI: Request for information – An RFI is a formalised (i.e. in writing) communication between two parties when clarification around a particular piece of information is needed.
Drawing Register: A record of all drawings and schedules with their respective revisions. To an Estimator, it’s a spreadsheet used in the process of allocating drawings, specifications and other tender docs to specific trade packages.
Document Register: A list of documents given to a subcontractor. Used to make sure that the subcontractors quote has been sent in using the latest docs.
Tender time:
Tender: A bid or offer to provide goods/or services for a stated fixed amount of money. A builder will submit a tender to the client basing their price off a series of subcontractor quotes.
Estimator: A person responsible for constructing a price for a specific scope (or scopes) of work. The estimator for a builder will compile subcontractor quotes in order to put together an accurate and educated price to the client.
Trade coverage: Also referred to as coverage, this refers to the amount of quotes a builder has received for each trade package. In order to put in an accurate and educated quote, builders require multiple quotes for each trade package.
Addendum: During a project’s life the drawings will need to be updated to reflect changes being made. An addendum is the process in which these documents are updated.
