How To Prepare Bill Of Quantities, Take Off, Generate Rate, Labour & Material Schedules Step By Step With Examples
The bill of quantities also known for short as BoQ or BQ, 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.
BoQ may be measured in length, number, volume, area, weight or time. Preparation of a bill of quantities demands that the design and specification are complete.
The bill of quantities is issued to tenderers for them to prepare a price for carrying out the works.
The contractor tenders against the bill of quantities, stating their price for each item. This priced bill of quantities constitutes the tenderer’s offer.
The main purpose of the Bill of Quantities (BQ) is to enable all contractors tendering for a contract to price on exactly the same information. Subsequent to this, it is widely used for post-tender work e.g. material scheduling; construction planning; cost analysis; and cost planning.
A Bill of Quantities is usually completed by a quality surveyor, a cost consultant, or a civil engineer whose expertise is estimating materials required for a project.
Preparing a Bill of Quantities, Material Take Off, and generating rates, labor, and material schedules are essential tasks in the construction industry. These documents provide a detailed breakdown of the quantities and costs of materials, labor, and equipment required for a construction project. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to prepare these documents, along with examples:
Step 1: Review the project drawings and specifications
The first step in preparing a Bill of Quantities (BoQ), Material Take Off (MTO), and generating rates, labor, and material schedules is to thoroughly review the project drawings and specifications. Understand the scope of work, the types of materials required, and the construction methods to be followed.
Step 2: Identify the items for measurement
Based on the project drawings and specifications, identify the items that need to be measured and quantified. This includes materials, labor, and equipment. For example, in a construction project, you may need to quantify items such as concrete, bricks, steel reinforcement, electrical wiring, plumbing fixtures, etc.
Step 3: Measure and quantify the items
Measure and quantify the identified items using the appropriate units of measurement. For instance, if the project requires concrete, measure the volume of concrete needed in cubic meters or cubic feet. If the project requires bricks, count the number of bricks required.
Step 4: Group items into logical sections
Organize the measured and quantified items into logical sections or divisions. This helps in better understanding and analysis of the quantities and costs. For example, group all the concrete-related items together, all the electrical items together, etc.
Step 5: Prepare the Bill of Quantities
Based on the measured and quantified items, prepare the Bill of Quantities (BoQ). The BoQ is a detailed document that lists all the items, their quantities, rates, and total costs. It serves as a pricing document for the tendering process.
Here’s an example of a simplified BoQ:
Item Description | Unit | Quantity | Rate (USD) | Total (USD) ————————————————————– Concrete | Cubic Meter | 100 | 100 | 10,000
Bricks | Piece | 10,000 | 0.1 | 1,000
Steel reinforcement | Ton | 5 | 500 | 2,500
Step 6: Prepare the Material Take Off
The Material Take Off (MTO) is a document that lists all the materials required for the project. It includes the quantities, specifications, and any additional information necessary for procurement. Here’s an example:
Item Description | Unit | Quantity | Specifications ————————————————————–
Concrete | Cubic Meter | 100 | Reinforced, 30 MPa
Bricks | Piece | 10,000 | Red clay bricks
Steel reinforcement| Ton | 5 | 10mm diameter
Step 7: Generate rates, labor, and material schedules
Based on the quantities and the rates of materials, labor, and equipment, generate the rates, labor, and material schedules. These schedules provide a breakdown of the costs and time required for each item.
Here’s an example:
Material Schedule: ————————————————————–
Item Description | Unit | Quantity | Rate (USD) | Total (USD) ————————————————————– Concrete | Cubic Meter | 100 | 100 | 10,000
Bricks | Piece | 10,000 | 0.1 | 1,000
Steel reinforcement| Ton | 5 | 500 | 2,500
Labor Schedule: ————————————————————–
Item Description | Unit | Quantity | Rate (USD) | Total (USD) ————————————————————– Concrete works | Cubic Meter | 100 | 50 | 5,000
Bricklaying | Piece | 10,000 | 0.2 | 2,000
Steel fixing | Ton | 5 | 100 | 500
By following these steps and using examples as a guide, you can prepare a comprehensive Bill of Quantities, Material Take Off, and generate rates, labor, and material schedules for your construction project. These documents will help in estimating the costs, procuring materials, and managing the project efficiently.
