A bill of quantities (BOQ) is a document that sets out the work required to complete a construction project as a series of itemised descriptions with measured quantities, which tenderers price to arrive at their tender sum.
In the UK, bills of quantities are usually prepared by a QS from the design information and measured in accordance with NRM 2, which replaced SMM7. A BOQ normally contains preliminaries, measured work, provisional sums and dayworks. Because all tenderers price the same quantities, tenders can be compared on a like for like basis. Once the contract is let, the priced BOQ is used for interim valuations and as a basis for valuing variations.
- Under a contract with quantities, errors in the bill are usually corrected and treated as a change.
- The quality of the BOQ depends on how complete the design is at the time of measurement.
Related terms: NRM 2, preliminaries, provisional sum, schedule of rates.
