Bills of Quantities

When to use Bills of Quantities: Bills of Quantities (BQ) are the traditional and proven means of securing lump sum prices for undertaking building works. Builders Quantities are used when there is not enough detail to prepare a BQ based on NRM2 or when a contractor needs only an approximate statement of quantities for the purposes of obtaining sub-contract prices, (i.e., where the time or cost of producing a firm BQ is not warranted). The initial resource cost of Builders Quantities is lower than preparing a BQ to NRM2 standards. Although the quantities are approximate the descriptions of work will be correct and this is of assistance should the work require to be remeasured on completion. NRM2 bills of quantities provide greater reliability in tender prices (i.e., the work is precisely measured and described). If there were no design changes, an NRM2 BQ would provide a price at the tender stage which would equal the final cost. In practice, however, there will be changes and an NRM2 based BQ provides the best basis for cost control since the direct cost of the change can be assessed with reference to the rates provided in the BQ. The firmer the BQ, the better it is as a means of financial control.