Who prepares the bill of quantities?

The employer's side prepares it and issues it with the tender. The bidder enters the rates and prices. The World Bank's notes on preparing a BOQ are written for the person drafting the bidding document.

Can I change a quantity in the BOQ if I think it is wrong?

Do not change it yourself. Ask the employer in writing. The World Bank document only commits the employer to answer requests received at least 14 days before the deadline. A change to the document comes by addendum.

Are BOQ quantities final?

Not in a remeasured contract. The World Bank's sample preamble calls them estimated and provisional. You are paid for the quantities measured, at your rates.

Where do site setup and other general costs go?

Price them in the general items bill if the BOQ has one. If no item exists for a cost, the World Bank preamble treats it as spread across the related rates.

Is a BQ the same as a BOQ?

Yes. Both mean bill of quantities. RICS uses BQ in NRM 2, and BOQ is the short form used in many tenders.

Cookies on Bidligence

We use strictly necessary cookies to keep you signed in, protect your account and take payments. With your permission we also remember interface preferences on this device (theme, language and the 3D view’s look) and set our own analytics cookie, to recognise a returning visitor and see which of our pages and campaigns bring people to Bidligence. With your permission, our advertising partners (Google) may also set marketing cookies on our public website to measure our ads and show them to people who have visited Bidligence. Without the analytics cookie we still count visits, one day at a time. Cookie Policy

Answer · Tender terms explained

What is a bill of quantities in a tender?

A bill of quantities (BOQ) is the list of work in a tender that you price. The employer lists each item, its unit and its quantity. You enter a rate for each item. Under the World Bank's September 2025 works document, payment then follows the quantities actually measured, at your rates.

This page explains the parts of a BOQ and the rules that can change your price. The rules come from standard documents checked in November 2026. The tender's own documents always decide.

Create your workspace Reviewed 01/11/26

What does a BOQ do?

The World Bank's standard works document gives a BOQ two jobs. It lets bidders prepare their bids efficiently and accurately. After award, the priced bill is used to value the work done each period.

The quantities are not always final. The Bank's sample preamble calls them estimated and provisional, and says they give all bidders a common basis. Payment follows the quantities ordered, carried out and measured. The UK surveyors' standard, RICS NRM 2, describes a list with detailed descriptions and firm quantities. So read how your own contract treats them.

What are the parts of a BOQ?

The World Bank's notes divide a BOQ into four parts. Its sample bill opens with Bill No. 1 for general items, then earthworks, culverts and bridges.

Part	What it holds	What you do
Preamble	What the rates include and how work is measured	Read it before you price any line
Work items	Items grouped by location, timing or type of work	Enter a rate for every item

Guide · EstimatingPricing a BOQBuild unit rates from labour, plant and materials, price the preliminaries, enter provisional sums as printed, add overheads and profit, then check the BOQ.Answer · Tender terms explainedProvisional sums and contingencyA provisional sum is the employer's money for work it cannot yet fully describe. Contingency is a general allowance for overruns. Enter both as printed.Answer · Tender terms explained

Price your next BOQ with sources you can check

Create a free workspace and confirm your e-mail. Your 500 welcome credits cover analysing a tender and pricing its BOQ.

Create your workspace See pricing

Summary	Totals of each part, plus provisional sums and any contingency	Carry the total to the Letter of Bid

What happens if a BOQ has errors or blanks?

The September 2025 World Bank document sets these rules. Check the same clauses in your tender.

Problem	What happens	Clause
A rate is left blank	The item counts as covered by your other rates. It is not paid separately.	ITB 14.2
An item is left out of the bill	It counts as not included. If the bid stays responsive, the average price from other responsive bidders is added for comparison.	ITB 14.2
Rate times quantity differs from the amount	The rate stands and the amount is corrected, unless the decimal point in the rate is clearly misplaced.	ITB 35.1(a)
Subtotals and the total disagree	The subtotals stand and the total is corrected.	ITB 35.1(b)
Words and figures disagree	The words stand, unless they relate to an arithmetic error.	ITB 35.1(c)
You refuse a correction	Your bid is rejected.	ITB 35.2

A seriously unbalanced or front-loaded bill can also cost you. The employer may ask for price analyses and may reject the bid. It may also raise the performance security to as much as 20% of the contract price (ITB 39).

What is a bill of quantities in a tender?

What does a BOQ do?

What are the parts of a BOQ?

Price your next BOQ with sources you can check

What must each rate include?

What happens if a BOQ has errors or blanks?

Does every construction tender use a BOQ?

Where Bidligence fits

Questions

Sources

What is a bill of quantities in a tender?

What does a BOQ do?

What are the parts of a BOQ?

Keep reading

Price your next BOQ with sources you can check

What must each rate include?

What happens if a BOQ has errors or blanks?

Does every construction tender use a BOQ?

Where Bidligence fits

Questions

Sources