Worked pre-tender example

This example is based on a trade package let under a construction management contract.

Site location: Central London
Work location: Retained basement slab; working around existing structure
Package: Concrete work
Duration: 36 weeks

When estimating this type of work the preliminaries need specific attention. The pricing schedule broke down the preliminaries into headings. In order to price these, the headings need to be assessed for the works required.

Preliminaries
Site management and staff £716,720.00
Accommodation and furniture £3,600.00
Hoisting/lifting/craneage 
£96,000.00
Temporary services
£47,900.00
Communications
£20,060.00
Safety
£173,800.00
Rubbish removal
  £34,200.00
O&M manuals/record drawings
 £45,000.00
Plant
£123,840.00
Scaffolding £104,600.00
Concrete test cubes  £12,000.00
Overhead and profit (6%)   £82,663.20
Total preliminaries
£1,460,383.20

The associated measured works came to £5,804,186.49, which meant the preliminaries elements came to 25.16% of the measured works. It is only in understanding the nature of the works being carried out is it possible to develop up a version of the preliminaries rather than relying on a typical percentage addition. This is particularly prevalent in atypical projects.

In the context of this pre-tender estimate the measured works included the following concrete works:

  • Crane bases (Level B3)
  • Level B3 bases and pits
  • Level B3 slabs
  • Level B3 lining walls
  • Level B3 columns
  • Level B3 stairs (steps for change in levels)
  • Level B3 service tunnel
  • Level B2 slabs
  • Level B2 upstands
  • Level B1 slabs
  • Level B1 upstands
  • Ground floor slabs
  • Ground floor upstands
  • Core A (level B3 to roof)
  • Core B (ground to level 4)
  • Core C (level B2 to roof)
  • Core capping slabs
  • Below slab drainage
  • Ancillary items - earthing pits, column strengthening, etc.

Item     
 Description Qty
 Unit
Rate
 Total
Preliminaries
Site management and staff
 A  Project manager               
 36  wks  2500  90,000.00
 B  Foreman  36  wks  2500  72,000.00
 C  Senior engineer  20  wks  1800  36,000.00
 D  Site engineers  80  wks  1400  120,000.00
 E  Assistant site engineers  80  wks  1000 80,000.00
 F  Logistics manager  36  wks  1500  54,000.00
 G  QA engineer  36  wks  1500  54,000.00
 H  IT/document controller  36  wks  1200  43,200.00
 I  Construction support  36  wks  900  32,400.00
 J  Reinforcement engineer  20  wks  1500  30,000.00
 K  Planner (40%)  14.4  wks  1800  25,920.00
 L  Senior surveyor (40%)  14.4  wks  2000  28,800.00
 M  Assistant surveyor  36  wks  1400 50,400.00
Accommodation and furniture
 A
 Stores (2Nr)  72
 wks  50
3,600.00
Hoisting/lifting/craneage
 A
 Erect hoists to cores
 2
 nr
 12000
24,000.00
 B
 Driver and hire
 36
 wks
 2000
72,000.00
Temporary services
 A  Electrical connection

 item
500.00
 B  Trailing leads

item
 2,000.00
 C
 Lighting tripods

item
1,000.00
D  Equipment
item
 10,000.00
E
 Slip cables and wiring

item
15,000.00
F
 Standby generators
 18
 wks
800
14,400.00
G
 Temp plumbing hose

item
5,000.00
Communications
 A
 Calls  36
 wks
100
3,600.00
 B  Fax 36 wks  35  1,260.00
 C  Copier 36 wks  25  900.00
D
 Stationery
36 wks 25
900.00
 E  Site two way radios (6Nr)
 216 wks
 25  5,400.00
 F  IT equipment

item
 8,000.00
 Safety 
 A  Supervisor  36 wks  1300  46,800.00
 B  Equipment  36 wks  750  27,000.00
 C  Protective screens

item
 50,000.00
 D  Safety netting

item
 50,000.00
Rubbish removal
 A  Labour - cleaning
 36 wks
 27,000.00
 B  Skips  36 wks
 7,200.00
 O and M manuals/record drawings 
 A  Allowance
 item
45,000.00
 Plant 
 A  Concrete pumps
 72
wks
86,400.00
 B  Setting out equipment
 108 wks
 14,040.00
 C  Small tools
 36 wks
 14,040.00
 D  Consumables  36 wks
9,000.00
 Scaffolding 
 A  General access

item
 10,000.00
 B  Scaffolders - labour
 36 wks
 39,600.00
 C  Haki stairs

item
 25,000.00
 D  Handrails and the like

item
30,000.00
 Concrete test cubes 
 A  Allowance
item
 12,000.00
 Overhead and profit 
 A  OHP on preliminaries
 6%

 82,663.20