RE:SHEDULES OF VALUES

Dear Cadgas,

I'm impressed how many project managers make mistakes when dealing with schedules of values. Sub-Clause 14.1 (d) The Contract Price  (Red book-FIDIC 1999 edition) says:

Unless otherwise stated in the Particular Conditions:

(d) the Contractor shall submit to the Engineer, within 28 days after the Commencement Date, a proposed breakdown of each lump sum price in the Schedules. The Engineer may take account of the breakdown when preparing Payment Certificate, but shall not be bound by it.

Indeed, if lump sum, there's no need for method of measurements or BoQs. And indeed if you want to include them do it only for evaluation of interim payments. It means that you can use BoQs but only for the purposes stated in the schedules and may be inapplicable for other purposes.To have a transparent tender and tenderers will know from the beginning what they are to expect explain carefully what these BoQs mean. 

I prefer not using BoQs because they mislead the contractors. I usually instruct the contractors to send me a proposed breakdown of each lump sum price in the schedules within some period after the commencement date.

But be careful because no matter how correct is your design, there will be inevitable changes. It means you should specify in advance how you will manage the evaluation of the changes.

Hope this answer your question.

Best regards

Rado