BQA Grade 9 key terms

A formal document issued by a client that sets out the scope, requirements, and submission rules for a project and asks selected contractors to submit priced offers by a stated deadline.

A document listing measured quantities of work items with descriptions, used so that competing bidders price the same scope and their offers can be compared fairly.

A guarantee provided with a tender that protects the client if the successful bidder refuses to sign the contract or supply required securities after being awarded the work.

A guarantee, usually from a bank or insurer, that pays the client a stated sum if the contractor fails to meet its contractual obligations during the works.

The structured process of checking submitted offers against stated criteria, such as price, programme, technical method, and experience, to decide which bidder should be awarded the contract.

A written notice stating that a client intends to award work to a contractor, often allowing limited early activity before the full contract is signed.

The formal point at which a client accepts a bidder's offer and creates a binding agreement, usually confirmed by a signed contract or letter of acceptance.

A written instruction that changes the scope, quantity, quality, or timing of contracted work, with the cost and time effects recorded and agreed through the contract's change procedure.

A document issued during the works certifying the value of work completed and materials on site, which then forms the basis for a progress payment to the contractor.

A percentage of each payment withheld by the client as security against defects or non-completion, released in stages, typically partly at completion and partly after the defects period.

A stated period after practical completion during which the contractor must return to rectify faults in the works at its own cost before final release of money is made.

The stage at which the works are fit for their intended use, with only minor items outstanding, allowing the client to occupy the building and start the defects period.

An agreed addition to the contract completion date granted for qualifying delaying events, protecting the contractor from delay damages while preserving the client's right to the new date.

A pre-agreed sum deducted from the contractor for each day of delay beyond the completion date, representing a genuine estimate of the client's loss.

The price charged for one measured unit of a work item, such as per cubic metre of concrete, which is multiplied by the quantity to give the total item cost.

Project-wide costs and obligations that are not tied to a specific work item, covering site management, temporary facilities, insurance, and similar general requirements.

A sum set aside in a budget to cover identified risks and unforeseeable costs that may arise during the project, drawn down only when needed.

A projection of money expected to be received and spent over future periods, used to plan funding and check that the project stays solvent at each stage.

A hierarchy that divides the whole project into manageable packages of work, giving a framework for estimating, scheduling, and assigning responsibility for each part.

The longest sequence of dependent activities through a network, which sets the shortest possible project duration; any delay on it delays the whole project.

The amount of spare time an activity can be delayed without pushing out the project completion date, showing where schedule flexibility exists.

A bar chart that displays activities against a calendar timeline, showing start and finish dates, durations, and overlaps so progress can be tracked visually.

A significant point in the schedule with zero duration, used to mark the completion of a key stage or the start of a major phase.

A written description of how a construction activity will be carried out, covering sequence, plant, labour, and controls, used for planning and for safety review.

Temporary moulds and supports that hold wet concrete in the required shape until it has hardened enough to carry its own weight.

Steel bars or mesh placed inside concrete to carry tensile forces, since concrete alone is strong in compression but weak in tension.

Keeping newly placed concrete moist and at a suitable temperature for a set period so it gains strength and resists cracking.

A careful examination of a task to identify hazards, judge how likely and how severe any harm could be, and record the controls needed to reduce it.

The ranked order in which safety measures should be chosen, starting with eliminating the hazard and moving down to administrative measures and personal protective equipment last.

Clothing and gear such as helmets, boots, and eye protection worn by workers to reduce harm from hazards that cannot be removed or controlled by other means.

A formal written authorisation required before starting high-risk activities, confirming that specified precautions are in place and that the task is cleared to proceed.

A short, focused safety briefing given on site before work begins, covering the hazards of the day's tasks and the controls workers must follow.

A situation where a person's private interests could improperly influence their professional decisions, which must be disclosed and managed openly.

The duty to keep client and project information private, sharing it only with those authorised to receive it and not using it for personal gain.

Acting honestly and consistently with stated values, refusing bribery and deception, and keeping commitments even when doing so is inconvenient or costly.

Failure to take the level of care that a reasonable professional would take in the same circumstances, resulting in loss or damage to another party.

The legal and professional obligation to act with reasonable skill and care toward others who could be affected by one's work or decisions.