- Takeoff
- Measurement of construction work from drawings and specifications.
- Quantity takeoff
- A schedule of measured counts, lengths, areas, volumes or weights.
- Material takeoff
- A material schedule that may convert installed quantities into purchasing units.
- Unit cost
- Cost assigned to one defined unit of measured work.
- Allowance
- A stated provision for an unresolved item with defined coverage.
- CSI MasterFormat
- A classification system for organizing construction information by work result.
- General conditions
- Project-specific support costs such as supervision and temporary facilities.
- Contingency
- A separate provision for identified uncertainty rather than known scope.
- Overhead
- Business operating costs not directly attributed to one measured installation.
- Markup
- An addition expressed relative to the underlying cost.
- Margin
- Profit expressed relative to the selling price.
- Bid bond
- A bond associated with a bidder’s obligations under the applicable tender terms.
- Base bid
- The offer for the principal tender scope before separate alternates.
- Alternate
- A separately identified addition, deduction or substitute scope.
- Addendum
- A formal update to tender documents.
- RFI
- A request for information used to clarify a project question.
- Change order
- An authorized contractual change under the project’s approval process.
- Change estimate
- A cost comparison for added and omitted scope.
- Scope
- The work and responsibilities covered by a defined package.
- Inclusion
- An item expressly covered by the estimate or offer.
- Exclusion
- An item expressly outside the package.
- Assumption
- A stated basis used where information or a decision is incomplete.
- Labor unit
- An installation-hour basis per defined unit of work.
- Productivity
- Output relative to time or resources for stated conditions.
- Waste factor
- An explicit allowance for cutting, laps or other procurement loss.
- Net quantity
- Measured installed work before purchasing adjustments.
- Gross quantity
- A quantity before specified deductions; its basis must be stated.
- Bill of quantities
- A structured schedule of measured work for pricing or comparison.
- Bill of materials
- A list of components or products required for a defined assembly.
- Assembly
- A group of components forming a specified construction system.
- Drawing scale
- The relationship between drawing distance and represented distance.
- Datum
- A reference elevation or coordinate used for measurement.
- Cut and fill
- Excavation and placed material measured against existing and proposed surfaces.
- Swell
- An identified change from in-place to loose material volume.
- Compaction
- The densification of placed material under specified requirements.
- Formwork
- The temporary or permanent form defining placed concrete geometry.
- Rebar
- Steel reinforcement specified for concrete construction.
- Flashing
- A detailed component directing water at an envelope junction or penetration.
- Submittal
- Product or construction information submitted for required review.
- Lead time
- Time between an order or approval and the required availability.
- Quote validity
- The period and conditions for which a quotation is offered.
- Prevailing wage
- Required compensation under applicable public-work rules and determinations.
- UCC
- Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code framework.
- HICPA
- Pennsylvania’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act.
- Buyout
- The process of placing trade or supply commitments after award.
- Value engineering
- Evaluation of approved alternatives for function, scope and cost.
- Commissioning
- Specified verification and documentation of building-system operation.
- Cost per square foot
- A cost divided by a stated area; scope and area definitions are essential.
- Procurement quantity
- The quantity intended for purchasing after stated packaging or waste adjustments.
- Scope leveling
- Comparing quotations on a consistent coverage basis.
