Contract Awarded? What's Next?

Too often with commercial/QS staff, there is an obsession with Bills of Quantities to the extent that the BoQ itself is often taken as the be-all-and-end-all with Contract Documents.

It isn't.

Plenty of junior staff, when asked "have you checked ALL of the Contract Documents?" will answer "yes", but when pressed, will tend to admit this entailed a review of the BoQ, some of the Drawings and parts of the Specification(s).

It should not be underestimated (no pun intended!) the necessity in reading not just ALL of the physical known Contract Documents - if in doubt, find where the priority of documents is listed and delve into each referenced one so that any sub-references therein are also explored and understood - but also any documents referenced therein which may not be apparent.

This may include footnotes to something which may have exchanged hands during Tender but which has been "accidentally" omitted during Contract Stage.

Ultimately, You, or your Employer has entered into a Contract based upon ALL of the information contained within the Contract Documents - this includes referenced documents.

So, if any ambiguity exists as to what referenced document is not physically included within the Contract "Pack", it is better to insist on receiving a copy sooner rather than later.