Contract No. [Insert contract no.

Preambles to the bill of quantities

[Insert contract title]

PART IV
PREAMBLES TO THE BILL OF QUANTITIES
[Applicable to Options B and D]

GENERAL PREAMBLES

Method of
Measurement

1.

This bill of quantities has been prepared in accordance with the procedures
set forth in the Standard Method of Measurement for Civil Engineering
Works, 1992 Edition (The Government of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region), hereinafter referred to as the Method of
Measurement. [For building and E&M contracts, please amend to suit.]

General directions

2.

Items shown in the bills of the bill of quantities are items of work. In this bill
of quantities and the Method of Measurement, the headings, sub-headings,
item descriptions and the matters listed against the relevant marginal
headings Item coverage in Part V of the Method of Measurement and the
Particular Preambles identify the work covered by the respective items, but
such descriptions or identifications may not be exhaustive. The exact
nature and extent of an item of work must be ascertained by reference to
the Drawings, Specification and conditions of contract, as not all
requirements may be stated in the item description or its item coverage.
Furthermore, whilst the item description and item coverage may make
specific reference to certain Drawings and/or Specification, the item of work
described is deemed to include for all requirements shown on all Drawings
and/or Specification pertaining to that item of work irrespective of whether
or not the Drawing and/or Specification is stated in the item description or
item coverage. The item description of an item of work shall be deemed to
include an item coverage for the carrying out of all work and services
necessary or desirable for the satisfactory completion of such item of work
in accordance with this contract.
The rate inserted against an item of work in the bills within the bill of
quantities shall be deemed to be the full inclusive value of executing,
completing, maintaining and/or supplying such item of work including any
incidental work, services and actions thereto, unless expressly stated
otherwise elsewhere in the bill of quantities. The expression incidental
work, services and actions includes, but is not limited to, the carrying out of
all work, services and actions and complying with all obligations which are
specified or reasonably implied in this contract and which are related to,
arise out of or are connected with the item of work as described in its
headings, sub-headings, item description and item coverage. The rates
inserted against the items of work in the bills within the bill of quantities
shall include, but are not limited to, the following :
(i)

provision of labour and costs in connection therewith;

(ii)

provision of Equipment and costs in connection therewith;

(iii)

the supply, transportation, handling and storage of Plant and

Materials;

[Insert Project Office/Consultant]

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(iv)

multiple handling of any kind;

(v)

sampling and testing and costs in connection therewith;

(vi)

assembling, fixing, erecting, installing or placing of Plant and

Materials in position;

(vii)

preparation of surfaces and other preparatory work for follow-on

activities;

(viii)

wastage, bulking, shrinkage and the disposal of surplus Plant and

Materials;

(ix)

temporary protection and its subsequent removal;

(x)

Temporary Works, including design;

(xi)

taking precautions and measures as far as is reasonable and

practical to prevent interference with or damage to existing
structures and utilities, roads, footpaths and paved areas,
watercourses and drainage systems, public and private vehicular
and pedestrian accesses, trees, graves and burial urns, including
the provision of alternative access, if necessary;

(xii)

keeping the works where necessary, and as near as may be

practical, free of water and protected from damage due to water
and from weather conditions which may adversely affect the works,
and taking measures to prevent floatation of new or existing
structures;

(xiii)

taking all measures required to execute the work as affected by

non-tidal open water or tidal water;

(xiv)

provision of working space and upholding the sides of excavations;

(xv)

carrying out trial mixes, trial runs and all other trials,
demonstrations and mock-ups;

(xvi)

completion of formation and earthwork final surfaces;

(xvii)

recording, taking readings, measurements and observations, and

submitting to the Project Manager all drawings, details of
procedures and methods of construction to be used, technical
literature, test certificates and any other documents or information
required to be submitted under this contract;

(xviii)

in the case of any Plant and Materials supplied by the Employer as

specified in the Works Information, return of the surplus;

(xix)

in the case of any Equipment and Plant supplied by the Employer

as specified in the Works Information, protection, maintenance and
repair of such Equipment and Plant while it is on the Site, costs in
connection with operating such Equipment and Plant, and return of
Equipment and Plant to the Employer or replacement of such
Equipment and Plant if it is damaged beyond repair or lost;

(xx)

notifying, making arrangements and liaising with all relevant

Government Departments, authorities or other interested parties to
obtain and maintain all licences and permits necessary for the
execution of the works, and costs in connection therewith including

[Insert Project Office/Consultant]

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Preambles to the bill of quantities

[Insert contract title]

the costs of complying with the terms and conditions of the

licences and permits;
(xxi) liabilities, obligations and risks involved in the execution of the
works set forth or reasonably implied in this contract;
(xxii)

establishment charges, overheads and profit.

[For building and E&M contracts, please amend to suit.]

Measurement

3.

The measurement of work shall be computed net from the Drawings unless
stated otherwise in the Method of Measurement.

Item coverage

4.

If any item coverage includes reference to work which is the subject of item
coverages elsewhere in the Method of Measurement, then the combined
item coverages shall apply.

Use of alternative 5.
Plant and Materials
or designs

Where in this contract a choice of alternative Plant and Materials or designs

is indicated for a given purpose, the description billed and rates inserted
shall be deemed to cover any of the permitted alternative Plant and
Materials or designs which the Contractor may elect to use.

Unpriced items

6.

Items against which no rate is entered shall be deemed to be covered by

the other rates in the bill of quantities.

7.

Not used

8.

Not used

9.

Not used

10.

Not used

Cost and fee of test 11.

of Plant and
Materials and
workmanship

Except for those tests provided for as separate items of work in the bills
within the bill of quantities, the rates contained in this contract shall be
deemed to include for the cost, overheads and profit of carrying out all tests
on Plant and Materials and workmanship specified in this contract,
including but not limited to, the cost, overheads and profit of packing and
transport required for delivering samples to and collecting from the place of
testing.

Discrepancy
12.
between the units
of measurement
given in the
Method of
Measurement and
the bills

Where there is discrepancy between the unit in the Method of

Measurement and the unit for an item of work in the bills within the bill of
quantities, the unit in the bill shall prevail, unless, by reference to the
quantity in the bills and the nature of the item of work as identified by the
Specification, Drawings, measurement rules, item description and item
coverage in the Method of Measurement, the Project Manager
determines otherwise.

[Insert Project Office/Consultant]

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Preambles to the bill of quantities

[Insert contract title]

PARTICULAR PREAMBLES
Amendments
to the Method
of Measurement

1.

For the purpose of this contract, the Method of Measurement as amended

by the Corrigenda Nos. 1/93, 1/94, 1/97, 1/99, 2/99, 1/2000, 2/2001,
3/2001, 1/2007 and 1/2011 attached as Appendix 1 herein is further
amended in accordance with the following particular preambles.

Part I:
Definitions

2.

Paragraphs 1(b) and 1(c) of Part I is deleted in its entirety and is replaced

by NOT USED.

Part III:
3.
Rules for Preparing

bill of quantities

Paragraph 1 of Part III is deleted and replaced by the following :

The bill of quantities shall comprise the following :

- General and Particular Preambles

- Bill No. 1
:
Preliminaries
- Bill No. 2
:
and other bills onwards
- Grand Summary

4.

Add the following unit abbreviation to paragraph 2 of Part III :

Unit
Number week
Number month

[Insert Project Office/Consultant]

Abbreviation
nr-wk
nr-mth

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Preambles to the bill of quantities

Part IV:
Preambles to the
bill of quantities

5.

The following is added after paragraph 2(i) and before paragraph 2(ii) of
Part IV :
(i)A

6.

Temporary Works, including design and the checking and

certification by independent checking engineer(s) where
required;

Paragraph 2(xix) of Part IV is deleted and substituted by the following :

(xix)

8.

provision of management and supervisory staff, including but not

limited to those specified in Clause [D1] of the additional
conditions of contract;

Paragraph 2(x) of Part IV is deleted and substituted by the following :

(x)

7.

[Insert contract title]

in the case of any Equipment and Plant supplied by the Employer

as specified in the Works Information, protection, maintenance and
repair of such Equipment and Plant while it is on the Site, costs in
connection with operating such Equipment and Plant, and return of
Equipment and Plant to the Employer or replacement of such
Equipment and Plant if it is damaged beyond repair, stolen or lost;

The following are added after paragraph 2(xxii) of Part IV: [Please
amend as appropriate.]
(xxiii) use of mechanical covers for dump trucks as specified in Clause
[Insert appropriate reference] of the Particular Specification (PS);
(xxiv) testing of the works including site acceptance tests, factory
acceptance tests, tests of individual systems of the works and
completion tests of the works, and the associated cost for the
Supervisors inspection of all such tests;
(xxv)

commissioning of the works;

(xxvi) all cost and charges due to construction constraints, obtaining

consent and/or other requirements, including but not limited to
those as specified in Clause [Insert appropriate reference] of the
PS;
(xxvii) all cost and charges for complying with the requirements for
facilities to other contractors; and
(xxviii) all cost and charges for complying with the requirements for
submission of as-constructed records.

9.

Add the following after paragraph 4 of Part IV :

4A.

[Insert Project Office/Consultant]

The item coverage of the relevant item as stated in the Method of

Measurement and/or these Preambles to the bill of quantities is
not meant to be a comprehensive or exhaustive list covering all
costs in relation to work of that item. The rate inserted in the bill
of quantities is deemed to be inclusive of all necessary cost and
fee for the work of that item as indicated in the Specification and
shown on the Drawings. Any item missed out from the item
coverage shall not be measured unless it is expressly required to
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be measured under other provisions in the Method of

Measurement.

10.

The following is added after paragraph 12 of Part IV :

Precedence of
Particular
Preambles and
Part V of the
Method of
Measurement

13.

In the case of ambiguity, the Particular Preambles shall have

precedence over the General Preambles and Part V of the Method
of Measurement.

Standard drawings

14.

All references to standard drawings in the bill of quantities shall be

deemed to be those latest standard drawings as listed in the
Particular Specification or current at the date of return of tender,
whichever is the latest.

Terminology
reference

15.

In the bill of quantities and the Method of Measurement, references

to the terms listed under the column heading Method of
Measurement Terms are construed as references to the
corresponding terms listed under the column heading NEC3 ECC
Terms as defined or used in the conditions of contract :
Method of Measurement Terms
Bills of Quantities
Employer
Engineer
Contractor
Engineers Representative
Works
Section
Contract
completion
expiration of the Maintenance
Period
approval / satisfaction
approved / satisfied
equipment (those items intended to
be included in the permanent
works)
materials (those items intended to
be included in the permanent
works)
plant (those items used by the
Contractor to Provide the Works
and which the Works Information
does not require him to include in
the permanent works)
defect

Part V:
Units and Method
of Measurement

11.

NEC3 ECC Terms

bill of quantities
Employer
Project Manager
Contractor
Supervisor
works
section
contract
Completion
defects date
acceptance
accepted
Plant

Materials

Equipment

Defect

The Units and Method of Measurement of Part V is amended by the

following pages.

[Insert Project Office/Consultant]

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