PROCUREMENT
Compare the scope, not just the total
A practical way to read construction and fit-out proposals with more clarity.
Lapisfra editorial · General planning guidance
Put proposals on a comparable basis
Two quotations can have similar headings and cover very different work. Read the description of each item alongside the drawings or brief it refers to. Check quantities, material specifications, finishes and installation responsibilities. Where a figure is provisional or based on an assumption, ask how it will be confirmed. The aim is to understand the basis of the price before treating the totals as directly comparable.
Look for the interfaces
Some of the most useful questions sit between categories. Who measures before an order is placed? Who prepares the surface before installation? Does a delivery include unloading? Which specialist services are appointed separately? Record these interfaces in the agreed scope. A missing responsibility is easier to resolve before work starts than after one activity is waiting for another.
Agree how changes will be handled
A project may evolve as information becomes available. Ask how variations will be described, priced and approved. Keep the approved proposal, selections and subsequent changes together so everyone is referring to the same information. Review payment milestones, handover requirements and exclusions with the people responsible for the contract. This guide is a planning aid, not a substitute for project-specific professional or contractual advice.
This is general information. Confirm technical, contractual and operational decisions with the professionals responsible for your specific project.