A Bill of Quantities (BQ) is the foundation document of every traditional procurement project in Singapore. It is a measured, priced schedule listing every item of work, every material, every labour activity needed to deliver a construction project. Done well, it is the single most powerful cost-control tool an owner or contractor has. Done poorly, it is a year-long argument waiting to happen.
Yuhuang Estimating prepares Bills of Quantities measured to SMM (Standard Method of Measurement) and CESMM (Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement) standards. Our director is a practising MSISV Quantity Surveyor with 17 years of BQ-preparation experience across the Singapore market.
A BQ measured to SMM standards is unambiguous. Every item has a defined unit, a defined scope, and a defined measurement convention. When a contractor prices that BQ, both sides know exactly what is included and excluded. When variations arise, the same measurement convention applies to the change. The result: fewer disputes, faster claim resolution, cleaner Final Account.
A poorly measured BQ — vague descriptions, inconsistent units, missing items — is a contractor's gift. They price the obvious items low, then claim variations for everything else. Owners pay the difference.
We start with your architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical drawings. We review them for measurability — flagging any areas where dimensions are unclear, specifications are missing, or design intent is ambiguous. This is where most BQ disputes originate, and where they get prevented.
Every item gets measured. Linear metres of beams. Square metres of finishes. Cubic metres of concrete. Numbers of doors and windows. Tonnes of steel. To SMM convention, with clear descriptions and unambiguous units.
The measured quantities get organised by trade — masonry, drywall, roofing, flooring, structure, doors and windows, painting, services — and matched with specifications. The result is a document a contractor can price directly.
The BQ is issued as part of the tender package. We can support tender clarifications, addenda and post-tender reviews — see Tender Support.
If the contract is re-measurable, we re-measure the actual quantities as the work progresses. If it's lump-sum, we measure variations as they arise. Either way, the BQ remains the reference document throughout.
Quantity Surveying · Tender Support · Contract Administration · Cost Management
Architectural drawings, tender invitation, BCA submission — whatever you have. Email or WhatsApp the file and we'll come back within 24 hours with scope, fee and timeline. No obligation.