A Quantity Surveyor is a person responsible for figuring what a construction project is going

to cost. A quantity surveyor (QS) is a construction industry professional with expert knowledge

on construction costs and contracts.

The area of contribution for a QS may include all of the following:

1. Scrutinizing and study of total drawings of the project

2. Preparing the items of works based on the class of structure i.e a residential building, a
commercial structure, a school etc
3. Preparing the BOQ with each and every item of work with detailed quantities.
4. Rate analysis for each and every item of work based landed prices at the location of the
site.
5. Preparation of BOQ based on specifications laid down by Architects and Consulting
Structural and MEP engineers.
6. Preparation the total budget of the project in question.
7. Placing the budget before the management for fine tuning and approvals.
8. Once the budget is approved by management, then it should be linked to the schedule
for enabling of procurement of man, machinery and materials as per the desired time.
9. Next is the preparation of the tender document in consultation with the contracts
department.
10. Approval from the management after tender preparation for sourcing of the
contractors/vendors etc.
11. Issue of tenders and inviting the sealed bid from contractors.
12. Clarification meeting if required in connection with the tenders
13. Once filled up tenders are received, then a comparative statement is prepared with L1, L2,
L3, L4 and L5 ( L refers to lowest so based on the final cost the numbering is given)
14. Procurement advise and assistance during the tendering procedures
15. After the comparative a round of site, visits is planned to ascertain the quality of works
which is done along with the technical team.
16. Once the technical team is satisfied with the contractor's previous works then the tenders
are shortlisted based on the lowest to the highest value of the tenders.
17. Then maybe one round or two rounds of negotiations are carried out thereafter the final
3 contractors and vendors are shortlisted and presented before the management for
finalization of the vendor.
18. Following up with the contract department for the issue of work orders/purchase order to
the shortlisted vendors.
19. Cost planning and commercial management throughout the entire life cycle of the
project from inception to post-completion.
20. Risk management and calculation
21. Reconciliation of items of work on a monthly basis and reporting to the project manager
for his analysis and review.
22. Advice on contractual disputes, Assistance in dispute resolution
23. Asset capitalization
24. Assessing the additional costs of design variations
25. Estimating
26. Monitoring Budget on quarterly, half yearly and yearly basis and presenting the variations
if any to the management.
27. Preparation of Payment Invoice and certification and processing for payments to the
vendors.
28. Assessment of variations, Interim valuations, and payment assessment
29. Preparing feasibility studies wherever required and as called for by the management.
30. Cost control
31. Value engineering
32. Advice on cost limits and budgets
33. Whole life cycle costing
34. Valuation for insurance purposes
35. Preparation of final account
36. Provide procurement and contractual advice
37. Provide 'Order of Magnitude' costs for construction projects
38. Refine, monitor and control costs during design development
39. Identify cost-risks in tender returns
40. Estimates tenure of the project
41. Checking the retention amounts every bill cycle and final settlement with contractors at
the time for final bill as per the retention period.
42. These are some of the major roles of the QS at construction sites if any point is missed
out then request all our learned friends in the fraternity to contribute for information to
all.