Elimination of Bidding on Unclassified Excavation C-5 May, 1996

C-5, May, 1996
Elimination of Bidding on Unclassified Excavation

The Joint Committee recommends that Contract Documents allow Contractors the means to be fairly compensated for Work, and to that end, favors classifying types of excavation.

COMMENT: The Joint Committee believes that the purpose of the bidding process is to provide a means by which the Owner can obtain comparative pricing of like products. In the ideal world, the process produces a win-win relationship between Owner and Contractor.

Excavation work has been specified as either classified or unclassified. Unclassified excavation makes no distinction between the requirements to remove loose fill at one extreme to rock at the other extreme. The Bidder, by accepting the conditions of unclassified excavation, assumes the risk for whatever appears. Because it is impossible, even with an investigation of the subsurface conditions, to know with absolute certainty what will be encountered during excavation, it is highly likely that someone loses. If the Contractor guesses right and covers their risk with a high bid, the Owner loses; if the Contractor guesses wrong with a low bid, he loses.

Excavation should be classified with a description of material and a definition of effort required for removal. An example of appropriate text can be found in the "Excavation" section of Master Spec as well as other sources.

Revised May 1996
Revised April 1987
Reviewed February 1986
Revised February 1976
Revised November 1971

Approved January 1967 from ACE Joint Committee Recommended Construction Practices Dated 5/6/52