Question 1

What is a BOQ and why is it needed?

Accepted Answer

A **Bill of Quantities (BOQ)** is the priced item list that defines a construction tender or budget. Each row has: item description, IS code reference, unit of measurement (cubic metre, square metre, running metre, tonne, etc.), quantity required, unit rate, and amount. The contractor quotes the rate; the client multiplies rate × quantity to get amount. Without a BOQ, tenders are not legally enforceable in India (per CPWD Works Manual and standard FIDIC contract conditions) and disputes over scope become impossible to settle. Every tender from a panchayat to the National Highways Authority of India runs on a BOQ — typically 50-2,000 items long depending on project complexity.

Question 2

What is the difference between BOQ and Estimate?

Accepted Answer

An **estimate** is your internal calculation of project cost — built from quantities + rates, but used for budgeting, not tendering. A **BOQ** is a formal document with item codes, units, descriptions and quantities laid out per the SOR (Schedule of Rates) format, ready to be priced by contractors at tender. Estimates are typically rough at concept stage and detailed by DPR stage. BOQs are formal, line-by-line, tender-ready. This tool generates the **BOQ structure** with quantities and indicative rates — converting it to a binding tender document needs your client / authority's letterhead + state-PWD format compliance.

Question 3

Which SOR rates does the BOQ Builder use?

Accepted Answer

Currently, **CPWD DSR 2023** (Delhi Schedule of Rates, the central PWD reference) is the default — both Vol 1 (Civil Works) and Vol 2 (Finishing). DSR is the most-cited national reference for Indian civil construction. State-PWD rates can be applied by editing the rate column in the downloaded Excel. State SORs typically run 8-15% lower than CPWD DSR. The InfraLens SOR catalogue (browse [/sor](/sor)) has the latest PDF mirrors of all major Indian state and central SORs.

Question 4

How accurate is the BOQ Builder for tender preparation?

Accepted Answer

Accurate enough for **technical-bid quantity sheets**, **preliminary cost estimates**, **project budgets** and **client demand letters**. Not yet accurate enough for **financial-bid submissions** at large-tender stage — for those, you should: (a) cross-verify item codes against your state's SOR, (b) verify each quantity against the actual GFC structural drawing (not the schematic in this tool), (c) add gate-piers / corner returns / scaffolding-above-1.5-m items manually, (d) factor in contractor margin + GST + escalation. The BOQ Builder gives you the right *quantities* per IS 1200 and the right *rates* per the latest CPWD DSR. The last 15-20% accuracy gap is project-specific manual review.

Question 5

Are the quantities IS 1200 compliant?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each template's formulas implement the specific IS 1200 parts relevant to its structure. Boundary wall uses Parts 1 (earthwork trench width), 2 (concrete in lifts), 3 (brickwork openings deduction + column displacement), 5 (steel actual length × unit weight, no lap deduction), 12 (plaster deduction rules for openings). Each generated BOQ's footer lists the IS 1200 parts applied. If your state-PWD overrides a measurement rule (some do — e.g., a few states deduct openings below 0.1 m² where IS 1200 Part 3 does not), edit the quantity column in the downloaded Excel.

Question 6

Can I download the BOQ in Excel and what formulas does it carry?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Excel download has two sheets. **Sheet 1: BOQ** — formula-bound. Amount column G is `=E×F` for each row; Total cell is `=SUM(G:G)`. Editing any Quantity (E) or Rate (F) auto-recomputes amounts and total. Item descriptions are full CPWD DSR descriptions including parent context. **Sheet 2: Parameters** — snapshot of the dimensions you entered + the derived intermediate values (number of columns, plaster deduction area, etc.), so you can audit the BOQ later. Both sheets work in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and LibreOffice.

Question 7

What's the difference between this and a quantity-takeoff (QTO) BIM tool?

Accepted Answer

A **BIM-based QTO** (Revit, ArchiCAD, Tekla, Navisworks) extracts quantities from a 3D model — every wall, beam, slab, finish element is measured exactly. That's the gold standard for detailed-design-stage BOQs. The InfraLens BOQ Builder is a **parametric template** — you enter dimensions for a known structure type and it computes quantities by formula. It's faster for early-stage estimates and small structures, but it can't handle non-standard geometries the way BIM can. Most Indian civil projects (boundary walls, culverts, retaining walls, septic tanks, small buildings) are standard enough that the template approach is sufficient up to DPR stage; BIM is needed only for complex multi-element structures.

Question 8

Does the tool deduct openings, column volumes, and reinforcement displacement?

Accepted Answer

Yes — automatically per IS 1200. Openings in masonry above 0.1 m² are deducted from brickwork (IS 1200 Part 3 Clause 5.4.2). RCC stiffener column volumes are subtracted from the brick wall they're embedded in. Plaster deductions follow IS 1200 Part 12: openings up to 0.5 m² ignored, 0.5-3 m² deduct one face, > 3 m² deduct both faces. Reinforcement displacement in concrete is deducted only above 1% by volume (IS 1200 Part 2 Clause 5.2.1) — for typical RCC at 1-3% steel this is a 0.5-1.5% correction. Each generated BOQ shows the deductions taken in the 'Notes & assumptions' block beneath the table.

Question 9

What about GST, contractor margin, escalation — how do I add those?

Accepted Answer

Not built into the BOQ rates — you add them after the BOQ total. Standard practice: **(GST)** 12% on works contracts for composite supply (CPWD DSR rates are pre-GST). **(Contractor margin)** typically 10-15% above the DSR rate for state PWD tenders; 18-25% for private clients. **(Escalation)** depends on the contract's price-adjustment formula — typically a star-rated formula linking cement, steel and labour indices. **(Hidden costs)** site mobilisation, temporary infrastructure (power, water), security, site office — typically 3-7% of base estimate. For an internal budget figure, multiply BOQ total by 1.30-1.40 to cover all of the above; for tender quote, follow your contract's specific clauses.

Question 10

Can I use the BOQ Builder offline or save my work?

Accepted Answer

**No offline mode currently** — the builder runs in the browser and recomputes live as you change inputs. To **save your work**, click 'Download Excel' — the Excel file is your saved BOQ. To return to the same configuration later, the Parameters sheet (Sheet 2) lists every input you entered; re-create the same parameters in the form to regenerate. **Account-based saving** is not on the immediate roadmap because it would require a database; the Excel-file-as-save-state pattern is intentional. PDF download with company branding is planned for a future paid-tier upgrade.

BOQ Builder — Pre-filled Quantities & CPWD-DSR Rates

What makes a real BOQ — and where most online tools fall short

How IS 1200 deductions are applied automatically

What's live now — 58 templates across 9 families

How rates are sourced — and how to use your own

Visual confirmation — plan, elevation, section