Bill of Quantities (BOQ)

What is the BOQ Module?

The Bill of Quantities module allows you to upload, manage, and track procurement progress against structured material lists for your projects. In construction, MEP, and fit-out work, the BOQ is the definitive reference for what needs to be procured, in what quantities, and at what estimated cost. Tawridy lets you import BOQs directly from Excel with intelligent column mapping, then tracks every line item through the procurement lifecycle -- from RFQ to PO to delivery -- so you always know exactly how much of each item has been sourced, ordered, and received versus what is still outstanding.

How It Connects

Direction	Connected Module	Relationship
In <--	Projects	Every BOQ belongs to a project
Out -->	RFQs	BOQ line items can be pulled into RFQ line items for sourcing
Out -->	Purchase Orders	PO line items link back to BOQ items for quantity tracking
Both	GRN	Received quantities update the BOQ procurement progress

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Navigate to the project -- go to Projects > [Your Project] > BOQ tab.
2. Click "Upload BOQ" -- select your Excel file (.xlsx or .xls). The system supports common BOQ formats used in the GCC construction industry.
3. Map columns -- the intelligent column mapper auto-detects common headers. Review and confirm the mapping:
   • Item number / reference
   • Description
   • Unit of measure (UOM)
   • Quantity
   • Estimated unit rate (optional)
   • Estimated total (optional)
   • Category / section (optional)
4. Preview and confirm -- review the parsed data in a preview table. Fix any mapping errors, remove header/footer rows that were incorrectly imported, and click "Confirm Import".
5. Organize by sections -- BOQ items are grouped by section headers (e.g., "Structural Steel", "Electrical Works", "HVAC"). You can reorganize sections or create new ones.
6. Start procurement -- select one or more BOQ line items and click "Create RFQ from Selection". The selected items become RFQ line items with quantities and descriptions pre-filled.
7. Track procurement progress -- as RFQs are created and POs are issued against BOQ items, the progress tracker updates automatically:
   • BOQ Qty: Original quantity from the BOQ
   • RFQ Qty: Quantity currently under active RFQs
   • Ordered Qty: Quantity covered by approved POs
   • Received Qty: Quantity confirmed via GRNs
   • Remaining Qty: BOQ Qty - Ordered Qty
8. Monitor the BOQ dashboard -- the visual dashboard shows procurement completion percentage by section and overall, with color-coded status indicators.

Procurement Progress Tracking

BOQ Item	BOQ Qty	RFQ Qty	Ordered Qty	Received Qty	Remaining	Status
Rebar 16mm	50 tons	50 tons	30 tons	20 tons	20 tons	Partial
Cable 4x25mm	2,000 m	2,000 m	2,000 m	2,000 m	0 m	Complete
AC Units 2.5TR	45 units	45 units	0 units	0 units	45 units	Pending PO
Ceramic Tiles	800 sqm	0 sqm	0 sqm	0 sqm	800 sqm	Not Started

Key Fields Explained

Field	Description
item_number	Reference number from the original BOQ document (e.g., 3.2.1).
description	Full description of the material or work item.
uom	Unit of measure: pcs, m, sqm, kg, ton, lot, lump sum, etc.
quantity	Required quantity as specified in the BOQ.
estimated_rate	Budgeted unit rate (from the BOQ or cost estimate).
estimated_total	Quantity x Estimated Rate. Used for budget comparison.
section	BOQ section or trade grouping (e.g., "Civil Works", "Electrical").
rfq_qty	Total quantity currently included in active (non-cancelled) RFQs.
ordered_qty	Total quantity covered by approved Purchase Orders.
received_qty	Total quantity confirmed as received via GRNs.
remaining_qty	Calculated: quantity - ordered_qty. Indicates what still needs to be procured.
procurement_status	Auto-calculated: Not Started, In Progress (RFQ), Pending PO, Partial, Complete.

Tips & Best Practices

TIP

Use the Excel template provided at BOQ > Download Template to ensure your BOQ file maps correctly on the first try. The template includes all supported columns with sample data and formatting guidelines.

TIP

Break large BOQs into multiple uploads by trade (e.g., Civil, Electrical, Mechanical). This makes it easier to assign different procurement officers to different sections and track progress independently.

WARNING

Modifying BOQ quantities after procurement has started will affect the progress calculations. The system logs all quantity changes with a reason field. If the BOQ is revised by the consultant, upload the revised BOQ as a new version rather than editing individual items.

TIP

Use the "Remaining Qty" filter to quickly identify items that still need to be procured. Sort by estimated total (descending) to prioritize high-value items that have the most budget impact.

TIP

Link BOQ sections to project schedule milestones to generate a procurement timeline. This helps ensure materials are ordered early enough to arrive before the construction team needs them on site.

FAQ

Q: What Excel formats are supported for BOQ upload? A: Tawridy supports .xlsx and .xls files. The column mapper handles most common GCC BOQ formats, including those generated by CostX, Buildsoft, and standard consultant templates.

Q: Can I edit BOQ items after upload? A: Yes. Individual items can be edited (description, quantity, rate) directly in the Tawridy interface. All changes are logged with the original value, new value, changed-by user, and timestamp.

Q: What happens if I order more than the BOQ quantity? A: The system flags a quantity overrun on that line item. The procurement status changes to "Over-ordered" and the project manager receives a notification. This is a warning only and does not block the PO.

Q: Can I merge multiple BOQ items into a single RFQ line item? A: Yes. When creating an RFQ from BOQ selection, you can merge similar items (e.g., different sizes of the same material) into a single RFQ line item. The system maintains the individual BOQ links for tracking.

Q: How do I handle BOQ variations (change orders)? A: Upload the variation as a new BOQ version linked to the same project. The system tracks both the original and variation quantities separately, and the project dashboard shows the combined totals.