How site conditions belong in an earthwork bid

A region suggests questions to investigate. The project survey, geotechnical report, approved design and contract establish the quantities and assumptions a bidder can use.

This guide explains an estimating review sequence. It does not prescribe soil factors, stabilization dosages, trench protection or groundwater depths for any state.

1. Separate background mapping from project evidence

USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey provides mapped soil information for an area of interest. NRCS also explains that some engineering applications need onsite investigation. Use mapping to prepare questions for the design team; do not turn a map unit into a guaranteed excavation classification or borrow suitability result.

For each assumption, record its source, location and date. A boring at one part of the site does not establish a uniform rock surface or a seasonal groundwater level everywhere. Ask the geotechnical professional to resolve gaps between the report and proposed excavation.

Identify the boring locations and elevations relative to the proposed work.
Record the report recommendations referenced by the approved design.
Separate a measured design volume from an allowance for unresolved subsurface work.

2. Keep bank, loose and compacted volumes explicit

Bank cubic yards describe material before excavation, loose cubic yards describe excavated material, and compacted cubic yards describe placed fill at the defined condition. A comparison of two design surfaces needs an identified basis before material conversions are applied.

Illustrative conversion, using assumed inputs

Suppose a measured cut is 1,000 BCY and the project-approved bank-to-loose factor is 1.20. The corresponding loose quantity is 1,200 LCY. If a separately established compacted yield is 0.90 CCY per BCY, the same bank quantity yields 900 CCY before accounting for rejected or otherwise unavailable material.

These factors demonstrate the arithmetic; they are not recommendations for any soil or state. Reuse restrictions, stripping, rock and moisture treatment must be assessed separately.

Use the earthwork calculator with the project-defined factors, then carry the source and conversion basis into the workbook. See the conversion-factor guide for related terminology.

3. Make groundwater and rock exposures visible

For dewatering, request the groundwater observations, intended excavation sequence, discharge route and treatment requirements. Separate installation, operating duration, monitoring or treatment and removal. Pipe footage alone does not establish those quantities.

For rock, obtain the contract classification and available investigation. Ask how excavation, overbreak, handling and disposal are measured and paid. Keep a qualified allowance separate when the rock boundary cannot be measured from the supplied documents.

Equipment selection and excavation protection belong to the contractor and appropriately qualified design or safety personnel. A quantity bracket does not determine a safe trench configuration.

4. Reconcile agency standards with the actual contract

A state DOT publication may govern a highway contract or be incorporated into a local project. The project documents establish that relationship. Record specification editions, special provisions, pay units and approved local details by work package.

EPA's construction general permit applies where EPA retains permitting authority. Check the actual project jurisdiction rather than treating the federal permit as a universal national specification. Measure installed BMPs from the accepted plan and clarify ongoing maintenance and stabilization responsibilities.

Open the sourced state and local bid references for agency resources and jurisdiction-specific clarification questions.

5. Produce a bid register that another estimator can check

List drawings, reports, specifications and addenda with revision dates.
Record each measured quantity with unit, location and source sheet.
Show conversion factors and excluded or unsuitable material separately.
List unresolved decisions with an owner and requested response.
Compare the final scope with the bid schedule before combining totals.

The published sample quantities show workbook excerpts. They do not establish that a geotechnical investigation or earthwork surface analysis has been performed for your project.

Source documents and limits

Use these national directories to identify the appropriate agency. This page does not publish a verified local specification, permit determination or geotechnical profile.

A quantity takeoff records scope from supplied documents. It does not provide engineering design, a permit approval, a site investigation or an installation-ready machine-control model.