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Tendering & procurement

Issue a procurement and buying schedule

Turn the BOQ and the programme into a buying schedule: list the packages to buy, set lead times and need-by dates back from the programme, tender or price each package, and track every order so nothing is bought too late.

5 steps11 minGeneral contractorProject / construction manager

How it works, step by step

5 steps across the platform - what you do at each one, and why it matters.

1

Break the BOQ into buying packages

BOQ

Group the priced BOQ into the packages you will actually buy, one per trade or supply item, so each line of the buying schedule maps to a real order rather than a loose collection of positions.

Why: A buying schedule built straight off the BOQ carries the right quantities and value from the start, so nothing quietly falls between two packages and gets bought by nobody.

InPriced BOQTrade breakdownOutBuying packagesPackage quantities
2

Set lead times and need-by dates

Procurement

For each package set the manufacture and delivery lead time, then work back from the programme date the material is needed on site to fix the latest date the order must be placed.

Why: Most late materials are not bought late by accident, they are bought on time against the wrong date. Working back from the programme is what turns a wish list into a schedule with real deadlines.

InBuying packagesProgramme datesOutLead timesLatest order dates
3

Tender or price each package

Tendering

Send the packages with the earliest order dates out to enquiry first, gather quotes, and settle a firm price and supplier for each one so the buying schedule carries a committed number, not a guess.

Why: Pricing in order of urgency means the long-lead packages are settled while there is still time to negotiate, instead of being rushed at any price the week they are needed.

InBuying packagesLatest order datesOutSupplier quotesFirm price & supplier
4

Place orders and appoint suppliers

Subcontractors

Award each package to its chosen supplier or subcontractor and raise the order, so the committed cost is booked and the delivery is locked against the need-by date on the schedule.

Why: A price agreed but not ordered is not a delivery. Placing the order is the point the supplier is bound to the date, and the point your committed cost becomes real and trackable.

InAgreed price & supplierNeed-by datesOutPurchase order raisedCommitted cost
5

Track order status against the dates

Reports

Read the buying schedule as a live report: which packages are still to enquire, out to price, ordered or delivered, and flag any order whose latest date is closing in before it is placed.

Why: A buying schedule only protects the programme if someone watches it every week. Catching a slipping order date early is what keeps a late package from stopping a trade on site.

InPlaced ordersBuying scheduleOutLive order statusSlipping-date flags

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