Electrical Tender Exclusions: What Should Contractors Include in Their Tender?
Your price is only half of a tender. The other half is the wording around it. Electrical tender exclusions, assumptions and qualifications define what your number actually buys, and they are your main protection against unpriced electrical tender risk.
A well-written exclusion sets the commercial boundary of your price without making you look unwilling to do the work. This guide covers the terms, how to word exclusions clearly, and nine exclusions clause examples you can adapt.
The sample clauses below are general guidance, not legal advice. Check them against the head contract, special conditions and any standard form (such as AS 4000) before use.
Exclusions, Inclusions, Assumptions and Qualifications
Term | Purpose | Example |
Inclusion | States what your price covers | Supply and install general lighting |
Exclusion | Names work or costs not covered | Authority fees excluded |
Assumption | Explains the basis of the price | Pricing assumes standard working hours |
Qualification | Puts a condition on the offer | Price subject to final approved drawings |
Clarification | Records how an ambiguous item was interpreted | Priced to the fixture schedule issued with the tender |
Most electrical tender clarifications and qualifications work best when they are kept separate, so the builder can see exactly what each one means.
Why Vague Exclusions Cost Money
A vague exclusion feels protective but settles nothing. Take this one:
Weak: “Access equipment excluded.”
Does that cover scissor lifts, scaffold, or a ladder above a certain height? Who pays for edge protection in a stairwell? If the builder reads it differently from you, you find out after award.
Clearer: “Scaffold, hoists and edge protection are excluded. Pricing includes our own ladders and mobile platforms for work up to 4 m.”
The clearer version names the item, states what is included and fixes the boundary. Broad phrases such as “all other works excluded” or “anything not shown is excluded” do the opposite. They are hard to assess and can read as pushing normal scope back onto the builder.
Nine Common Electrical Tender Exclusions With Example Clauses
Adapt each clause to the project and contract.
1. Builder’s work.
Often called builder’s work in connection (BWIC), this is where disputes start. Where you include some of it, say so.
Pricing excludes structural openings, core drilling, concrete cutting, excavation, trenching and fire stopping of penetrations unless specifically included. Minor penetrations in non-structural elements required for our installation are included.
2. Provisional sums and allowances.
Provisional sums have been included at the values stated in the tender documents. Any difference between the allowance and actual cost will be adjusted in accordance with the contract.
If you have not priced an item because information was insufficient, say that plainly.
3. After-hours work.
Pricing is based on standard site hours, Monday to Friday. Night, weekend, public holiday and shutdown works are excluded unless stated.
Adjust this if the tender already requires out-of-hours work.
4. Authority and utility charges.
Authority application and inspection fees, network provider (DNSP) connection and augmentation charges, and other utility charges are excluded unless specifically identified in our price.
5. Temporary power.
Temporary site power, generators and temporary distribution are excluded. Pricing assumes the builder provides temporary supply and distribution points.
If you include it to a boundary, define that boundary, such as from the builder-provided supply point to the first temporary distribution board.
6. Making good.
Painting, plastering, tiling, patching, rendering and other finishes required after our installation works are excluded unless stated.
7. Builder-supplied items.
Pricing assumes builder-supplied equipment identified in the tender documents will be on site in line with the program. Delays or substitutions may be subject to adjustment.
8. Specialist systems.
Design, supply, programming and commissioning of security, access control, audio-visual, BMS and similar systems are excluded. Power and containment are included only where stated.
9. Design basis and changes.
Pricing is based on the drawings, specifications, schedules and addenda issued at the date of submission. Later changes may result in a price adjustment.
The design basis clause only works if you have actually reconciled your price to the latest addenda.
How to Word Electrical Estimating Exclusions Clearly
Strong exclusions answer three questions:
- What exactly is excluded? Name the item, fee or service.
- What is the pricing basis? State the assumption behind the number.
- What happens if it changes? Where appropriate, say it will be treated as a variation under the contract.
Put them in one clearly labelled section titled something like “Exclusions, Assumptions and Qualifications”, with each group listed separately. Builders compare several tenders at once, and a visible, well-organised section is far easier to evaluate than conditions scattered through a cover letter. If you want help turning a stack of tender documents into a priced submission with clear qualifications, our electrical estimating services can prepare the estimate and the tender wording together.
Check Exclusions Against the Documents
An exclusion should never contradict the specification. If the documents clearly require you to provide something, excluding it can get your tender rejected or heavily qualified. The scope is usually set by the head contract and special conditions, so read those first.
Do the technical review before you write the exclusions, starting with finding gaps in the documents first, so every exclusion is a deliberate commercial decision rather than unresolved uncertainty.
What Happens When an Excluded Item Becomes Required?
An exclusion does not automatically become a paid variation. The contract, the tender conditions and the exact wording all matter. If an excluded item becomes necessary, point to the tender qualification, confirm the contractual position and notify the builder before doing the work where possible.
Common Mistakes
- Generic exclusions. Broad statements raise more questions than they answer.
- Excluding what the tender clearly requires. This makes the price look artificially low.
- Burying exclusions. A critical qualification hidden in a long paragraph is easy to overlook, including by you.
- Listing too many. A long list can make you look difficult to deal with. Exclude genuine commercial risks, not every possibility.
Price is also only one reason tenders fail. See the common reasons electrical contractors lose tenders in Australia.
Quick Pre-Submission Checklist
Before you submit, confirm your wording covers:
- Builder’s work, core drilling, fire stopping and finishes
- Authority, DNSP and utility charges
- Temporary power and services
- After-hours, weekend and shutdown work
- Provisional sums and allowances
- Builder-supplied equipment
- Specialist system supply, programming and commissioning
- Access and staging assumptions
- Design basis and changes after the tender date
Treat this as a prompt, not a list to paste into every tender. Each project and contract is different.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are electrical tender exclusions?
They are the works, costs, materials or responsibilities not included in your submitted price. They set the commercial boundary of the tender.
Should the same exclusions go in every tender?
No. Review them for every tender, but keep them project-specific. Contract conditions and responsibilities differ between jobs.
Can an exclusion become a variation?
Possibly, depending on the contract, the tender documents and the wording. A clear exclusion gives you a stronger basis for the discussion, but confirms your contractual position first.
How do I make exclusions easier for builders to accept?
Use specific, factual wording that names the item and explains the pricing assumption. Avoid aggressive or broad statements, and make sure each exclusion is consistent with the tender documents.
Final Takeaway
Exclusions are not a list of things you would rather not pay for. They define the basis of your price and protect you from unclear responsibilities. The best ones are specific, reasonable and consistent with the latest documents.
Before you submit, check that your inclusions, exclusions, assumptions and qualifications all match what you actually priced. If you would like support with tender estimates and documentation, contact our estimating team to discuss your project.
