Writing a subcontract scope of work that leaves no gaps
The drywall subcontract for a 350-seat community theatre goes out on Friday. Its scope is the drywall quote, pasted in whole, ending: firestopping by others, access doors by others, final cleaning by others. The mechanical and electrical subcontracts, drafted the same way, say the same.
Write the scope from the drawings and specifications, not from the quote: what the trade supplies and installs, where and to what limit, with one named owner for every item at its edges, written the same way in both subcontracts. A quote describes what a trade chose to price; the subcontract describes what you need built. Gaps open at the edges between packages, and "by others" names nobody. Reviewing finished scopes against the documents is covered in finding scope gaps.
- List the sources: the package's specification sections and drawings, plus the general requirements every trade must meet, such as cleaning, testing and closeout documents.
- Write each inclusion as an action with a limit: "supply and install rated shaft walls from level 1 to the underside of the roof deck", not a copied section title.
- Walk each boundary with the neighbouring package: who supplies, installs, seals and cleans where the two meet.
- Mirror each edge item: if mechanical supplies the access doors and drywall installs them, write both halves, in the same words, into both subcontracts.
- Replace every "by others" with the trade that does it.
- Settle the quote: attach it for reference only, list the exclusions you accept, and say the written scope governs.
- Read it through with the trade before signing, and write each agreed clarification into the subcontract.
Common mistakes
- Pasting the quote in as the scope, exclusions and all.
- Writing "complete as per plans and specifications", which settles nothing at the edges.
- Fixing an edge item in one subcontract and not its neighbour, so it is priced twice or not at all.
Checklist
Before a subcontract goes out
- Sources and general requirements listed
- Each inclusion an action with a limit
- One owner per edge item, in both scopes
- No "by others" left
- Quote exclusions accepted or struck
- Read through with the trade
Check your understanding
The mechanical subcontract says "access doors supplied by mechanical". The drywall subcontract says nothing about them. Who installs the doors?
