0. INTRODUCTION
This specification provides the definition of the Tender
message (CONTEN) to be used in Electronic Data Interchange
(EDI) between trading partners involved in administration,
commerce and transport.
1. SCOPE
1.1 Functional Definition
Following the receipt of an invitation to tender (ITT) , a Main
Contractor or subcontractor will submit a tender which is a
commercial offer to execute the project work defined in the
Bill of Quantities (BoQ) within the ITT.
1.2 Field of Application
The following descriptions refer to the construction industry
as an example, but do not exclude other business sectors'
implementation.
1.3 Principles
A BoQ is a set of documentation that describes the various
facets of work that make up a construction project. This
documentation is often quite voluminous and typically contains
information structured in accordance with several industry
standards.
The BoQ is a key set of documentation for a number of stages
within the overall construction process. This documentation, or
parts of it, are frequently exchanged between the various
parties involved in the project.
A project is typically subdivided into individual groupings of
work and within these groups are detailed work items. The
tender requires the competing Main Contractors or subcontractor
to apply prices and financial amounts to these items in support
of the total tender offer.
The tenderer may also require to communicate additional
information to that concerning prices and financial amounts.
Depending upon the form of legal contract applicable and nature
of the project, the tenderer may need to add detail work items
and amend work item descriptions and quantities. Therefore the
message design of CONTEN will have similar capabilities to that
of CONITT.
The initial exchanges will typically take place between
competing subcontractors and Main Contractors concerning
specialist work, prior to the award of the main contract.
Secondly , the competing Main Contractors will exchange tenders
with the Client or his representative , for the main contract.
Subsequent negotiations may require revised tenders to be
submitted. Once the main contract has been established any
further invitations to tender for specialist work will result
in further tenders being exchanged between subcontractors and
the successful Main Contractor.
This is only one of a number of messages being designed for the
BoQ and the principles for this CONTEN message are consistent
with those adopted for each of the other BoQ messages.
There are several concepts to be understood and these are key
to some of the design principles adopted. Most of these have
been created to respond to two base problems associated with
the BoQ documentation:
i) A BoQ is often a very large document, it is not unusual for
it to run to several volumes in its paper form.
ii) Given the size of the document, there is also the problem
of how to advise on the structure to which the document
conforms and the accurate indexing and sequencing of
information within such a volume of data.
1.3.1 Work Items
Each individual component of work referred to in the BoQ is
called a "work item" and it is at this level that progress and
payments are evaluated.
For each work item a description is provided and this
description is very precise in its wording. This results in two
things:
i) A lot of repetitive descriptions for like items at least at
the higher levels within these levelled descriptions.
ii) A lot of similar work items, indeed the same description,
often occurs a number of times throughout the project but
assigned to different work items.
Point ii) above has been addressed by a concept called "
standard items", this enables an equivalent to a standard
library of descriptions to be exchanged and individual work
items to reference a standard description that need be sent,
only once.
Frequently within a BoQ, elements of an item's description are
common to adjacent items. When this happens the items which
share the same description are grouped together and the common
part of the description is presented once at the start of the
group. This concept is used extensively and it is possible to
have quite a number of layers of shared heading.
Two distinctions need to be established, firstly, the existence
of Heading text which is related to an item. There can be
multiples of these as in the levels of a standard description.
The second distinction is that of "Groups". Where a group is a
collection of more than one work item and all of these items
have a common theme.
For example:
- they all belong to the same trade
- all for the same part of the project, building or structure.
Despite the large number of items that they may embrace, or the
fact that they represent substantial parts of the project, all
of these are recognized as "groups".
Thus, there can be several or many items within a group and
there can be layers of groups within groups, all of which
collectively constitute the project.
1.3.2 Indexing
There are numerous variations for structuring the information
that makes up the BoQ. Although, it is possible to introduce
some standardisation it is clear that any message must allow
the freedom to structure the data according to the dictates of
a individual project. The design therefore, includes the
ability to convey the document's structure as part of the BoQ
message. Indeed the design allows for a different set of
document structuring information, to be defined at group level
as well as globally for the project. This means that a set of
indexing rules can be defined to apply to the entire project
and that a different set of indexing rules can be used to
override these for a given group(s).
To complement the indexing concept there is a component
referred to as the "Project Index Reference". This is a faceted
code assigned to all items of data that are to be used in
conjunction with the index.
In other words all pieces of data that are to be structured
using the index must contain a structured code composed in
accordance with the index and this is used as a "sorting"
mechanism to ensure that the data is correctly structured.
1.3.3 Message format
The actual appearance of the message bears no relation to the
appearance of the current paper document. As there are
unlimited permutations for assembling the BoQ data it has not
been possible, nor desirable to make the appearance similar.
The CONTEN appearance is similar to the results of the data
analysis exercise. Namely that there are 4 blocks or groupings
of data, each of which can appear many times and that all of
the mechanisms for linking and relating the components together
are data elements within these blocks. The task of interpreting
the indexing rules and subsequently assembling the data in the
message will fall to local software. The complexity of this
task has been simplified by grouping the data elements into the
blocks described above. In this way the processing can follow a
logical flow.
This approach has several advantages over the existing rigidity
of the paper document. It is clear to the message design team
that BoQ documentation exchanged using EDI will deliver a
variety of new opportunities to its users.
This last principle offers the solution to the volume problem
too. One message has a definitive number of occurrence's for
each block of data. If for a "large" project this number is
exceeded then multiple versions of the same message are built.
It also enables a BoQ to be exchanged in subdivisions if so
desired.
2. REFERENCES
See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.6 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction,
Section 1.
3. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
3.1 Standard terms and definitions
See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.6 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction,
Section 2.
4. MESSAGE DEFINITION
4.1 Data Segment Clarification
This section should be read in conjunction with the Segment
Table which indicate mandatory, conditional and repeating
requirements.
4.1.1 Header section
Information to be provided in the Header section:
0010 UNH, Message header
A service segment starting and uniquely identifying a message.
The message type code for the Tender message is CONTEN.
Note: Tender messages conforming to this document must contain
the following data in segment UNH, composite S009:
Data element 0065 CONTEN
0052 D
0054 97B
0051 UN
0020 BGM, Beginning of message
A segment which identifies the document name and the message
function code.
0030 RFF, Reference
This segment is used to identify the unique project reference
number.
0040 DTM, Date/time/period
The document date will be recorded using this DTM segment.
0050 AUT, Authentication result
A segment used to authenticate the message by exchanging a
password or some other form of identification agreed between
the trading partners.
0060 AGR, Agreement identification
This segment will be used to identify the "type of contract and
form of tender" that apply to this contract.
0070 Segment group 1: IND-RCS-SG2
A group of segments to record both the structure and contents
of the indexing used for the BoQ document.
0080 IND, Index details
A segment to qualify whether the index applies to the whole
project, part of a project (a group of items), or whether
the index provides an alternative view (analysis) of the
work items. The segment also indicates in the index
qualifier whether it contains index structure information or
describes the index contents.
0090 RCS, Requirements and conditions
A segment used to indicate the action request (add , change
etc.) to be applied to the index data.
0100 Segment group 2: GIS-SG3
A group of segments to specify the position and detailed
component parts of the index information.
0110 GIS, General indicator
This indicator segment specifies one of six positions
within the index structure to which the detailed
information applies.
0120 Segment group 3: BII-IMD
A group of segments to specify the detailed components of
the index information.
0130 BII, Structure identification
A segment used to specify a structured index number
that is to be associated with the descriptions that
follow in segment IMD.
0140 IMD, Item description
A segment to specify the descriptions in both full
text and abbreviated form . These descriptions to be
associated with the contents of segment BII.
0150 Segment group 4: BII-RCS-GIS-NAD-LOC-APR-ALI-QTY-DTM-RTE-SG5-
SG6-SG7-SG9-SG10-SG18
This information is subordinate to the data provided within the
header section and relates to groups of work items as described
in section 1.3.1 of this document. A segment group recording
all the details that apply to a group of items. There can be
many "Groups of items" within a project and all are to be
recorded within this part of the message.
0160 BII, Structure identification
A segment used to convey a structured index number that
uniquely identifies each group of items recorded for the
project.
0170 RCS, Requirements and conditions
The action to be applied to segment group 4 data is recorded
here.
0180 GIS, General indicator
This indicator segment identifies what category of item
grouping Segment Group 4 applies to. There will be two
permitted categories - Project or Group.
0190 NAD, Name and address
The recording of the name and address information applying
to this group of items.
0200 LOC, Place/location identification
In addition to the name and address details above this is
the identification of a location description and an
abbreviated or short name by which the grouping is to be
known.
0210 APR, Additional price information
A segment to record a multiplication factor called
"Timesing" that applies to the entire project or a specific
grouping of items.
0220 ALI, Additional information
This segment would be used to denote, in a coded form, what
rules were adopted for the rounding of all financial values
within this group of items.
0230 QTY, Quantity
This segment enables grouping control quantities to be
recorded. These are not to be confused with message control
totals that appear later and use the CNT segment.
0240 DTM, Date/time/period
Any date details required for the group of items will be
recorded using the DTM segment. There are a considerable
number of different date qualifiers that could apply.
0250 RTE, Rate details
This segment is used to record a cost rate that may apply to
this grouping.
0260 Segment group 5: RFF-DTM-GIS-FTX
Some base data about how the information for this group of
items was compiled. It will identify the standard method
conventions adopted, the author of the data and it will also
refer to any "request for quotation" messages that are to be
read in conjunction .
0270 RFF, Reference
This segment will be used to specify a series of
references, including the reference to a "Request for
Quotation" message, standard method identity, the
identity of the author of the data and the identity, if
appropriate any software tool used during the preparation
process.
0280 DTM, Date/time/period
The date of the Request for Quotation message that is to
be processed in conjunction with this BoQ message.
0290 GIS, General indicator
An entry in this segment will acknowledge or note the
existence of variations to the standard method rules
referenced in the associated RFF.
0300 FTX, Free text
In the event of variations to the standard method rules
this segment will provide any necessary narrative to
explain the changes.
0310 Segment group 6: CUX-DTM-FTX
Details of which currency rules apply to this group of
items.
0320 CUX, Currencies
Recording details of the currency that applies to the
group of items being defined.
0330 DTM, Date/time/period
This segment will be used to recorded any dates that are
applicable to qualify the currency details recorded in
CUX.
0340 FTX, Free text
Any narrative necessary to explain or qualify the
currency information.
0350 Segment group 7: ALC-RFF-DTM-RNG-FTX-SG8
A group of segments used to convey details of the price
fluctuation calculations to be applied.
0360 ALC, Allowance or charge
A segment to identity whether the data recorded in this
segment group represents an actualization or a revision
figure.
0370 RFF, Reference
A segment providing a reference to the (usually standard)
formula rules to be applied.
0380 DTM, Date/time/period
A segment to record the contract base or control date to
be used in the formula.
0390 RNG, Range details
Where the formula makes reference to data within a range
the details of the range will be identified in this
segment.
0400 FTX, Free text
A segment to convey the actual formula and narrative
relating to the formula. This will be used only in the
exceptional case of a non-standard formula being used.
0410 Segment group 8: PCD-RFF
A group of segments to specify the remaining components
of the price fluctuation calculation.
0420 PCD, Percentage details
A segment to specify a percentage value to be used as
a coefficient in conjunction with the reference given
in the following RFF.
0430 RFF, Reference
A segment to specify the reference of a work section
applicable to a set of calculation components.
0440 Segment group 9: RCS-BII-FTX
This segment group is used to record, in textual form, any
terms and conditions that are deemed to apply to part or all
of the group of items.
0450 RCS, Requirements and conditions
The identity of the particular conditions that are to
apply and a coded reference to denote whether this is to
be added or changed etc..
0460 BII, Structure identification
A structured index reference to identify to what range
within the group of items the conditions apply.
0470 FTX, Free text
The narrative description of the condition or term
identified by this segment group.
0480 Segment group 10:ARD-MOA-FTX-SG11-SG12
This segment group is used to record any financial values
that apply for a group of items. There are considerable
number of different values and qualifiers that will apply.
0490 ARD, Amounts relationship details
A segment to record the qualifier to the financial value.
This qualifier is in addition to the qualifier used
within the following MOA segment.
0500 MOA, Monetary amount
A segment to record the value of the monetary amount
being defined.
0510 FTX, Free text
Any narrative qualification necessary to complete the
details about a financial value will be recorded in this
segment.
0520 Segment group 11:TAX-MOA-LOC
Where specific tax rules apply to the entire project or a
grouping within the project they will be recorded in this
segment group.
0530 TAX, Duty/tax/fee details
Where the financial value being described within
segment group 10 is a taxation or duty value, details
of the tax or duty will be recorded here.
0540 MOA, Monetary amount
A segment to specify the actual monetary amount of the
tax or duty.
0550 LOC, Place/location identification
A segment to specify any location details used to
qualify the tax details.
0560 Segment group 12:ALC-ALI-SG13-SG14-SG15-SG16-SG17
Where it is necessary to express the components that
contribute to a monetary value this segment group will be
used.
0570 ALC, Allowance or charge
A segment identifying the charge or allowance and
where necessary it's calculation sequence.
0580 ALI, Additional information
A segment indicating that the allowance or charge
specified is subject to special conditions owing to
origin, customs preference or commercial factors.
0590 Segment group 13:QTY-RNG
Components of a financial value expressed in terms of
quantities are recorded in this segment group.
0600 QTY, Quantity
Any quantity details used to define or make precise
the monetary value are recorded in this segment.
0610 RNG, Range details
Details of the range that applies to the quantity
components are expressed in this segment.
0620 Segment group 14:PCD-RNG
Components of a financial value expressed in terms of
a percentage are recorded in this segment group.
0630 PCD, Percentage details
This segment is used where the financial
information is expressed as a percentage or a
percentage is required for further qualification.
0640 RNG, Range details
Details of the range that applies to the percentage
components are expressed in this segment.
0650 Segment group 15:MOA-RNG
Any components of a monetary amount that are
themselves expressed as monetary amounts are recorded
in this segment group.
0660 MOA, Monetary amount
The monetary amount component is recorded in this
segment.
0670 RNG, Range details
Details of the range that applies to the monetary
amount components are expressed in this segment.
0680 Segment group 16:RTE-RNG
Components of a financial value expressed in terms of
a rate are recorded in this segment group.
0690 RTE, Rate details
Any rate details used to define or make precise the
monetary value are recorded in this segment.
0700 RNG, Range details
Details of the range that applies to the rate
components are expressed in this segment.
0710 Segment group 17:TAX-MOA
Components of a financial value expressed in terms of
a tax or duty are recorded in this segment group.
0720 TAX, Duty/tax/fee details
Any tax details used to define or make precise the
monetary value are recorded in this segment.
0730 MOA, Monetary amount
A segment to specify the actual monetary amount of
the tax or duty component.
0740 Segment group 18:NAD-LOC-FII-FTX-SG19-SG20-SG21
Name and address information relating to Parties, Banks and
Contacts are recorded in this segment group.
0750 NAD, Name and address
Company name and address that relate to this group of
items and that have not been previously notified are
recorded in this segment. Each name and address recorded
is qualified by the use of the party qualifier 3035.
0760 LOC, Place/location identification
A segment used to record more specific location
information of the party specified in the NAD segment,
e.g. a location within a construction site.
0770 FII, Financial institution information
Bank details associated with these parties recorded in
the preceding NAD segment are given here.
0780 FTX, Free text
This segment allows for any narrative that may need to
accompany the name and address information about a
company.
0790 Segment group 19:RFF-DTM
This group of segments will record unique reference
numbers by which the party will be known and referenced.
This will ensure that each party is uniquely identified
even if there is more than one party with a similar
qualifier.
0800 RFF, Reference
Details of any unique referencing used within the
project to identify the party. Not to be confused with
the party qualifier in the NAD.
0810 DTM, Date/time/period
Date and time details that are used to qualify the
party reference number are recorded in this segment.
0820 Segment group 20:DOC-DTM
This segment group is used to identify documentation
related specifically to the party being defined.
0830 DOC, Document/message details
The identity of the documentation is recorded in this
segment.
0840 DTM, Date/time/period
Date details used to qualify the documentation are
recorded in this segment.
0850 Segment group 21:CTA-COM
The information about who to contact within each of the
parties detailed in this segment group.
0860 CTA, Contact information
This segment will contain the identity of the
individual, within a company, who is the contact
point.
0870 COM, Communication contact
Here is recorded the telephone number etc. that the
contact can be reached via.
4.1.2 Detail section
Information to be provided in the Detail section:
0880 UNS, Section control
A service segment placed at the beginning of the detail section
to avoid collision.
0890 Segment group 22:BII-RCS-GIS-SG23-SG24-SG25-SG27-SG30-SG31-
SG32-SG34
A group of segments recording all the details that apply to an
item. There can be many items within a project, details of all
items, regardless of where they appear in the BoQ will be
recorded in this segment group.
0900 BII, Structure identification
A segment used to convey a structured index number that
uniquely identifies each item recorded for the project.
0910 RCS, Requirements and conditions
The action to be applied to this segment group data is
recorded here.
0920 GIS, General indicator
Through a list of coded qualifiers this segment is used to
define precisely various features about this item e.g.: - it
will distinguish between standard, work or sub item types. -
identify whether this item is of an agreed, disputed or
provisional status. - a qualification of the type of rate
that has been associated with this item. - identifying to
what category this item resides.
0930 Segment group 23:RFF-DTM
A group of segments recording additional reference
information against an item of work.
0940 RFF, Reference
Where project documentation has been prepared in
accordance with a Standard Methodology the item's
reference to that Standard Method is recorded here. Also
recorded here is the unique reference number assigned to
a sub item. This reference would be used in conjunction
with the item index no. in the BII of this segment group.
0950 DTM, Date/time/period
A segment to record a date for the Standard Method of
Measurement reference.
0960 Segment group 24:DIM-APR-FTX
A group of segments which may be used where Segment Group 23
refers to a sub-item number. It would contain sets of
dimension details to further describe the quantities.
0970 DIM, Dimensions
A segment used to record where applicable, the length,
width and height for portions of work measured.
0980 APR, Additional price information
A segment to record a multiplication factor called
"Timesing" that applies to a set of dimensions.
0990 FTX, Free text
A segment to record an annotation for each set of
dimensions.
1000 Segment group 25:LIN-SG26
A group of segments to record descriptive text for items and
headings for groupings of items.
1010 LIN, Line item
A segment to record a qualifier as to whether it is a
description for an item or a heading for a group of
items. This would also include a number identifying the
level the description applies to, within a set of
levelled headings.
1020 Segment group 26:IMD-RFF-GIS
A group of segments to record the description line
details together with text reference numbers and change
action codes used to identify who is authorised to apply
changes.
1030 IMD, Item description
This segment is used to convey any descriptive
material to be recorded for the item. This descriptive
material can apply to the item description and item
heading information. The distinction is explained in
section 1.3 of this paper.
1040 RFF, Reference
A segment used to record up to five text reference
numbers per item description line.
1050 GIS, General indicator
A segment used to record up to five text change action
codes per item description line.
1060 Segment group 27:QTY-GIS-APR-SG28
This segment group is used to record the complex range of
quantity values and prices that apply to an item.
1070 QTY, Quantity
Many different quantity values can be applied to an item
during it's execution. All of these quantities will be
recorded in this segment.
1080 GIS, General indicator
This segment is used to provide the qualifiers that apply
to the various quantities in the previous segment.
1090 APR, Additional price information
A segment to record a multiplication factor called
"Timesing" that applies to a set of dimensions.
1100 Segment group 28:PRI-GIS-SG29
A group of segments to record a series of prices and
monetary amounts relating to each QTY value.
1110 PRI, Price details
A segment to record up to three price values for each
QTY value.
1120 GIS, General indicator
A segment to record up to three qualifiers for each
price.
1130 Segment group 29:ARD-MOA
A group of segments to record the monetary amounts ,
currency, tax details resulting from the
multiplication of QTY and PRI values.
1140 ARD, Amounts relationship details
A segment to qualify the monetary amount as to it's
purpose in the business exchange.
1150 MOA, Monetary amount
A segment to record the value and currency of the
monetary amount.
1160 Segment group 30:TAX-MOA-LOC
A group of segments in which is detailed taxation
information, which applies to the item . There are often
several different types of tax which need to be applied.
1170 TAX, Duty/tax/fee details
Details of the taxation to be applied is recorded here.
1180 MOA, Monetary amount
A segment to record the value and currency of the
monetary amount.
1190 LOC, Place/location identification
A segment to specify location codes relating to the tax
details recorded in this segment group.
1200 Segment group 31:RCS-BII-GIS
Where it is necessary to record a relationship about the
current item and it's association with another item, this
segment group will be used.
1210 RCS, Requirements and conditions
A segment to identify the requirements that applied to
this particular reference.
1220 BII, Structure identification
Record here the structured index number of the other item
to which the current item relates.
1230 GIS, General indicator
This is the segment where a coded reference describing
the item relationship is recorded.
1240 Segment group 32:ALC-RFF-DTM-RNG-FTX-SG33
A group of segments used to convey details of the price
fluctuation calculations to be applied to the item.
1250 ALC, Allowance or charge
A segment to identity whether the data recorded in this
segment group represents an actualization or a revision
figure.
1260 RFF, Reference
A segment providing a reference to the (usually standard)
formula rules to be applied.
1270 DTM, Date/time/period
A segment to record the contract base or control date to
be used in the formula.
1280 RNG, Range details
Where the formula makes reference to data within a range
the details of the range will be identified in this
segment.
1290 FTX, Free text
A segment to convey the actual formula and narrative
relating to the formula. This will be used only in the
exceptional case of a non-standard formula being used.
1300 Segment group 33:PCD-RFF
A group of segments to specify the remaining components
of the price fluctuation calculation.
1310 PCD, Percentage details
A segment to specify a percentage value to be used as
a coefficient in conjunction with the reference given
in the following RFF.
1320 RFF, Reference
A segment to specify the reference of a work section
applicable to a set of calculation components.
1330 Segment group 34:IMD-QTY-MOA-PRI
A segment group to record where necessary alternative index
information for an item. The validity of an alternative
index would be defined in the Segment Group 3 IMD.
1340 IMD, Item description
A segment used to record an alternative index description
(previously defined in Segment Group 3 IMD), that relates
to this item.
1350 QTY, Quantity
A segment to record the quantity and measurement unit
that relates to the coded entry for the item.
1360 MOA, Monetary amount
A segment to record the currency and value associated
with the item.
1370 PRI, Price details
A segment to record the monetary rate of the code
associated with the item.
4.1.3 Summary section
Information to be provided in the Summary section:
1380 CNT, Control total
Various control total checks may be taken and the resultant
values would be recorded in this segment. Typically these
checks will be counts of quantity and monetary values that
apply to the entire message.
1390 UNT, Message trailer
A service segment ending a message, giving the total number of
segments in the message and the control reference number of the
message.
4.2 Data segment index (Alphabetical sequence by tag)
AGR Agreement identification
ALC Allowance or charge
ALI Additional information
APR Additional price information
ARD Amounts relationship details
AUT Authentication result
BGM Beginning of message
BII Structure identification
CNT Control total
COM Communication contact
CTA Contact information
CUX Currencies
DIM Dimensions
DOC Document/message details
DTM Date/time/period
FII Financial institution information
FTX Free text
GIS General indicator
IMD Item description
IND Index details
LIN Line item
LOC Place/location identification
MOA Monetary amount
NAD Name and address
PCD Percentage details
PRI Price details
QTY Quantity
RCS Requirements and conditions
RFF Reference
RNG Range details
RTE Rate details
TAX Duty/tax/fee details
UNH Message header
UNS Section control
UNT Message trailer
Contents of CONTEN