Start with the decision
Write the electrical scope around named deliverables, the drawings that describe them and the interfaces with other trades. Separate power distribution, lighting and controls before looking for an electrical subcontractor. A tenant improvement and a service upgrade may require different experience and coordination. Use the worksheet below to expose missing information before requesting a firm quotation.
This guide is for business-to-business project planning in the United States and Canada. For the wider trade context, visit the electrical resource hub.
Define each package boundary
| Deliverable | Input to include | Boundary to settle |
|---|---|---|
| Power distribution | equipment schedule, connection points and approved drawings | equipment supply versus installation and utility coordination |
| Lighting | fixture schedule, switching intent and room boundaries | fixtures, supports, controls and making good |
| Tenant connections | equipment requiring connection and trade responsibility | final connections, disconnects and equipment supplied by others |
Download the electrical scope of work worksheet (CSV)
Fill in the response, owner or source, and date checked. Keep unresolved items visible. The file contains planning prompts only; it does not calculate quantities or make an approval decision.
Put the checklist to work
- Attach the current drawing and specification references, and identify who may receive them. Separate issued information from items still awaiting approval.
- Assign utility-side work, temporary power, controls and repair of opened finishes explicitly. Use included, excluded, by others or unresolved, with a named owner for unresolved items.
- Document assumptions about equipment release dates, authorized shutdown windows and readiness of rooms receiving equipment. A target date is not a substitute for those inputs being available.
- Issue the same revision to all invited businesses. Record clarifications and circulate material changes before comparing proposals.
A scope gap worth discussing
Illustrative example — not a Build Accord client project
An office lighting package grows to include changes at the distribution panel. Confirm whether the same invitation still describes the work, and issue the revised package to every bidder.
Apply this to your decision: A scope sheet with deliverables, interfaces, exclusions and unresolved decisions that every invited business can price against.
Using this in the US and Canada
For a project in the United States
Record the state, local jurisdiction and actual service area. Confirm the project location and the scope of the business’s authority with the responsible project team. The U.S. Small Business Administration provides a starting point for business licensing resources.
For a project in Canada
Record the province or territory, municipality and actual service area. Use Canada’s permits and licences resources to locate relevant checks, including the linked BizPaL service. Confirm requirements for the actual activity and location.
For either market, state the currency, units and deadline time zone. This worksheet is general planning guidance, not a determination of licensing, procurement eligibility or technical compliance.
The next useful step
Continue with electrical invitation to bid checklist. For the other side of the conversation, see the electrical bid proposal guide.
Build Accord coordinates introductions between construction project teams and trade contractors. An inquiry starts a discussion of fit and availability; it does not guarantee a contractor, an invitation to bid or an award. These guides are not a listing of currently available crews or projects.