Start with the decision
Write the excavation scope around named deliverables, the drawings that describe them and the interfaces with other trades. Define excavation limits using project documents and available site information. Do not ask bidders to absorb unknown ground conditions into an undefined lump sum. 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 excavation resource hub.
Define each package boundary
| Deliverable | Input to include | Boundary to settle |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk excavation | defined limits and available ground information | excavation versus support and water-management packages |
| Material movement | material categories and handling responsibilities | reuse, off-site haulage and disposal allowances |
| Formation and handoff | specified formation and receiving-trade requirements | final preparation and acceptance responsibilities |
Download the excavation 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 survey, shoring, dewatering, unsuitable material, haulage and disposal arrangements explicitly. Use included, excluded, by others or unresolved, with a named owner for unresolved items.
- Document assumptions about project approvals, available investigations, utility coordination and the site-access plan. 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
A quotation includes excavation but assumes material can remain on site. The project instead requires removal. Confirm classification, quantities and destination responsibilities before comparing bids.
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 excavation invitation to bid checklist. For the other side of the conversation, see the excavation 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.