1. 7/12/2013
1
MEASUREMENT 3
Prime Cost Sum & Provisional Sum
PROVISIONAL SUM
Sum of money included in the contract for work:-
1.by a statutory authority;
2.work that cannot be fully defined at time of the
tender or;
3. work that it is not sure whether it is required.

2. 7/12/2013
2
TYPE OF PROVISIONAL SUM
DEFINED PROVISIONAL SUM
UNDEFINED PROVISIONAL SUM
DEFINED PROVISIONAL SUM
A sum included in the contract for work that has
not been completely designed at time of the
tender but for which certain specified information
can be given.
Made proper allowance for carrying out the work
in their programme and preliminaries.
This means that they are not entitled to an
Extension Of Time (EOT) or extra preliminaries
for carrying out the works, whatever the delay or
cost of doing so to the contractor.

3. 7/12/2013
3
UNDEFINED PROVISIONAL SUM
A sum included for work for which there is
minimal or no information at time of the tender.
The contractor is deemed to have allowed for
anything and;
Made proper allowance in programme or
preliminaries for carrying out the works.
STANDARD METHOD OF MEASUREMENT 2
A.8 PROVISIONAL SUM OR PRIME COST
SUMS

4. 7/12/2013
4
PROVISIONAL SUM
If the actual work does not closely resemble
the provisional sum :-
If the description is not accurate it has to be
amended
This will be treated as a variation
HOW CAN A PROVISIONAL SUM BE
EXPENDED?
The architect / engineer has to issue an
Architect’s Instruction for its expenditure.
HOW ARE THEY VALUED?
The same way as a variation. i.e. agreement
between employer and the contractor, a schedule
of quotations or by the QS under valuation rules.
PROVISIONAL SUM

5. 7/12/2013
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WHAT ARE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED
WITH PROVISIONAL SUM?
That the actual cost and time exceeds that
allowed for the provisional sum because the
nature of the item changes between tender and
instruction.
PROVISIONAL SUM
PRIME COST SUM
A sum provided for work or services to be
executed by a Nominated Sub-contractor for
materials, goods to be obtained from a
Nominated Suppliers.
Such sum shall be deemed to be exclusive of any
Over Head and Profit (OHP) by the main
contractor and provision shall be additional there
of.

6. 7/12/2013
6
PRIME COST SUM
Selected grass seed; Prime Cost sum
RM 89.90/25g.
Any materials or goods obtained from
manufacturers or stockists.