Category: Contracts & management
Prepared by Eng. Ahmed Fathy, Projects Manager ·
Definition
A request for information is a formal written question from the contractor to the consultant when drawings or specifications are unclear or conflict, answered in writing.
Why it matters on a project
It protects the contractor from building a wrong assumption and fixes the date of the issue if it affects the programme.
Measurement and pricing
Kept in a numbered log tracking sent and reply dates.
Common mistake
Sending vague RFIs without the drawing and detail reference or a proposed solution, so replies are slow.
Frequently asked questions
How many days to answer an RFI?
The conditions or project management plan set it; late answers can support a time claim.
Is an RFI answer a variation?
Not automatically; if the answer changes scope or cost, a separate variation must be issued.
Related terms
- Variation order (VO)A written instruction changing scope, quantity or specification, with its price and time effect.
- Shop drawingsDrawings prepared by the contractor or fabricator showing how items are made and installed, approved by the consultant before execution.
- Minutes of meeting (MOM)A written record of what was discussed and decided, with the owner and due date of each action.
- Extension of time (EOT)The contractor’s entitlement to additional time for delay not of its making, subject to timely notice.
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