What Are The Different Units of Measurement-based Pay?

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

I've always wanted to know if there where different units of pay based on certain materials. For example, striping tends to be paid out by linear foot, what is gravel, asphalt, concrete's usual pay measured in?

[roadfro]

This type of thing is usually specified in the agency's standard plans or specifications. Each project bid or contract specifies how the deliverables are paid. Things can be paid by units of length, volume, weight, etc., or by each.

[Scott5114]

Huh, I always assumed that the contracts were just a lump sum to do the job. i.e. You bid $27 million on the job, you get paid $27 million when it's done, and it doesn't matter to us how much you're spending on what.

I mean, it makes sense making them break it down. You don't want to have the contractor spend $26 million on paint and $37.64 on the actual bridge they were contracted to build.

[jeffandnicole]

Huh, I always assumed that the contracts were just a lump sum to do the job. i.e. You bid $27 million on the job, you get paid $27 million when it's done, and it doesn't matter to us how much you're spending on what.

I mean, it makes sense making them break it down. You don't want to have the contractor spend $26 million on paint and $37.64 on the actual bridge they were contracted to build.

NJ posts all their bid tabulations online, which gives a very detailed look at the units of pay and each line of bidding. https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/business/procurement/ConstrServ/documents/BidTabsDP19128.pdf is just a random example from their website.

Also - contractors don't get 100% of the pay when done.  They are paid throughout the project.  No contractor has the money to front (using your example) $27 million for employee salaries, supplies, materials, etc.

[Beltway]

Huh, I always assumed that the contracts were just a lump sum to do the job. i.e. You bid $27 million on the job, you get paid $27 million when it's done, and it doesn't matter to us how much you're spending on what.

The engineer's estimate during design tabulates the quantities for each pay item and uses that list to provide a total cost figure.  That guides the contractors on where to bid although they may decide to bid higher or lower.

The contractor is paid monthly based on work completed that month.

Here is VDOT's list of pay items --
https://www.virginiadot.org/business/resources/const/2016_VDOT_Item_Code_Table.pdf

There are a variety of unit measures, such as linear feet, cubic yards, tons, square yards, lump sum, each, acres, pounds etc.  Depends on the pay item.

OP - "gravel, asphalt, concrete's usual pay measured in?"
Stone aggregate in tons, concrete in cubic yards, asphalt in tons, concrete pavement in square yards, excavation in cubic yards, to mention some.

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT's Specification Book (Publication 408) has the units of measurement in payment in XXX.4 of every section (minus the 100s (General Provisions, mainly legal stuff), 700s (Materials), and 1100s (Manufactured Materials,  such as signs, signals, and fabrication).