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Bid terms glossary
Change order
A written agreement that changes the contract's scope, price or schedule after signing.
Also called or written as: CO, change order request, COR
What it means
A change order is a written document, signed by the owner and contractor, that changes the contract after it's signed. It can add or remove work, change the price, or change the schedule.
Change orders are normal on most projects. Many come from owner changes or hidden conditions. Some come from scope that was never in anyone's bid.
Why it matters when leveling bids
Every gap you miss while leveling can come back as a change order, after you've lost the leverage of competitive bidding.
Before award, ask each bidder to price likely changes as unit prices or alternates. During the job, compare each change order to the original exclusions and unit prices.
Example wording
Example only
- “Change Order No. [n]: Add rock excavation, [quantity] CY at unit price of $[amount]/CY. Add $[amount]. Time extension: [n] days.”
- “Change Order No. [n]: Owner-requested upgrade to quartz countertops per Alternate No. 1. Add $[amount].”
- “Change Order No. [n]: Delete monument sign. Deduct $[amount].”
Made-up wording to show the pattern. Not taken from any real bid. Bracketed items are placeholders.
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Related terms: Unit price · Allowance · Contingency · All terms
General guidance, not legal advice. How a term works on your project depends on your contract documents.