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Project Management

Quality Assurance

In Plain English

The proactive process of setting up systems to prevent quality problems before work is done wrong.

Definition

Quality assurance (QA) is the system of planned and systematic activities implemented to ensure that quality requirements are fulfilled throughout the construction process. QA focuses on processes, documentation, and system audits that prevent defects from occurring rather than detecting them after the fact. QA includes reviewing submittals, verifying material conformance, and auditing construction procedures.

Why It Matters in Bidding

QA obligations in the specs translate directly into general conditions cost — submittal management, mockups, third-party audits, and documentation staff all carry hours and fees a bidder must capture. Underpricing QA leaves a GC absorbing rework and disputed pay applications later, while a well-scoped QA line protects margin and strengthens the firm's responsiveness during award evaluation.

Example

Building a bid for a federal courthouse, an estimator prices a dedicated QA manager and a submittal-tracking system because Division 01 mandates documented procedure audits before each major work activity.

Related Terms

Quality ControlInspectionSubmittalConstruction Administration

Frequently Asked Questions

Often yes, especially on public or institutional work. QA personnel, submittal review software, preconstruction mockups, and procedure audits are typically rolled into general conditions or a dedicated allowance. On smaller private jobs the cost may be absorbed into supervision, but the estimator should still account for the time.
The owner or design team often establishes QA standards, while the GC implements them through its own program. On large jobs an independent QA firm may audit processes. Responsibility allocation appears in the contract and specs, and it determines whether the GC or a third party carries the staffing cost.
QA prices the system that prevents defects — staff time, audits, and documentation — and tends to be steady overhead. QC prices the inspections and tests that catch defects, often unit-based on samples and lab work. Estimators should scope both separately so neither is double-counted nor missed.

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