In the lifecycle of a construction project, the most dangerous phrase is: “I thought the other guy was doing that.”
A Scope Gap is a void in the project responsibilities where no trade has included the work in their price, and the General Contractor failed to assign it. When the gap is discovered on site, the work still needs to be done, which leaves the GC with two painful options:
For residential and commercial GCs, scope gaps are not just an annoyance; they are a systemic epidemic that bleeds profitability.
The most effective way to close these gaps is to utilize a standardized Subcontractor Scope of Work Checklist.
Scope gaps rarely happen in the “meat” of the trade. A framer rarely forgets to frame the walls. The gaps occur at the Interfaces—the specific points where one trade ends and another begins.
To catch these inclusions, you must stop reviewing bids in isolation and start reviewing them as a sequence of hand-offs.
1. The “Patch and Paint” Gap
2. The Roof Penetration Gap
3. The Flooring vs. Millwork Gap
When reviewing a subcontractor’s proposal, do a Ctrl+F (or visual scan) for the phrase “By Others.”
This is a defensive term used by subcontractors. Whenever you see it, you must immediately ask yourself: “Who are the ‘Others’?” If you cannot name the specific company responsible for that task, you have a scope gap.
Don’t wait for the contract. Issue a Request for Information (RFI) to your bidders during the tender phase regarding specific gray areas.
In your scope of work instructions, require bids for “Complete and Operational Systems.” This contractual language shifts the burden of minor accessories (like mounting brackets, glue, or screws) to the subcontractor, preventing them from nickeling-and-diming you for essential components.
Who is responsible for trash removal? This is the most common gap. Unless specified, subs will often leave their trash in a pile. Your contract should specify “Broom Clean Condition Daily” and “Removal to GC Provided Dumpster.” If you don’t provide a dumpster, the scope must say “Subcontractor to haul off all debris.”
How do I handle “Existing Conditions”? Renovations are notorious for hidden scope gaps (e.g., rotting subfloor found after carpet removal). You cannot reasonably ask a sub to bid on invisible work. The solution is to carry a GC Contingency specifically for “Unforeseen Conditions,” rather than trying to force a sub to absorb that risk.
Catching these gaps requires a level of attention to detail that is difficult to maintain when you are bidding five jobs at once.
A typical 20-page set of architectural plans combined with 10 different subcontractor quotes equals thousands of data points. It is statistically improbable for a human to catch every misalignment between the Plumber’s exclusion list and the Tile Setter’s inclusion list.
To avoid gaps, some GCs just add a massive contingency “fluff” factor to their bids. While this covers the risk, it makes you uncompetitive. You lose jobs to sharper contractors who know exactly what things cost and don’t need to pad the number.
Bid Bench acts as your digital safety net, analyzing proposals specifically to find these missing links.
Close the gaps before they open.
[Start your 30-day free trial of Bid Bench today. No credit card required.]