Construction Change Order Process
The change order process turns changed scope into a formal contract modification. The strongest processes separate issue discovery, direction, pricing, negotiation, and approval.
Process steps
- Step 1
Identify the change
Document the source: RFI response, owner request, field condition, design revision, or directive.
- Step 2
Confirm direction
Determine whether work should wait for approval, proceed under a directive, or be priced before release.
- Step 3
Price the impact
Collect labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, markup, allowance, and schedule information.
- Step 4
Review and negotiate
Compare the request against contract entitlement, backup, quantities, and schedule logic.
- Step 5
Execute the change order
Update contract sum, contract time, logs, schedules, budgets, and downstream documents.
Checklist
- Change source
- Scope description
- Cost backup
- Schedule impact
- Markup
- Approval status
- Contract adjustment
- Distribution