Subcontractor scope of work template
A subcontractor scope of work spells out exactly what the sub will furnish, install, and leave out, line by line. Download this template as a CSV for Excel or Google Sheets, or print it as a subcontract exhibit.
A subcontractor scope of work template is a line-by-line exhibit to the subcontract that lists each item of work, whether it is included or excluded, who furnishes the material, who installs it, and where it is shown in the drawings and specs. A one-line scope like all drywall per plans and specs leaves gaps. A detailed list closes them before the work starts, when they are cheap to fix.
Most scope gaps show up as an argument in the field. The drywall sub says the corner bead at the soffits was never theirs. The framer says the same thing. The GC pays for it twice, or pays a premium to a third crew. A scope sheet that names who owns the soffits ends that argument before it starts.
What a scope of work exhibit is for
The scope of work defines what the sub's price buys. It should match the leveled scope from bidding, cover the gray areas between trades, and state exclusions plainly. Attach it to the subcontract as an exhibit and reference it in the agreement. When a question comes up on site, the PM checks the sheet, not memory.
How to fill in each column
- Item number: sequence the lines so they can be referenced in correspondence.
- Spec section: the specification section that governs the item, such as 09 21 16 for gypsum board assemblies.
- Scope item: describe the work specifically. Name rooms, levels, assemblies, and finish levels where they matter.
- Included or excluded: one word. If it is excluded, say who it belongs to in the notes.
- Furnished by and installed by: these can differ. Owner-furnished, contractor-installed items cause most of the confusion.
- Drawing reference: the sheet and detail number.
- Notes: clarifications, quantities used in bidding, and alternates or allowances.
Common mistakes
- Writing per plans and specs and stopping there.
- Not listing exclusions, so the sub assumes anything not mentioned is out.
- Forgetting the items between trades: blocking, firestopping, access panels, cleanup, hoisting.
- Not flowing down owner requirements such as submittals, closeout documents, and warranties. See flow-down clauses.
- Using a scope sheet from a different job without updating spec sections and drawing references.
Beyond the line items
Add the general requirements every sub on the job shares: daily cleanup, safety program, schedule coordination, submittal deadlines, insurance, and closeout deliverables. Put them in a short paragraph above the line items, or in the subcontract itself. The line items should stay focused on physical work.
A worked example
Say a GC is buying out drywall on a $480,000 tenant improvement. Bid leveling showed one bidder excluded firestopping at head of wall joints and another excluded Level 5 at the lobby. Both items go on the scope sheet as included lines, with the spec section and the detail that shows them. The access panels are a common gap between mechanical and drywall, so the sheet names the mechanical sub as furnisher and the drywall sub as installer. Painting is listed as excluded with the trade that owns it. When the drywall foreman asks in month three whether the soffit panels are his, the PM points to line 5.
Related forms and guides
For wording, see how to write a scope of work for subcontractors and what to include in a subcontract agreement. Compare bids on the same scope with the bid leveling template, and track insurance with the subcontractor COI tracking template. Smart Business Automator keeps subcontract scope, documents, and compliance together on each sub's record; see subcontractor compliance automation.
Subcontractor scope of work exhibit (drywall sample)
| Item number | Spec section | Scope item | Included or excluded | Furnished by | Installed by | Drawing reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 09 22 16 | Metal stud framing for all interior partitions, levels 1 and 2 | Included | Subcontractor | Subcontractor | A-501, partition types | Includes deflection track at deck |
| 2 | 09 21 16 | Gypsum board, Level 4 finish typical, Level 5 at lobby 101 | Included | Subcontractor | Subcontractor | A-601 finish schedule | Lobby Level 5 added at bid leveling |
| 3 | 07 84 00 | Firestopping at rated partition head of wall joints | Included | Subcontractor | Subcontractor | A-502, details 4 and 7 | Penetration firestopping by each MEP trade |
| 4 | 06 10 00 | In-wall wood blocking for casework and grab bars | Included | Subcontractor | Subcontractor | A-401 interior elevations | Locations to be confirmed by GC before close-in |
| 5 | 08 31 00 | Access panels in gypsum ceilings and walls | Included | Mechanical subcontractor | Subcontractor | M-201, A-701 | Mechanical sub furnishes panels, drywall sub installs |
| 6 | 09 91 00 | Painting of gypsum board surfaces | Excluded | Painting subcontractor | Painting subcontractor | A-601 | Drywall sub leaves surfaces ready for primer |
- Sample data only. Spec sections, drawings, and scope lines are illustrations for a drywall package.
- Attach the completed sheet to the subcontract as an exhibit and reference it in the agreement.
- Every excluded item should name the trade that owns it.
- Add general requirements (cleanup, safety, submittals, closeout) above the line items or in the subcontract body.
Frequently asked questions
What should a subcontractor scope of work include?
Each item of work with its spec section, whether it is included or excluded, who furnishes and installs it, the drawing reference, and any clarifications. Add general requirements like cleanup and closeout.
Is the scope of work part of the subcontract?
It should be. Attach it as an exhibit and reference it in the subcontract so it is part of the contract documents.
How detailed should a scope of work be?
Detailed enough that two people reading it would agree on who owns each item, especially the work between trades. Room names, finish levels, and drawing details help.
Can I use this scope of work template in Excel?
Yes. Download the CSV, open it in Excel or Google Sheets, and keep one tab per trade package.
