Professional Quantity Surveyors' Council Registration (Mauritius)

Under section 19(1) of the Professional Quantity Surveyors' Council Act 2013, who may practise quantity surveying in Mauritius?

• AAny person holding a Council-approved degree in quantity surveying
• BAny building contractor registered with the Construction Industry Authority
• CA person registered as a professional quantity surveyor under section 20
• DA professional member of RICS who has notified the Council that they intend to practise

Under standard methods of measurement such as NRM2 and SMM7, how are isolated reinforced concrete pad foundations measured?

• AIn square metres, stating the plan area of each base
• BIn linear metres along the centre line of the bases
• CIn tonnes, based on the weight of fresh concrete
• DIn cubic metres, calculated from the net dimensions shown on the drawings

A quantity surveyor takes off quantities for a rectangular reinforced concrete ground beam measuring 12.0 m in length, 400 mm in width, and 600 mm in depth. What is the net volume of in-situ concrete to be billed in the Bill of Quantities (BOQ)?

• A1.44 m^3
• B2.88 m^3
• C4.80 m^3
• D7.20 m^3

When building up a unit rate for 1 m^3 of site-mixed C25 reinforced concrete, a quantity surveyor finds direct costs of MUR 3,200 for materials, MUR 800 for labour and MUR 400 for plant. The contractor adds 10% for site overheads, then 15% for head office overheads and profit on the total of direct cost plus site overheads. What is the final unit rate?

• AMUR 5,566.00
• BMUR 4,400.00
• CMUR 4,840.00
• DMUR 5,500.00

What is the 'bulking factor' of excavated soil, and why does it matter to a quantity surveyor?

• AThe reduction in volume when fill is compacted by rollers
• BThe increase in volume when soil is excavated from its compact in-situ state, which affec…
• CThe extra excavation allowed around a foundation to give working space
• DThe settlement of backfill after it has been placed

In a bill of quantities, what is the difference between a Prime Cost (PC) Sum and a Provisional Sum?

• AA PC Sum covers work whose scope cannot be defined at tender, whereas a Provisional Sum c…
• BA PC Sum is a fixed allowance that is never adjusted, whereas a Provisional Sum is adjust…
• CA PC Sum is an allowance for work or goods to be provided by a nominated subcontractor or…
• DBoth are contingencies that the contractor may spend at its own discretion

The cumulative valuation of work to date for Interim Certificate No. 4 is MUR 15,000,000. Retention is 5% (no limit has yet been reached), advance payment recovered to date totals MUR 1,000,000, and the total net amount certified in previous certificates is MUR 8,000,000. What is the net amount due on this certificate?

• AMUR 6,250,000
• BMUR 6,000,000
• CMUR 7,000,000
• DMUR 5,250,000

What is the primary function of daywork records (daywork sheets) in contract administration?

• ATo record the labour, plant and materials actually used on varied work that cannot proper…
• BTo record the weekly attendance of the contractor's workforce for payroll
• CTo value all variations, including those similar to existing bill items
• DTo record overtime worked by the contractor to recover delays for which it is responsible

Under civil engineering and building methods of measurement (such as CESMM4, SMM7 and NRM2), how is bar reinforcement normally measured and billed?

• ABy the volume of the reinforced concrete member
• BBy mass in tonnes, calculated from the lengths of each bar diameter in the bending schedu…
• CBy linear metres of each bar diameter, without conversion to mass
• DBy the area of formwork to the member

A bar bending schedule lists 1,200 m of 16 mm high-yield reinforcement. Using mass per metre = d^2 / 162 kg/m, what mass of 16 mm bar should be billed?

• A0.12 tonnes
• B1.07 tonnes
• C1.90 tonnes
• D2.96 tonnes

What do 'Preliminaries' (or General Items) cover in a bill of quantities?

• AProject-wide costs not attributable to a single item of permanent work, such as site mana…
• BThe direct cost of permanent substructure work
• CThe client's design consultants' fees
• DThe contractor's head office overheads and profit only, excluding site costs

Under standard methods of measurement such as SMM7 and NRM2, how is narrow edge formwork to slabs and beds generally measured compared with larger formwork surfaces?

• AIt is always included in the concrete rate and never measured separately
• BIt is measured by the volume of timber used to make the shutters
• CIt is measured by the weight of ties and props used
• DNarrow edges up to stated heights are measured linearly in metres in height bands, wherea…

What is the quantity surveyor's main role in preparing the final account at the end of a construction contract?

• ATo adjust the contract sum for measured variations, remeasured provisional quantities, th…
• BTo prepare the client's initial pre-tender estimate
• CTo certify practical completion of the works
• DTo audit the contractor's company accounts

A contract includes a Provisional Sum of MUR 2,000,000 for an acoustic ceiling. The work is instructed at the specialist's net quotation of MUR 1,750,000, and the contract entitles the main contractor to 5% for attendance and profit on that amount. How is the adjustment shown in the final account?

• AAdd MUR 1,837,500 to the contract sum
• BOmit MUR 2,000,000 and add MUR 1,837,500, a net reduction of MUR 162,500
• CLeave the Provisional Sum unchanged at MUR 2,000,000
• DOmit MUR 250,000, the difference between the sum and the quotation

Under standard methods of measurement such as SMM7 and NRM2, how are small openings in measured wall finishes, such as painting, normally treated?

• AEvery opening is deducted, however small
• BNo openings are ever deducted from painted areas
• COpenings not exceeding the minimum area stated in the rules are not deducted; larger open…
• DOpenings are deducted and then added back as enumerated items

What is the main purpose of deducting retention money from interim payments in a construction contract?

• ATo pay for variations instructed after completion
• BTo cover liquidated damages for late completion
• CTo act as security for the Employer's advance payment
• DTo give the Employer security that the contractor will complete the works and remedy defe…

A concrete road needs 5,000 m^2 of 200 mm thick reinforced concrete slab. The rate for in-situ concrete is MUR 4,200 per m^3 and the rate for fabric reinforcement is MUR 180 per m^2. What is the total cost of concrete and fabric?

• AMUR 5,100,000
• BMUR 4,200,000
• CMUR 4,380,000
• DMUR 21,900,000

Under the Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement (CESMM4), how are pipes in drainage works (Class I) itemized, and how is trench excavation dealt with?

• ATrench excavation is measured separately as bulk excavation in m^3, and pipes are enumera…
• BPipes are measured in linear metres, classified by nominal bore and stated depth bands, w…
• CPipes are measured by the number of joints, and excavation by the plant used
• DPipes are measured by the tonnage of pipe material supplied

In a bill of quantities, what is an 'Extra Over' (E.O.) item?

• AAn item priced in full that replaces the base item it relates to
• BA provisional quantity to be remeasured
• CAn addition to the contract sum for inflation
• DAn item that measures only the additional cost of an operation over and above a base item…

A steel portal frame contains 40 tonnes of hot-rolled sections. Rates per tonne are MUR 95,000 for fabrication and delivery, MUR 25,000 for erection and MUR 15,000 for surface preparation and painting. What is the total amount for the structural steelwork?

• AMUR 3,800,000
• BMUR 5,400,000
• CMUR 4,800,000
• DMUR 3,840,000

Under the RICS New Rules of Measurement NRM1 (order of cost estimating and cost planning), when are elemental cost plans prepared and what do they do?

• AAfter completion, to prepare the final account
• BAt inception, before any design, as the only estimate prepared for the project
• CDuring design development, allocating the cost target across building elements so that th…
• DAt tender, replacing the bill of quantities as the pricing document

Under SMM7 and NRM2, how are brick and block walls normally measured?

• AIn square metres, stating the thickness and type of wall, with openings deducted as the r…
• BBy enumerating the number of bricks or blocks
• CIn linear metres along the wall, stating its height
• DIn cubic metres of masonry

In a construction contract, what is the 'Defects Notification Period' (DNP)?

• AThe period after Taking-Over during which the contractor must remedy defects notified by…
• BThe period before Taking-Over during which the contractor completes outstanding work
• CThe period after the Performance Certificate during which the Employer may claim for late…
• DThe period during which the Employer may deduct delay damages

A tender includes 2,400 m^2 of 15 mm internal cement-sand plaster. Labour output is 0.50 man-hours per m^2, and the all-in labour rate is MUR 220 per man-hour. What is the labour cost of the plastering?

• AMUR 132,000
• BMUR 528,000
• CMUR 264,000
• DMUR 1,056,000

When assessing a contractor's claim for prolongation caused by an Employer delay event, which cost is normally recoverable?

• AProfit the contractor says it would have made on other tenders it did not win
• BHead office overheads calculated by formula, without any evidence that a loss was actuall…
• CThe cost of acceleration to recover the contractor's own delays
• DTime-related site overheads actually incurred during the period of delay, supported by co…

Under the Public Procurement Act 2006, what is the role of the Procurement Policy Office (PPO)?

• ATo approve the award of major contracts by public bodies
• BTo formulate procurement policy and directives, issue standard bidding documents for mand…
• CTo review procurement proceedings on application by unsatisfied bidders
• DTo register consultants and contractors in classes and grades

Under the Public Procurement Act 2006, a bidder believes a public body has breached the Act in a tender. What is the correct route for challenging the proceedings?

• AApply directly to the Supreme Court for judicial review
• BComplain to the Central Procurement Board, whose decision is final
• CChallenge in writing to the chief executive officer of the public body under section 43,…
• DApply to the Procurement Policy Office, which may annul the award

What is the defining feature of the 'traditional' (design-bid-build) procurement route?

• AA single contract under which the contractor designs, builds, finances and operates the f…
• BA single contractor designs and builds the works under one contract
• CThe Employer contracts separately with trade contractors, coordinated by a construction m…
• DThe Employer's consultants complete the design and tender documents before the constructi…

Under a design and build contract such as the FIDIC Yellow Book, who is primarily responsible to the Employer for the design of the works?

• AThe Contractor, which provides single-point responsibility for design and construction
• BThe Employer's design consultants, while the contractor is responsible only for workmansh…
• CThe Employer and Contractor share design responsibility equally by default
• DThe Engineer, because it reviews the Contractor's documents

Under section 36 of the Public Procurement Act 2006, what must be read out and recorded at the opening of bids?

• AThe names of the bidders only; prices remain confidential until evaluation
• BThe name of each bidder, the total amount of each bid, any discount or alternative offere…
• CEach bidder's detailed unit rates and profit margins
• DWhich bids are disqualified, with the reasons

During arithmetic checking of a remeasurable bill, a bid shows a unit rate of MUR 5,000 per m^3 for 100 m^3 of concrete, but the line total is entered as MUR 50,000 instead of MUR 500,000. Under the arithmetic-correction rule typical of standard bidding documents, how is this corrected?

• AThe unit rate governs; the line total is corrected to MUR 500,000 and the bid price adjus…
• BThe line total governs, and the unit rate is reduced to MUR 500 per m^3
• CThe bid is rejected automatically without further consideration
• DThe bidder may choose which figure to keep after the opening

What is the purpose of the bid security (tender bond) submitted with a public tender?

• ATo guarantee the contractor's performance during construction
• BTo secure repayment of the advance payment
• CTo provide the Employer with retention during the defects period
• DTo protect the Employer if the bidder withdraws its bid during the validity period, or, i…

Under the Public Procurement Act 2006, how is a margin of preference for domestic suppliers applied?

• AWhere the bidding documents provide for it, a margin of preference for domestic suppliers…
• BAny public body may set its own preference rate after the bids are opened
• CForeign bidders are excluded whenever a domestic bidder is responsive
• DThe domestic bidder is awarded the contract at the foreign bidder's lower price

Under section 37(10A) of the Public Procurement Act 2006, what may a public body or the Central Procurement Board do if a bid appears abnormally low?

• AReject it immediately without asking the bidder for anything
• BAccept it automatically because it is the lowest evaluated bid
• CRequest in writing the information it considers necessary and, if concerns about the bidd…
• DAsk the bidder to raise its price to a realistic level

Under the Public Procurement Act 2006, when may a public body use restricted bidding instead of open advertised bidding for works?

• AWhenever it prefers to invite contractors it already knows
• BOnly for international contracts
• CWhenever the contract is urgent, without further conditions
• DWhere the works are available only from a limited number of bidders, where the time and c…

What is the purpose of the Letter of Acceptance issued by the Employer under FIDIC-based conditions?

• ATo invite the successful bidder to negotiate its price before a contract is formed
• BTo formally accept the tender, forming the contract and stating the Accepted Contract Amo…
• CTo notify unsuccessful bidders of the outcome
• DTo instruct the contractor to commence work after the Performance Certificate

Under the FIDIC claims procedure (Sub-Clause 20.1 of the 1999 books; Sub-Clause 20.2 of the 2017 books), when must the Contractor give notice of a claim for additional payment or extension of time?

• AAt any time before the Final Payment Certificate
• BWithin 28 days after the Engineer rejects the claim
• CWithin 28 days after the Contractor became aware, or should have become aware, of the eve…
• DWithin 42 days of the event, when the fully detailed claim is due

What are liquidated damages (delay damages) for late completion in a construction contract?

• AA penalty intended to punish the contractor for any delay
• BAn amount assessed by the Engineer after completion on the basis of the Employer's proven…
• CA deduction that applies even for delay covered by an approved extension of time
• DA rate stated in the contract (for example, per day) payable for unexcused delay beyond t…

A contract specifies Liquidated and Ascertained Damages (LAD) of MUR 50,000 per calendar day of unexcused delay. The contractual completion date is 30 September 2026. The contractor achieves Taking-Over on 20 October 2026. If the contractor was granted an approved Extension of Time (EOT) of 5 days due to an exceptionally severe tropical cyclone, what is the total LAD deductible by the Employer?

• AMUR 250,000
• BMUR 750,000
• CMUR 1,000,000
• DMUR 1,250,000

What is the difference between 'concurrent delay' and 'sequential delay' in construction contracts?

• AConcurrent delay is when delays occur one after another; sequential delay is when they ov…
• BConcurrent delay is when an Employer risk event and a Contractor risk event affect the co…
• CConcurrent delay always entitles the contractor to both time and money
• DConcurrent delay ends the contractor's liability for all delay damages and terminates the…

Under FIDIC 2017 contracts, what is the role of the Dispute Avoidance/Adjudication Board (DAAB)?

• AIt issues final awards that can never be challenged
• BIt gives advisory opinions that are never binding
• CIt is appointed only after a dispute arises, solely to mediate
• DIt is a standing board that helps the Parties avoid disputes and, on referral, gives deci…

What is the purpose of an advance payment guarantee provided by a contractor?

• ATo secure repayment of the advance payment if the contractor fails to perform or becomes…
• BTo guarantee completion by the contract completion date
• CTo secure the Employer's own payment obligations to the contractor
• DTo replace retention during the defects period

Under the FIDIC Red Book (1999), when must the Employer return the Performance Security to the Contractor?

• AAt Taking-Over, together with the first half of the retention
• BWhen the Final Payment Certificate has been paid
• CWithin 21 days after receiving a copy of the Performance Certificate, issued after the De…
• DWhen the Contractor submits its Final Statement

Under the FIDIC Red Book (1999), what are the main consequences of the Engineer issuing a Taking-Over Certificate for the Works?

• AThe contractor is released from any further obligation to remedy defects
• BIt is issued only after the Defects Notification Period has expired
• CThe Works are certified as complete apart from minor outstanding work and defects, respon…
• DThe contract is terminated and the performance security is returned

How does arbitration differ fundamentally from mediation in resolving construction disputes?

• AArbitration produces a binding award enforceable through the courts (including abroad und…
• BMediation produces a binding decision, whereas arbitration only makes recommendations
• CArbitration is always held in public, whereas mediation is always confidential
• DBoth are decided by judges of the national courts

What is the main role of the Employer's quantity surveyor during the construction stage?

• ATo manage the contractor's site operations
• BTo design the building services
• CTo certify practical completion and the quality of workmanship
• DTo value work done and variations, check interim payment applications, monitor cost again…

A contract uses a bill of quantities prepared under a stated standard method of measurement. Painting to internal doors, shown on the tender drawings, was omitted from the bill. How is the omission normally treated?

• AThe contractor must paint the doors at no extra cost because they appear on the drawings
• BThe error is corrected and the omitted work is measured and valued as a variation or unde…
• CThe contract is void for mistake
• DThe Employer must re-tender the painting separately