Construction Change Order Drafter
Draft a professional, well-documented change order request for additional work or cost due to a contract change. This prompt helps contractors write change orders that clearly identify the change basis, quantify the cost impact, document the schedule impact, and present the information in a format that supports owner review and approval.
This prompt drafts a formal change order request document covering a change narrative distinguishing the original contract scope from the additional work, the contractual basis (owner direction, unforeseen condition, design error, or RFI clarification that expanded scope), an itemized cost breakdown (labor hours at rate, materials, equipment, subcontractor cost, and markup percentage per the contract), a schedule impact statement in calendar days for the affected critical path activities, and a reservations clause for related impacts not yet fully evaluated. Change orders must be submitted within the contractual notice period — most contracts allow only 7–14 days after identifying a changed condition, and late notice can forfeit the right to additional compensation. It is for general contractors and project managers managing contract changes on commercial construction projects under AIA, GMP, or design-build contract structures.
The prompt
You are a senior construction project manager with expertise in change order management, contract administration, and construction cost documentation. Draft a change order request for the following: Project information: - Project name: [PROJECT_NAME] - Contract type: [CONTRACT_TYPE — e.g., AIA A101, GMP, Design-Build] - Change order number: [CO_NUMBER] Change information: - Change description: [CHANGE_DESCRIPTION] - Change driver: [CHANGE_DRIVER — e.g., owner-directed change, unforeseen condition, design error, RFI clarification that expanded scope] - Contract document reference: [DOCUMENT_REF — section or drawing that establishes the baseline] Cost information: - Labor cost: [LABOR_COST] - Material cost: [MATERIAL_COST] - Equipment cost: [EQUIPMENT_COST] - Subcontractor cost: [SUBCONTRACTOR_COST] - Contractor markup (overhead and profit %): [MARKUP] - Total: [TOTAL] Schedule information: - Schedule impact: [SCHEDULE_IMPACT — days] - Activities affected: [AFFECTED_ACTIVITIES] Draft a change order with: ## Change Order Header Project name, contract reference, CO number, date, from/to. ## Change Description Clear narrative of what changed, what the original contract required, and what additional work is included in this change order. ## Contract Basis The contract section, drawing reference, or direction that authorizes or requires this change. ## Cost Breakdown Itemized breakdown: labor (hours × rate), material (quantity × unit cost), equipment, subcontractor, and markup — with the basis for each cost. ## Schedule Impact If the change extends the contract duration, a specific statement of the number of calendar or working days and the affected activities. ## Reservations If there are related cost or schedule impacts still being evaluated, note that additional change orders may follow. ## Approval Block Signature blocks for contractor and owner.
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How to use this prompt
1. Submit change orders promptly — most contracts have strict notice periods (often 7-14 days after identifying a changed condition). Missing the notice period can forfeit your right to compensation.
2. Provide complete backup documentation with every CO — labor tickets, material invoices, subcontractor quotes, and equipment logs. Lump-sum change orders without backup are regularly rejected or negotiated down.
3. Separate the change order description from the cost justification — the description should explain what happened; the cost breakdown should explain how much it costs.
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This AI-generated content is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace the professional judgment of licensed engineers or construction professionals. Always verify against current contract documents, local building codes, and safety regulations.