What are the differences between Tender and Contract Documents?

A tender is an offer in writing to contractors to execute the some specified works or to supply specified materials within a fixed time frame and as per conditions of contract and agreement between the contractor and the owner or the department or the party.

The tender documents contains the bill of quantities (BOQ), specifications of the works to be carried out, time frame for the completion of the work, conditions of the contract and plans and drawings. These documents are provided to the contractor on the payment of certain fees. The contractor who quotes the lowest rates for the overall works are offer the contract to execute the work.

Contract documents are the agreement between the owner or the party or the department and the contractor to execute the works as specified in the tender documents as per conditions of contract on the rates quoted by the contractor.

The term tender means a formal invitation to trade under the terms of offer and the documents associated with that offer. A contract is, generally speaking, a legally binding agreement between parties, where there has been offer, acceptance and consideration.