Scope gap

Work necessary to deliver the intended project that is missing, unclear, or inconsistently allocated among contracts, drawings, specifications, and budgets.

Why it matters

A scope gap can become a change order even when the project team believed the cost was included. Pre-construction review is particularly useful for testing interfaces between trades and between owner-direct work and the general contractor. Responsibility should be confirmed in the documents.

In practice

A project example

Equipment is purchased by the owner, but no contract clearly includes rigging, electrical connections, startup, or commissioning. Those interfaces need an identified owner and budget.

General educational guidance from KOW Building Consultants. Examples are illustrative, not project records. The applicable contract, standard, program, and jurisdiction control the requirements for a specific assignment.