What information does a boring contractor need to quote a bore?
Quick answer
To quote a bore, a contractor needs the plans or prints, the route and approximate length, the size and type of pipe or conduit, where handholes and boxes go, what surface the bore crosses, and anything known about the soil and existing utilities. Timing, traffic control, permit and restoration needs matter too. The more of this you send up front, the faster and more accurate the quote.
A bore quote is only as good as the information behind it. When a contractor has to guess at the route, the soil or what is already in the ground, the quote either carries extra padding or leaves room for surprises later. Sending the right details up front gets you a faster, cleaner number.
The quote checklist
| What to send | Why the contractor needs it |
|---|---|
| Plans or prints | Shows the route, bore sections, crossings and handhole locations |
| Route and approximate length | Length is one of the biggest factors in bore effort |
| Pipe or conduit size and type | Larger diameters can mean reaming and more pullback work |
| Number of conduits | Changes the size of the bore and the pullback |
| Required depth | Affects the bore path and the entry and exit setup |
| Handholes or boxes | Each one is placed and set as part of the job |
| Surface along the route | Pavement, concrete, landscaping or open ground |
| Crossings | Roads, driveways, waterways and other obstacles |
| Known soil or rock conditions | Ground conditions change how hard the bore is |
| Known existing utilities | Shapes the path and any extra verification |
| Timing | Start date, deadlines and work-hour limits |
| Traffic control and permits | Needed for work in or near roads and rights-of-way |
| Restoration requirements | Who restores pits and surfaces, and to what standard |
| Records required | The as-built format the owner wants at the end |
The details that change a quote the most
Length, diameter and soil
Bore cost varies a lot with the type of soil, the length of the bore and the diameter of the pipe. These three are the first things a contractor looks at. Coarse gravel, cobbles and boulders are known problem soils for directional drilling, and some hard or fractured rock can make a bore impractical. If you have soil reports, earlier bore logs from the area or even notes from past digging nearby, send them.
What is already underground
Records of buried lines are often wrong. A Federal Highway Administration summary of a Purdue University study notes that existing records of underground site conditions are usually incorrect, incomplete or otherwise inadequate. The same summary lists fewer utility conflicts and fewer claims and change orders among the benefits of knowing where utilities really are. Share whatever utility information you have, even if it is incomplete.
Before work starts, the excavator will also need to give notice through 811. Texas law lists what that notice includes, such as the location of the work, the start date and time, and the expected completion date. Having those details ready helps the job move from quote to start. See calling 811 in Texas.
The surface and the crossings
A bore that runs under open ground is a different job from one that crosses a busy road or a concrete driveway. Tell the contractor what sits on top of the route and where the crossings are. Road work may also need traffic control and permitting.
Restoration and records
Ask up front what happens at the end. Bores leave entry and exit pits that need restoration: concrete, asphalt, soil or landscaping. And most owners want an as-built record showing where the line actually went. Say what format you need.
How to send a bid request that gets a fast answer
- Attach the plans or prints, even if they are preliminary.
- Describe the route in a sentence or two, with the approximate length.
- List the materials: pipe or conduit size, type and count.
- Note the surface and crossings.
- Share what you know about soil and existing utilities.
- Give the timing, including any deadlines.
- Say what else is needed: traffic control, permits, restoration, as-built format.
What happens next
A good contractor will read the plans, ask about anything unclear, and come back with a quote that matches the job. At UGA, Drillbert, UGA’s AI operations agent, is getting ready to read plans and orders when they come in and help us build quotes faster. Our team makes the final call. Learn more on the technology behind UGA.
UGA, based in El Paso, Texas, provides horizontal directional drilling and fiber and telecom conduit boring. When you are ready, request a bid.
This article is general information. What a contractor needs can vary by project, owner and location.
Sources
Related services
Horizontal Directional Drilling
Trenchless boring that puts pipe and conduit under roads, driveways and landscaping without digging a long open trench.
Learn moreFiber Optic & Telecom Boring
Conduit placement, fiber pulls, handholes and boxes, and small-cell conduit for telecom and fiber builds.
Learn moreTraffic Control & Permitting
Help with traffic control and the permit paperwork, so the crew can start when the bore is ready.
Learn moreRestoration
Concrete and surface restoration after the bore, so the site is left clean and finished.
Learn more