Change Order

Change orders are common in hydrovac work because subsurface conditions are inherently uncertain. A potholing project may encounter more utilities than expected, harder soil conditions, deeper depths, contaminated material, or access issues that were not apparent during bidding. Each of these situations may require a change order to adjust the scope, price, or schedule of the contract.

The change order process should be clearly defined in the original contract. Typically, when a change condition is encountered, the hydrovac contractor notifies the client in writing, describes the changed condition, and proposes an adjustment to the scope, price, or schedule. The client reviews the proposal, negotiates if necessary, and issues a formal change order authorizing the additional work. Work should not proceed on changed conditions without an approved change order, as unauthorized work may not be compensable.

Hydrovac contractors should document changed conditions thoroughly with photographs, field notes, and GPS data. The most common sources of change orders in hydrovac work include additional pothole locations, deeper-than-expected utilities, rock or frost conditions, contaminated soil requiring special disposal, access restrictions not identified in the original scope, and utility congestion requiring additional time per excavation.