---
name: standing-context
description: Locked LFCS facts the orchestrator never re-confirms with Rocky. Source of truth for scope, supply split, default rates, multipliers, exclusions reference.
authored_by: claude-code-orchestrator
created: 2026-05-08
---

# Standing Context — LFCS Pricing Standards

Locked decisions Rocky has already made. The orchestrator treats every fact below as authoritative without asking. Update this file ONLY when Rocky explicitly changes a standing fact (with a session log + lessons-learned entry referencing the change).

## 1. LFCS Scope (4 standard items)

Every LFCS bid carries some combination of these four. Items outside this list are exclusions by default.

1. **Formwork** — supply + install + strip
   - LFCS supplies ply, timbers, props (unless TCE props in scope per grill Q-A3)
   - Includes joint formation (saw cuts SJ1/SJ2/WSJ within 24h)
   - Includes 20mm chamfers + pencil-round edges to exposed concrete
   - AS3610.1 Class B finish typical
2. **Steel fixing** — only (place + tie)
   - Reo, tie wire, mesh, chairs all supplied by HC/TCE
   - LFCS supplies plastic spacers only (no metal chairs — galvanic corrosion)
   - Cage tying + chair placement + magnet sweep + pre-pour deck blow-out
3. **Concrete** — place + finish only
   - Concrete supplied by HC/TCE
   - LFCS slump test stand-by + cylinder cast + delivery to NATA lab (TCE pays lab)
   - LFCS cast-in items install during pour (items themselves TCE-supplied)
   - Edge dressing post-strip + tie-wire stub cut-off
4. **Curing** — supply + place
   - LFCS supplies polythene + hessian for 14-day cure
   - Chemical curing compounds (AS3799) NOT used (always exclusion)

## 2. Supply split (locked unless RFQ contradicts in writing)

### HC / TCE supplies (always — confirm only if RFQ silent)
- **Concrete** — all grades, all admixtures, marine cement, low-heat, sulphate-resistant, AS1379 dockets
- **Reinforcement** — Grade 500N, stainless 316, duplex, mesh SL82/SL92/SL102/SL112, cage delivery, tie wire delivered with steel
- **Cast-in items** — anchor bolts, base plates, lifting inserts, conduits, sleeves, drainage pipes, puddle flanges
- **Hilti / chemical anchors** — HIT-RE 500 V4, HIT-HY 200 cartridges (LFCS installs)
- **Joint materials** — Ableflex, elastomeric sealants, full-depth backers, stainless dowels, Danley sleeves, diamond dowels, glass-fibre dowels
- **HDPE membrane** — vapour proof, supply only (LFCS may lay if scoped)
- **Plant** — cranes, concrete pumps, concrete trucks, telehandlers, forklifts, excavators, generators, site power
- **Professional services** — surveyor (registered), engineer (design + temp works), geotech, NATA testing labs, vibration monitoring, environmental
- **Site management** — traffic management, Section 138, ESCP, dust + noise, permits, asbestos handling
- **Site amenities** — sheds, toilets, skip bins, bin lifts
- **Specialist trades** — demolition, earthworks, blinding placement, piling, shotcrete, precast, masonry, hydraulic/mech/elec, landscape, waterproofing

### LFCS supplies (always)
- Plastic spacers
- Polythene + hessian curing
- Formwork ply + timbers + props (override per grill Q-A3 if TCE-supplied)
- Diamond saw + dust suppression for joint forming
- Megapoxy bonding agent (rare; usually TCE)

## 3. Labour rate (default — override per job)

**Default blended rate:** $95/hr all-in.

**Build-up:**
- 8 hrs × $85/hr base (LFCS Rate Card V1.7 day rate)
- 2 hrs × $105/hr (hours 9–10 OT)
- 1 hr × $120/hr (hour 11 OT)
- ÷ 10 hrs nominal day = $95/hr blended

Override drivers (intake-gate Q-3):
- Programme intensity (low OT exposure → lower blend)
- Site location (LAFHA in/out — see §6)
- Crew composition (leading-hand mix, supervision loading)

Variation rate basis = same as submission rate basis × 1.265 loaded.

## 4. Margin + contingency (default — override per job)

**Locked formula and ordering (per category):**

| Category | Sequence | Formula | Loaded multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | direct → +10% contingency → +15% margin on contingency-loaded subtotal | `direct × 1.10 × 1.15` | **1.265** |
| Materials (LFCS-purchased) | direct → +15% margin → +10% contingency on margin-loaded subtotal | `direct × 1.15 × 1.10` | **1.265** |

**Ordering matters** for traceability and downstream calibration even though arithmetic result identical. Don't collapse to a single 1.265 multiplier — preserve per-category sequence.

**Customer-facing BoQ format:** loadings hidden in rates. Single rate per line. No separate margin/contingency lines visible to client.

**Internal blind comparison:** show direct AND loaded views side-by-side per line.

**Per-job overrides** (intake-gate Q-4):
- Different contingency by design maturity: 10% for full IFC, possibly different for 90% Design / 60% Concept. Confirm with Rocky if not full IFC.
- Different margin posture: defensible-for-variations is default. Aggressive-to-win is rarer (rate basis tighter, less contingency). Client-specified rare third path.

## 5. Adverse weather posture (default — override per job)

**Default:** exclude as variation at day-labour rates (per 2629 #37 standard exclusion wording).

**Override (intake-gate Q-5):** include 1 day per fortnight (~5% of working days) in prelims.

When override is "include": cost basis = 5 days × 4-man × 8 hr × labour-rate (e.g. 5 × 4 × 8 × 95 = $15,200 for a 10-week programme on $95 blended). Adjust for actual programme duration.

## 6. LAFHA in / out (per job — intake-gate Q-6)

**LAFHA = Living Away From Home Allowance.** Pay supplement when crew based in city A working at site B with overnight stay required (> 1.5 hr commute one-way; or non-commutable distance).

**Default rule:**
- Sydney crew on Sydney site → LAFHA OUT (commute, no allowance)
- Sydney crew on remote regional site (Wollongong, Gosford, Newcastle, Munmorah, etc.) → LAFHA IN
- Local crew already in regional area → LAFHA OUT

When LAFHA IN, add allowance line per LFCS Rate Card V1.7. Confirm exact rate at intake.

## 7. Pricing posture (default — override per job)

**Default:** defensible-for-variations.
- Variation rate basis = same as submission rate basis × 1.265 loaded
- Document scope assumptions clearly to support post-award variation claims
- Tight + clean exclusions list

**Alternative:** aggressive-to-win — tighter rates, lower contingency. Less defensible for variations. Use only when Rocky explicitly says win-rate priority over margin. Document.

## 8. BoQ format basis (per job — read from grill Q-F4)

- `lump-sum-letter` → Letter-of-Offer markdown (7-section structure)
- `boq-response` → xlsx (7-column live-formula layout)
- `both` → both built sequentially

## 9. Exclusions reference structure (canonical)

**Source:** 2629 Erskine Park submitted PDF (Liam-authored, three-tier, ~43 items).

**Tiers:**
1. **Standard Exclusions** (1–10) — the 10 always-out items: dewatering, waste disposal off-site, latent conditions, asbestos, D&C, permits, delays-by-others, service locating, slip testing/coatings, engineering certifications beyond contract
2. **Preliminaries — Head Contractor provides** (11–28) — the 18 items HC supplies: facilities, traffic, access, surveys, geotech, environmental, site management, earthworks, plant, concrete, reo, cast-in items, Hilti, joint materials, HDPE, amenities, vibration monitoring, NATA testing
3. **Detailed Exclusions & Assumptions & Inclusions** (29+) — job-specific carve-outs, scope assumptions, listed inclusions

See `Standard-LFCS-Exclusions-Library.md` for full canonical wording.

## 10. Confidentiality (locked)

- No agent metadata in any external output
- L1 + L2 sanitisation independent
- L2 fail-closed (artefact deleted, log `verified_by_human=NEVER`)
- Human verification gate before send
- `_internal_*` field prefix + `_Internal_*` table prefix never read by sanitisation, never rendered externally

Same as `lfcs-pricing-agent/CLAUDE.md` §2.2.

## 11. Friend-vault read-only (locked)

Path: `H:\.shortcut-targets-by-id\1V8OJUh9QsYYZbF4Jic2W0ssRhe7GkbnC\LFCS Obsidian Vault\`

Never write. Tag any sourced row `[source: friend-vault]`.

## 12. Append-only files (locked)

- `01_Daily/{date}.md`
- `_Brain/_Log.md`
- `_AgentLog/{agent}-{date}.md`
- `_Internal/lessons-learned/{name}.md`
- `_Internal/orchestrator-sessions/session-{uuid}.md`
- `_Internal/audit-trail/session-{uuid}.md`
- `_Internal/assumptions-log-{job-id}.md`
- `_System/AgentLog/events.ndjson`

Never edit prior. Append with backlink if correction needed.

## 13. Auto-decision rules (orchestrator-side, deterministic)

Rules the orchestrator applies WITHOUT asking Rocky when the inputs are unambiguous. Each rule has a deterministic answer and a stated confidence floor; any case below the floor must escalate per the priority chain. New rules added here as patterns codify across bids — keep deterministic, keep evidence-tied, keep auditable in the assumptions log.

### 13.1 LAFHA-via-Botany-distance

**Inputs:** site postcode, site address (or nearest town), driveable road network exists.

**Rule:**
1. Compute one-way drive time from Botany NSW (LFCS office origin) to the site address using Google Maps directions API or equivalent (web-research call, priority chain step 5).
2. Apply thresholds:
   - **<= 75 min one-way** → LAFHA OUT (commutable; daily Sydney crew)
   - **76–105 min one-way** → flag-for-Rocky (borderline — programme intensity + early starts may push to LAFHA IN)
   - **> 105 min one-way OR programme >2 weeks at site requiring early-start before 0530** → LAFHA IN
3. Confidence:
   - <=60 min: 95%
   - 61–75 min: 85%
   - 76–105 min: 60% (auto-flag)
   - >105 min: 90%

**Source of truth:** Google Maps drive time at time of decision; cite the timestamp + the route in the assumptions log. Re-derive if traffic conditions or programme details change.

**Worked example:** Botany → Erskine Park (postcode 2759) = 47 min one-way → LAFHA OUT @ 95% confidence. Botany → Wollongong North Beach (postcode 2500) = ~95 min one-way → flag-for-Rocky (borderline). Botany → Munmorah (postcode 2259) = ~110 min one-way → LAFHA IN @ 90% confidence.

**Override:** Rocky's per-bid input wins. If Rocky says "LAFHA IN" on a 47 min commute (e.g. crew preference, accommodation already paid), respect and log the override reason.

---

### 13.2 (Reserved — site-exposure-via-postcode-and-tide-line)

To be drafted from 2630 lessons. Pattern: postcode coastal-zone classification + drawing review for above-tide-line vs immersion. Until codified, route to priority chain step 5 (web research) + step 6 (educated assumption with confidence). Flag-for-Rocky any "above-tide-line marine-coastal vs tidal" ambiguity.

---

### 13.3 (Reserved — adverse-weather-via-site-type-and-programme-length)

To be drafted from 2630 + 2629 patterns. Pattern: site type (open-deck bridge vs enclosed-pour vs trafficable-slab) + programme length + season. Until codified: default = exclude as variation per 2629 #37 (90% confidence on dry-weather sites <8 weeks); include 1 day per fortnight for outdoor sites >8 weeks (60% confidence — flag-for-Rocky).

---

**Adding new rules:** when a pattern becomes deterministic across ≥3 bids, codify it here with the same shape (inputs / rule / confidence / worked example / override). New rule additions = §1.5 sync trigger in pricer CLAUDE.md.

---

### 13.4 design-maturity-contingency-uplift (applied 2026-05-10 from PR-001, n=4)

**Question answered:** labour + materials contingency % when drawings are pre-IFC.

**Inputs:** `drawing_status` ∈ {IFC, IFR, "Issued for Review", IFI, "Issued for Information", "rev D pre-IFC", "90% Design", "60% Concept"}.

**Rule:**

| drawing_status | labour_cont | materials_cont | confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFC | 10% | 10% | 95% |
| IFR / IFI / rev D pre-IFC | 15% | 15% | 80% |
| 90% Design | 12% | 12% | 80% |
| 60% Concept | 15% | 15% | 75% |

**Default:** applied symmetrically to labour AND materials contingency (mirror — never split asymmetrically without Rocky-confirmed override).

**Override:** per-job in intake gate Q-A4 / Q-A5.

**Source:** PR-2026-05-10-001. Evidence: 2602 IFI rev D / 2627 Airey rev D / 2629 90% Design / 2630 IFI. Lesson `lesson-2026-05-08-margin-contingency.md:34`. Session-d58cec3f-2627 lines 54-78 (manual lock + materials interpretation in parallel).

**Note:** removes the "flagged for sanity-check re-confirmation" friction. Materials cont mirroring labour cont was orchestrator-interpreted in session-d58cec3f; codifying makes it deterministic.

---

### 13.13 defensible-for-variations-posture-via-drawing-status (applied 2026-05-10 from PR-002, n=4)

**Question answered:** Q-F1 commercial posture (defensible-for-variations vs aggressive-to-win).

**Inputs:** `drawing_status` (same enum as §13.4).

**Rule:**

| drawing_status | posture | additional_uplift_over_§13.4 | confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFI / IFR / Issued for Review / 60% Concept / 90% Design | defensible-for-variations | +5% (i.e. labour + materials cont = 15% locked, mirror §13.4) | 95% |
| IFC | defensible-for-variations | 0% (standard 10% cont) | 95% |

**Override:** aggressive-to-win remains per-job override.

**Source:** PR-2026-05-10-002. Evidence: 2602 grill Q-F1 line 188; 2627 Airey grill Q-F1 line 162; 2629 grill line 109; 2630 grill Q-F1 line 130.

**Note:** defensible-for-variations is the LFCS default posture across all drawing statuses. What changes with pre-IFC = the contingency uplift paired in §13.4. This rule pins down "defensible defaults whenever pre-IFC" explicitly so orchestrator stops asking Q-F1 on every bid where drawings are rev-D or earlier.

---

### 13.14 TCE-labour-rate-blended-$85 (applied 2026-05-10 from PR-004, n=2 confirmed-distinct + 1 separate site-card precedent)

**Question answered:** default labour rate for TCE Contracting bids — overrides §1.5 default of $95/hr blended.

**Inputs:**
- `hc_name` matches "TCE Contracting" OR aliases ["TCE", "Tony Concrete Engineering", "TCE 242"]
- `site_specific_rate_card_exists`: bool (check `H:\.shortcut-targets-by-id\1UsAQNHgD_9EuPhkz2XcZJpIcHW-55sKK\Rate Card\` for site-specific V1.7+ PDF matching `LFCS Rate Card V1.7 - TCE Contracting PTY LTD {site}*.pdf`)

**Rule:**

| Condition | Labour rate | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| HC = TCE AND site-specific V1.7+ card exists | pull from site-specific card | 95% |
| HC = TCE AND no site-specific card | $85/hr blended | 90% |
| HC ≠ TCE | $95/hr blended (per §1.5) | defer-to-§1.5 |

**Override:** per-job in intake gate Q-3 (Rocky may override based on crew composition or programme intensity).

**Source:** PR-2026-05-10-004. Evidence: TCE Liverpool (contract $113,269.20 + VAR-01 $18,700) and TCE Livingstone (separate distinct job per Rocky 2026-05-10 — both use $85/hr) both at TCE V1.4 rate card. TCE Easter Creek uses site-specific V1.7 Eastern Creek card. TCE Light Horse Park (Moorebank) at TCE V1.4. Rate cards visible at Drive `Rate Card/` folder.

**Note:** TCE has demonstrated willingness to negotiate per-end-client + per-site rate cards distinct from V1.4 general. Always check Rate Card/ for a site-specific V1.7+ BEFORE defaulting to $85/hr. Never default to §1.5 $95/hr for TCE bids.

**Cross-reference §1.5:** §1.5 default $95/hr applies to non-TCE HCs. TCE bids use this rule (§13.14) instead.