---
proposal_id: PR-2026-05-10-002
title: Add §13.13 defensible-for-variations posture defaults whenever drawings are pre-IFC
target_file: Codebase/lfcs-orchestrator/standards/standing-context.md
section: §13 (auto-decision rules library)
authored_by: claude-code-orchestrator
created: 2026-05-10
status: proposed-pending-Rocky-review
priority: HIGHEST (top-3 leverage)
risk_if_wrong_aud: 5-10% under-loaded margin on pre-IFC bids = $20-100k
evidence_n: 4 (2602/2627/2629/2630 grill Q-F1)
paired_with: PR-2026-05-10-001 (§13.4 — they're complementary)
---

# Proposed change — §13.13 defensible-for-variations posture defaults whenever pre-IFC

## Add this block to `standing-context.md` §13

```yaml
§13.13 defensible-for-variations-posture-via-drawing-status:
  question: "Q-F1 commercial posture (defensible-for-variations vs aggressive-to-win)"
  inputs:
    drawing_status: enum [IFC, IFR, "Issued for Review", IFI, "Issued for Information", "60% Concept", "90% Design"]
  logic:
    drawing_status in [IFI, IFR, "Issued for Review", "60% Concept", "90% Design"]:
      posture: defensible-for-variations
      additional_uplift_over_§13.4: +5%  # i.e. labour + materials cont = 15% locked (mirror §13.4)
      confidence: 95
    drawing_status == IFC:
      posture: defensible-for-variations  # default still
      additional_uplift_over_§13.4: 0%   # standard 10% cont
      confidence: 95
  override: aggressive-to-win remains per-job override
  note: |
    Defensible-for-variations is the LFCS default posture across all drawing statuses
    (per standing-context §1.7). 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.
```

## Evidence

- 2602 grill Q-F1 line 188: "drawings stamped IFI + 5 month material gap → variations guaranteed → defensible"
- 2627 Airey grill Q-F1 line 162: "drawings rev D pre-IFC justifies pre-IFC posture"
- 2629 grill line 109: "Drawings are 90% Design — NOT IFC. Drift to 100% IFC = guaranteed variation territory"
- 2630 grill Q-F1 line 130

## Apply

Insert as new §13.13. Pairs with §13.4 (PR-2026-05-10-001) — they handle different aspects of the same trigger (pre-IFC) so should be applied together.

Touchpoint reduction: collapses Q-F1 prompt with Q-A4/A5 prompts (paired with §13.4) — net −1-2 touchpoints per pre-IFC bid.