---
proposal_id: PR-2026-05-10-004
title: Add §13.X TCE-labour-rate-blended-$85-not-$95 (NEW finding from Hus's vault ingestion)
target_file: Codebase/lfcs-orchestrator/standards/standing-context.md
section: §13 (auto-decision rules library); also impacts §1.5 default labour rate
authored_by: claude-code-orchestrator (surfaced by lfo-precedent-import 2026-05-10 batch 4)
created: 2026-05-10
status: proposed-pending-Rocky-review
priority: HIGH (cross-cuts every TCE bid — TCE is top-tier HC)
risk_if_wrong_aud: 10-12% labour over-pricing on TCE bids ($30-50k/bid)
evidence_n: 3 TCE jobs (Liverpool / Livingstone / Light Horse Park) + Hus's `08 - Rates/FRP Rates Development.md` rate cards
---

# Proposed change — §13.X TCE-labour-rate-$85 (NEW)

## Surfaced finding

The `lfo-precedent-import` batch 4 sub-agent found that **TCE jobs use $85/hr blended labour rate, not the standing-context §1.5 default of $95/hr blended**.

Evidence from Hus's vault:
- TCE Liverpool: contract $113,269.20 + VAR-01 $18,700; rate card V1.4
- TCE Livingstone (possibly same project as Liverpool — naming ambiguity flagged): stormwater pit $10,770/pit @ $85/hr; lightpole footing 1.8×1.8 = $3,128/each @ $85/hr
- TCE Easter Creek: site-specific rate card V1.7 Eastern Creek (different from V1.4 default — TCE willing to negotiate per-end-client cards)
- TCE Light Horse Park (Moorebank): rate card V1.4

LFCS Drive `Rate Card/` folder confirms multiple TCE-specific rate cards in V1.4-V1.7 series. Latest TCE = `LFCS Rate Card V1.7 - TCE Contracting PTY LTD Eastern Creek` (April 2026).

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

```yaml
§13.X TCE-labour-rate-blended-$85:
  question: "default labour rate for TCE Contracting bids (override §1.5 default $95/hr)"
  inputs:
    hc_name: "TCE Contracting" OR aliases ["TCE", "Tony Concrete Engineering", "TCE 242"]
    site_specific_rate_card_exists: bool (check Rate Card folder for site-specific V1.7+)
  logic:
    if hc_name matches TCE AND site_specific_card_exists:
      labour_rate_aud_per_hr: <pull from site-specific card>
      confidence: 95
    elif hc_name matches TCE AND no site_specific_card:
      labour_rate_aud_per_hr: 85
      confidence: 90
    else:
      labour_rate_aud_per_hr: 95  # standing-context §1.5 default
      confidence: defer-to-§1.5
  source_evidence: TCE Liverpool / Livingstone / Light Horse Park / Easter Creek
  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.
```

## Apply

1. Insert as new §13 rule (next available number)
2. Cross-reference from §1.5 — note that TCE bids use §13.X-TCE-labour-rate, not §1.5 default
3. Update `lfo-precedent-finder` similarity scoring — when query is "labour rate" and HC = TCE, return §13.X precedent first

## Open question for Rocky

**Verify:** is "TCE Liverpool" the same project as "TCE Livingstone" (folder naming inconsistency in Hus's vault), or two distinct TCE jobs? The pit pricing data ($10,770/stormwater pit, $16,830/culvert pit, $3,128/lightpole footing) is filed under "TCE Livingstone" but Rocky verbally referenced "TCE Liverpool". Resolution needed before treating data as Liverpool-specific precedent.

## Risk if wrong

10-12% labour over-pricing on every TCE bid pre-codification = $30-50k/bid lost competitiveness.