Contemplated change notice (CCN)
Also: Proposed change notice, Change request, Request for quotation
Quick definition: A written request from the consultant or owner asking the contractor to price a proposed change before it is approved; it does not authorize the contractor to do the work.
Explanation
Beginner explanation
Before deciding on a change, the owner wants to know what it will cost. A CCN describes the change and asks the contractor for a quote. Nothing is built until a change order or other written authorization follows.
Technical explanation
CCNs (sometimes called proposed change notices or requests for quotation) start the priced change process. The contractor returns a quotation within the time stated, often with subcontractor pricing and schedule impact. If accepted, the change is authorized by a Change order; if urgent, by a Change directive. Public owners formalize the step: Public Services and Procurement Canada's form 611 states that no work should be undertaken until a change order or written authorization is signed, and Alberta Infrastructure's change process routes a change request, then a CCN for pricing, then a change authorization. CCN logs are a key tool for forecasting cost growth.
Practical example
The owner is considering adding a back-up generator connection. The consultant issues CCN-034 with a sketch; the contractor returns a quote of $27,500 and three days. The owner accepts, and the change is issued as Change Order 9.
Why it matters
Pricing before committing gives owners cost control; proceeding on a CCN alone is a common cause of unpaid-extras disputes.
Common confusion
A CCN is a request for price; a Change order is the agreed amendment; a Change directive orders work before price is agreed.
Standards and references
- Contemplated change notice (PWGSC-TPSGC 611). Public Services and Procurement Canada.Widely accepted professional interpretation
Supports: CCN purpose: notifies contractor of proposed change and requests firm price within stated days; no work until change order or written authorization - Construction management change process flowchart. Government of Alberta (Infrastructure), 2024.Widely accepted professional interpretation
Supports: Change request → CCN for pricing → change authorization process (Alberta Infrastructure)
VDC Stack.io writes its own explanations and does not reproduce copyrighted standards text. Consult the cited standard for normative wording.
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VDC Stack.io. (2026). Contemplated change notice (CCN). In VDC Stack.io Knowledge Dictionary. Retrieved from https://vdcstack.io/dictionary/contemplated-change-notice/