---
title: "Contractor asks supervisor to prepare running bill"
subject: "Engineering Professional Practice"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_8/engineering_professional_practice:contractor-running-bill-bribe"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/contractor-running-bill-bribe
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Contractor asks supervisor to prepare running bill

Engineering Professional Practice · Chapter 7: Case Studies based on Engineering Practices

- Asked in: year not given
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/contractor-running-bill-bribe
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/chapter-7

## Question

In a construction project for which you are the consultant's supervising engineer, the contractor requests you for preparing his running bill of works done, and assuring you to pay a handsome amount for your work, as his engineer recently quit the job. How should you respond? Explain your arguments. Write five most important rule of conduct for a professional engineer considering code of ethics prevalent in Nepal.

## Short answer

Refuse politely. Preparing and then certifying the same bill creates a conflict of interest, and the offered payment is effectively a bribe under Nepali law and the engineering code. Tell the contractor to use his own engineer, explain the billing procedure, and report the offer to your superior. Core conduct rules: public safety, competence, honesty, avoiding conflicts, and obeying the law.

## Answer

#### Response to the contractor

I should politely but firmly refuse.

**Arguments**

1. **Conflict of interest.** As supervising engineer of the consultant, I check and certify the contractor's bill for the client. If I prepare the bill and then also check it, I would be judging my own work, so there is no independent check, and the client's interest is not protected.
2. **Payment is improper.** A "handsome amount" paid secretly by the contractor to the person who certifies his bills is, in substance, a bribe or at least an undisclosed benefit. It would compromise my honesty and independence. The Prevention of Corruption Act 2059 makes such payments offences, and the Nepal Engineering Council code forbids accepting payment from the other party for the same work.
3. **Duty to my employer and the client.** My time and services belong to the consulting firm, which is paid by the client. Doing private work for the contractor without permission is a breach of loyalty.
4. **Risk of overbilling.** I could be accused of inflating quantities and being part of fraud.

**What I may do**

- Tell the contractor to prepare the bill with his own staff or to hire another engineer.
- Explain without charge the measurement and billing procedure, the format and the documents required by the contract, which is part of normal supervision and is available equally to all.
- Do joint measurement as per contract and check the bill honestly.
- Report the offer to my superior, since it was an attempt to influence me.

#### Five important rules of conduct (Nepal Engineering Council code of conduct)

1. **Public safety first:** hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and protect the environment.
2. **Competence:** undertake only work for which one is qualified by education and experience, and keep professional skills up to date.
3. **Honesty and integrity:** be truthful in reports, estimates and statements; do not take part in bribery, fraud or false certification, nor accept any commission.
4. **Faithful agent, avoid conflict of interest:** act for the employer or client faithfully and in confidence; disclose any conflict, and do not accept payment from more than one party for the same service without all parties' consent.
5. **Professional respect and law:** obey the laws of Nepal and the Council's rules, maintain the dignity of the profession, and give fair credit to others, without unfair injury to their professional reputation.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Why should the supervising engineer refuse to prepare the contractor's running bill?
   A. Billing is not covered by the engineer's qualifications
   B. He would be checking and certifying a bill he prepared himself, so there is no independent check for the client
   C. The contractor's previous engineer must finish it
   D. Running bills can only be prepared by the client
   Answer: B. The supervising engineer certifies the bill for the client. Preparing it as well means judging his own work, which leaves the client unprotected. (Key point: Conflict of interest)

2. How should the 'handsome amount' offered secretly by the contractor be viewed?
   A. Legitimate consultancy fee if the work is done after office hours
   B. An acceptable gift if it is small
   C. A bribe or undisclosed benefit that compromises honesty and independence
   D. A normal bonus for fast service
   Answer: C. A secret payment from the party whose bills one certifies is in substance a bribe, and the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Council code forbid it. (Key point: Nature of the payment)

3. Which action is acceptable for the engineer to do in this situation?
   A. Prepare the bill if the contractor pays the consultant firm
   B. Quietly advise the contractor on how to inflate quantities
   C. Hide the offer to avoid trouble
   D. Explain the measurement and billing procedure and required documents equally available to all, and report the offer to his superior
   Answer: D. Explaining procedure is part of normal supervision. Reporting the offer is needed because it was an attempt to influence him. (Key point: Permissible help)

4. Which code-of-conduct rule says one must not accept payment from more than one party for the same service without all parties' consent?
   A. Faithful agent and avoiding conflict of interest
   B. Competence
   C. Public safety first
   D. Professional respect and law
   Answer: A. Acting faithfully for the employer or client and disclosing conflicts covers the ban on being paid by more than one party for the same service. (Key point: Faithful agent rule)

## Related in Engineering Professional Practice

- [Unpaid sub-contractor beaten by labourers](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Asubcontractor-unpaid-labour-case) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 7
- [Engineer's relation with client, contractor, fellows](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Aengineer-relation-client-contractor) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 3
- [Engineer opens confidential salary file](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Aconfidential-salary-file-conduct) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 7
- [Contractor friend's dinner and guesthouse offer](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Afriend-dinner-guesthouse-ethics) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 7
- [Site engineer uses weaker mortar and concrete mix](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Amortar-ratio-friend-silence) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 7
- [Consultant's friend supplies material; community objects](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Aconsultant-friend-supplier-quit) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 7

## Related in other subjects

- [Record keeping and supervising contractor work](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Arecord-keeping-supervising) — Construction Management, chapter 8
- [Consultant and quality of construction works](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aconsultant-role-quality) — Construction Management, chapter 1
- [Client, consultant and contractor relationship](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aclient-consultant-contractor-relation) — Construction Management, chapter 1, asked 6×
- [Two roles each of client, consultant, contractor](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aroles-client-consultant-contractor) — Construction Management, chapter 1