The four terms
- NIC. Not in contract. The item is shown for reference. It is not part of this construction contract.
- OFCI. Owner furnished, contractor installed. The owner buys it. The contractor receives it and installs it.
- OFOI. Owner furnished, owner installed. The owner buys it and installs it, often after the building is done.
- By others. Someone other than the reader does the work. The note often does not say who.
Related terms follow the same pattern. CFCI means contractor furnished, contractor installed. That is the normal case. CFOI means contractor furnished, owner installed. Check the abbreviation list on the general notes sheet for each job.
Why these notes matter in a bid
Each note moves cost. An OFCI item removes the material from your price. It leaves the labor in your price. An OFOI or NIC item can remove the whole line. It can also leave work behind, such as blocking, backing, power or anchors that the building must provide.
The trouble with by others
By others depends on who is reading. On an architectural sheet it can mean another trade under the same general contractor. It can also mean the owner's separate vendor. If the note sits on an item in your spec section, do not guess. Ask who supplies it and who installs it.
What to check for an OFCI item
- Who unloads it and stores it.
- Who inspects it for damage on delivery.
- Who supplies anchors, fasteners and accessories.
- Who makes the final connections.
- Who carries the warranty for the installation.
Where the notes hide
Look in equipment schedules, keynotes, plan notes and the remarks column of any schedule. Look in the summary of work in Division 01. An addendum can add one of these notes to a single item, such as a scoreboard. The spec and the drawings can disagree about the same item.
Takeoff Tool flags items marked by others or owner furnished. Each flag links to the sheet or spec text it came from.
Bid documents · Updated 11 Nov 2026