Opening snapshot: one line on your underground project

• In one sentence, describe the underground scope you need external services for, including development meters and target tonnes per month.
• What is your current monthly target for development meters and your target ore tonnes per month? Options: Development < 500 m / Tonnes < 10k, Development 500–1,500 m / Tonnes 10k–30k, Development 1,500–3,000 m / Tonnes 30k–60k, Development > 3,000 m / Tonnes > 60k, Prefer to describe in free text
• How predictable has your advance rate been over the last six months and what typically causes the largest slowdowns? Options: Geology surprises, Ventilation limits, Equipment failures, Crew availability, Contractor coordination, Other
• Which mining method are you planning to use for this scope and what fleet do you foresee needing (drills, LHDs, shotcrete rigs, raise bore)? Options: Longhole open stoping, Sublevel stoping, Cut and fill, Decline development only, Combination / Other
• Who will be the operational signoff for scope changes and who will be the day to day contact for contractor coordination? Options: Mine Manager, Underground Superintendent, Project Manager, Operations Planner, Other - please specify

Where the operation really stands today

• If you had to pick one operational blind spot that has caused the most unplanned downtime, what would it be and why?
• How often do unplanned ground condition delays force you to slow or halt development in a typical month? Options: Never, Once a month, 2–4 times per month, Weekly or more
• What contingency plan do you currently have for unexpected ground deterioration and who manages its execution on site? Options: Rapid ground support response team, Stop and replan with owner teams, Bring in specialist contractor on call, No formal contingency
• Tell me about the last time ventilation limits reduced available crew hours, what happened and how did you resolve it?
• Which single site risk would make you stop allowing external crews underground immediately? Options: Uncontrolled ground fall, Ventilation failure, Major injury or fatality, Regulatory enforcement action, Security breach

Scope and deliverables, stated so no one has different expectations

• When deliverables are disputed, what tends to be the sticking point between you and contractors? Options: Metres versus quality, Acceptance criteria clarity, Ground support scope, Ventilation verification, Crew competency evidence
• Estimate the measurable acceptance criteria you need for the first contract milestone, for development meters, tonnes, and safety performance. Options: Provide numeric targets in free text
• List the items that must be explicitly out of scope to avoid scope creep on this engagement.
• Who on your team will perform day to day acceptance checks underground and be available for rapid decisions? Options: Underground Superintendent, Project Engineer, Safety Officer, Mine Planner, Other
• If the contractor misses the initial production ramp target by 20 percent, what contractual or operational action would you expect to take? Options: Trigger corrective action plan, Withhold part of payment, Extend ramp with revised milestones, Terminate contract

Ground control and ventilation risks that can stop work

• Why do you believe your current ground support plan will hold for the intended development, and what evidence would prove it insufficient?
• Describe the severity of the most common geological surprises you encounter and how much delay they typically add to timelines. Options: Minor, <2 days, Moderate, 2–7 days, Severe, >7 days, Variable, depends on zone
• Identify the ventilation integration points or air quality milestones that must be validated before heavy mobile equipment is commissioned underground.
• Tell me about the last ground control failure on site and the operational consequences it created for production or safety.
• Name a safety or regulatory finding that would immediately revoke contractor access to your underground workings. Options: Unapproved blasting procedures, Inadequate ventilation certification, Missing critical rescue competencies, Non compliant equipment electrical standard

Who moves the levers: approvals, objections, and enforcement

• Map the three roles that must approve mobilization and describe the primary risk or concern each role cares about most.
• In practice, how quickly do operations and procurement align on contractor safety documentation and insurance acceptance? Options: Same week, 2–4 weeks, 1–2 months, Longer than 2 months
• Identify the internal stakeholder who most often objects to external crews on safety grounds and what evidence usually satisfies them.
• Provide the single piece of proof or metric that would convert a hesitant senior executive into approving an external contractor this month. Options: Prior project KPIs showing similar geology, Third party safety audit report, Financial model showing net benefit, Short pilot with defined KPIs

What else you are considering: the alternatives on the table

• List the alternatives you are evaluating right now, including incumbent providers, equipment purchases, or doing the work internally, and why each is appealing. Options: Continue with incumbent, Recruit internal crews, Purchase additional fleet, Short term hire contractors, Other
• Describe the specific performance thresholds or outcomes that would have to be met for you to stay with your current provider instead of switching.
• Are any internal teams actively proposing to build this capability in house, and if so what timeline and high level cost have they estimated? Options: Yes - <6 months, Yes - 6–12 months, Yes - >12 months, No internal proposal
• Specify the minimum evidence of relevant mining method experience you require from bidders, for example years, project types, or references. Options: 3+ years on method, 5+ years on method, Relevant reference project required, Specific equipment experience required
• Name the one alternative on your list that, if it became viable next week, would stop this procurement.

Operational readiness: the non negotiables before we mobilize

• Do you currently hold all required site access approvals, permits, and crew certifications that would allow contractor crews to mobilize within your target window? Options: Yes, everything in place, Mostly, minor items remaining, Significant permits or certs missing, Unsure
• Provide the owner in your organization and the estimated completion date for each outstanding permit, access approval, or certification. Options: Please list owners and dates in free text
• Please itemize the ventilation systems, portal access points, and electrical supply interfaces that require integration testing before any equipment can be commissioned.
• Select the outcome you would choose if a critical readiness item failed close to the planned mobilization date. Options: Delay mobilization, Proceed with mitigation plan, Allow limited scope start, Cancel deployment

Acceptance criteria and the measures that prove success

• Assuming the pilot meets production numbers but misses safety targets, what decision would you make about moving to full deployment? Options: Proceed and fix safety in parallel, Pause until safety targets met, Extend pilot with focused safety improvements, Do not proceed
• Estimate the KPIs you require for the first 90 days, including development metres, ore tonnes, safety incidents per 200,000 hours, and equipment availability. Options: Enter numeric targets in free text
• A short list: rank these acceptance metrics by priority for handover, from highest to lowest — development metres, tonnes delivered, ground support installed to spec, ventilation validated, crew competency certificates. Options: Drag to reorder in UI
• Outline how payments and liquidated damages should link to the acceptance metrics in your preferred commercial structure. Options: Milestone payments tied to metres/tonnes, Holdbacks for safety or QA, Performance bond, Time and materials with KPIs
• Would a time limited ramp plan with measured checkpoints be acceptable to move from pilot to full delivery, and if so what checkpoint cadence do you prefer? Options: Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly, Milestone based

Commercial timing and next steps that accelerate a decision

• State the mobilization date you must hit to avoid impacting the wider project schedule and identify who enforces that deadline.
• Among insurance limits, liability allocations, and mobilization notice periods, which contractual term would most likely stop progress if not acceptable? Options: Insurance limits, Liability allocations, Mobilization notice period, Payment terms
• Do you require vendor prequalification, financial guarantees, or bonds before contract award, and if so what level or type? Options: Prequalification only, Performance bond required, Parent company guarantee, Bank guarantee, None required
• Explain the immediate contractual remedy you would expect if the first 30 days miss expected throughput by more than 25 percent. Options: Corrective action plan with new KPIs, Financial penalties, Suspension of works, Termination rights
• Realistically, how soon after a successful discovery call could your team make a decision to proceed to commercial terms? Options: Immediately, Within 1–2 weeks, 2–4 weeks, Longer than 4 weeks

• Execution & Safety Walkthrough

• Confirm the current state and its cost
• You confirm that the proposed execution plan addresses the schedule and safety uncertainties described in the current state.
• Deliver a mobilization-ready execution package including equipment list, mining method sequence, ventilation tie-in diagrams, ground-support design inputs, safety controls, measurable acceptance criteria, named owners, and a milestone schedule.
• Provide the latest site drawings, ventilation maps, recent geotechnical logs, and a list of operational constraints or shared-operations interfaces.
• Agree execution objectives and measurable acceptance criteria
• You accept the measurable acceptance criteria and mobilization prerequisites as sufficient to proceed to detailed execution planning.
• Walk through the mining method and equipment plan in your layouts
• You agree on the remaining evidence and deliverables required before mutual commit.
• Hold a follow-up session to review the detailed execution package and confirm readiness milestones for mobilization.
• Demonstrate ventilation tie-ins and ground-support integration
• Review safety controls, inductions, and emergency integration
• Validate the plan with you

• Execution & Safety Walkthrough
• Execution & Safety Walkthrough Deck
• Execution & Safety Solution Brief

• meeting
• slides
• document

• Decline Development Drilling and Blasting
• Sublevel Development Excavation
• Longhole Stoping Drilling and Blasting
• Cut-and-Fill Stoping Excavation and Mucking
• Raiseboring Pilot Hole and Reaming
• Paste Backfill Mixing and Placement
• Rockbolt and Mesh Ground Support Installation
• Shotcrete Application and Curing
• Ventilation System Installation and Balancing
• Underground Dewatering and Water Management
• LHD Mucking and Haulage
• Mobile Fleet Operation and Maintenance
• Explosive Handling and Charge Loading
• Underground Utilities and Infrastructure Installation

Decline Development Drilling and Blasting

• How many development metres are required for the decline and across which levels or benches (provide metre ranges)? Options: Less than 100 m, 100-500 m, 500-2,000 m, More than 2,000 m
• Which drill pattern and ring design should be used for the decline (e.g., ring length, subdrill, collar spacing)?
• Describe the expected mucking and spoil handling footprint for each blast (tonnes per blast, LHD cycles, dump location constraints).
• Specify any environmental constraints for blasting you must meet (maximum vibration mm/s, air overpressure dB, allowed blasting windows). Options: No special constraints (standard mine limits), Vibration limit specified - will provide threshold, Time-of-day blasting windows required, Other - describe
• List the acceptance criteria that will confirm a delivered metre of decline (for example trimmed profile tolerance, installed bolting pattern, shotcrete thickness, QA documentation required).

Sublevel Development Excavation

• Outline the planned sublevel spacing and horizon elevations for the development (metres and level names).
• Identify the excavation advance rate you require for scheduling (metres per shift and metres per week). Options: <1 m/shift, 1-3 m/shift, 3-6 m/shift, >6 m/shift
• Enumerate the ground-support deliverables for sublevels by ground class (rockbolt type and pattern, mesh, cable bolts, shotcrete where required).
• Confirm whether raiseboring or conventional sinking is required for any verticals intersecting the sublevel and provide locations. Options: Raiseboring required - locations provided, Conventional sinking required - locations provided, No verticals required
• State who will supply the geological mapping and the face stability log after each shift (role or document owner). Options: Your site geologist, We provide geotechnical engineer, Shared responsibility

Longhole Stoping Drilling and Blasting

• Indicate the planned stope panel dimensions and ring orientation (length, width, height in metres) for longhole stoping.
• Specify the production longhole drilling pattern, hole diameter and stemming requirements for the panels.
• Outline the charging and initiation system to be used on longholes and note any on-site magazine or handling constraints. Options: Bulk emulsion, Cartridge explosives, ANFO, Custom - describe
• Estimate expected mucking tonnage per stope and the LHD fleet capacity (bucket sizes and number of units) required to support planned cycles. Options: <500 t/stope, 500-2,000 t/stope, 2,000-10,000 t/stope, >10,000 t/stope
• Identify the blast vibration or fragmentation acceptance thresholds to apply from your vibration monitoring plan or site standard.

Cut-and-Fill Stoping Excavation and Mucking

• State the target cut height and the intended fill cycle (for example 1.5 m lifts with fill after every X lifts).
• Explain paste or cemented fill reception requirements for each stope (placement points, access lifts and required rates).
• Describe mucking access constraints and haulage arrangements (decline availability, dump location, shift windows) that will affect cycles.
• Confirm whether you require compaction testing or staged curing verification of backfill before re-entry and specify method if required. Options: Yes - compaction tests, Yes - cure-time only, No verification required
• Designate who is responsible for maintaining drawpoints and access headings during cut-and-fill cycles (role owner). Options: Your site team, We maintain, Shared responsibility

Raiseboring Pilot Hole and Reaming

• Give the intended raise diameter(s) and final reaming sizes in millimetres for each planned raise.
• Describe expected ground conditions in the raise path including known geological features and any predicted water inflows.
• Specify starting and receiving chamber locations by level and mine grid coordinates so survey integration can be planned.
• Indicate the required tolerance on concentricity and final diameter for reamed raises (for example ± mm). Options: Standard tolerance ±25 mm, Custom tolerance - specify
• Name who will certify raise alignment and final diameter on completion (site surveyor, third party or contractor). Options: Your surveyor, We provide surveyor, Third-party certifier

Paste Backfill Mixing and Placement

• State the paste backfill mix design target and solids content (%) required for placement and long-term support.
• Indicate target placement rates in cubic metres per hour and m3 per stope for scheduling and pumping capacity. Options: <10 m3/hr, 10-50 m3/hr, 50-200 m3/hr, >200 m3/hr
• List placement points and access routes for paste delivery to each stope or drawpoint (level and location names).
• Describe required testing frequency for fresh and cured paste (for example slump tests, 7/28 day unconfined compressive strength samples) and acceptable thresholds. Options: Daily slump, weekly UCS, Per-stope testing, Custom schedule - specify
• Assign who will manage cured-paste sampling and reporting (role or organisation). Options: Your QA/QC, We manage sampling, Third-party lab

Rockbolt and Mesh Ground Support Installation

• Describe required rockbolt types, lengths and installation patterns by ground class (for example 4.2 m mechanical bolts at 2.4 m x 2.4 m).
• Specify mesh type, anchorage method and overlap requirements for each face or heading location.
• Provide expected installation rates (bolts per shift, mesh m2 per shift) to assist in crew sizing and schedule planning. Options: Bolts: <50/shift, 50-150/shift, >150/shift
• Identify inspection and QA steps required after ground-support installation (for example torque checks, pull tests, as-installed drawings). Options: Torque checks, Pull tests, Visual inspection only, Other - specify
• Indicate who will sign off completed ground-support installs on the ground-support drawing and supply the as-built documentation. Options: Your geotechnical engineer, We provide sign-off, Joint sign-off

Shotcrete Application and Curing

• Specify shotcrete thickness by location and whether fibre reinforcement, rebar meshes or steel sets are required.
• List required fresh-mix properties and batch documentation to be supplied with each delivery (slump, accelerator type, batch ticket fields).
• Indicate the curing method and minimum cure time required before loading or bolting (hours or days) for each location. Options: 48 hours, 72 hours, Custom - specify
• Which measurable acceptance criteria will validate shotcrete work (for example layer thickness tolerance, pull-off adhesion test, 28-day compressive strength target)?
• State who will perform thickness surveys and produce the as-applied shotcrete report (role or third party). Options: Your QA, We provide QA, Third-party lab

Ventilation System Installation and Balancing

• Provide the ventilation design targets: required airflow per working area in cubic metres per second and any differential pressure requirements.
• Indicate the fan types, duty points and any required integration points with existing main fans or surface installations. Options: Auxiliary fans, Booster fans, Integration with main fans, Custom - specify
• List ducts, regulators and bulkhead locations to be installed with level references and drawing numbers where available.
• How will you verify ventilation acceptance in the mine (for example pitot traverse to confirm X m3/s, tracer gas dispersion test or logger sampling)?
• Specify required ventilation certification or competence for crew members who will balance and maintain the system (training title and expiry). Options: Standard mine ventilation training, Specialised ventilation certificate, Custom - specify

Underground Dewatering and Water Management

• Describe expected groundwater or inflow rates for the working areas in litres per minute and maximum sump capacity required.
• Identify pump types, duty points and redundancy required for each portal and working area to meet inflow rates. Options: Submersible pumps, Centrifugal pumps, Diesel-driven pumps, Other - specify
• List permitted discharge points and any water-treatment limits or consent conditions (for example max suspended solids, pH range).
• When must dewatering be operational relative to mobilization (days before start of underground works)? Options: Operational on day 0, 3 days prior, 7 days prior, Other - specify
• Assign who will monitor and report water levels and discharge compliance during operations (role or contact). Options: Your environmental officer, We provide monitoring, Third-party monitoring

LHD Mucking and Haulage

• State the LHD bucket sizes and the number of units required to achieve expected muck tonnages. Options: <2.0 m3 buckets, 2.0-4.0 m3 buckets, >4.0 m3 buckets
• Describe ramp gradients, clearance envelopes and turnaround requirements that will affect LHD cycle times.
• Estimate target cycle time per run and tonnes per hour for each heading to support production scheduling.
• Specify maintenance window requirements and on-shift service capacity for the mobile fleet working with LHDs. Options: Standard shift maintenance, Dedicated service crew on-site, Full-time on-shift mechanic
• Indicate who will provide fuel, lubricants and consumables for LHD operations (site or contractor supply). Options: Your site supplies, We supply, Split by item

Mobile Fleet Operation and Maintenance

• State the planned preventive maintenance schedule for mobile units (hours or shifts between services).
• Identify spare parts and critical spares to be stocked on site with minimum quantities per item or per class.
• List required mobile equipment certifications and operator competencies for the fleet (training names and expiry where applicable). Options: Standard underground operator ticket, Specialised equipment training, Third-party certs required
• Provide expected mean time to repair (MTTR) targets for major components to maintain fleet availability. Options: <4 hours, 4-12 hours, >12 hours
• Assign who will manage warranty claims and maintenance records for the fleet (role or contact). Options: Your fleet admin, We manage, Joint records

• Master Services Agreement (MSA)
• Statement of Work (SOW)
• Mobilization Schedule & Acceptance
• Insurance & Liability Addendum
• Commercial Terms & Payment Schedule
• Performance Guarantee & KPIs
• Equipment & Fleet Acceptance Protocol
• HSE & Operational Integration Addendum
• Change Order Agreement
• Performance Security / Bonds
• Termination & Exit Schedule
• Environmental Permits & Regulatory Compliance Addendum

• Go-live Health Check (weeks 1-4)
• First Operational Measurement (weeks 4-10)
• Acceptance Gate Review (around day 90)
• Quarterly Success Review

• Close or reassign outstanding issues in the shared incident and improvements channel with target close dates.
• Log and assign safety corrective actions arising from the period's incidents with target close dates.
• Restate acceptance criteria and numeric targets from Solution Scope
• Produce a documented pass or fail decision for each acceptance criterion in Solution Scope.
• Capture the formal acceptance decision with the required signatory or buying owner confirmation for the engagement type.
• Define remediation tasks with deadlines for any unmet criteria so closure is unambiguous.
• Publish the acceptance decision record with outcome per criterion and signatory details.
• Open remediation tasks for failed criteria with owners and target close dates.
• Update the project timeline to reflect any agreed remediation windows and revised go/no-go checkpoints.
• Production and development performance review
• Maintain a clear line of sight on production and equipment availability against Solution Scope targets.
• Reduce the count of open critical issues and ensure each has an owner and date for resolution.
• Ensure safety performance remains within acceptable thresholds and that the incident channel is actively monitored.
• Update the quarterly operational plan with corrective actions and agreed milestone dates.
• Schedule preventive maintenance and record updates to improve equipment availability percentage.
• Reconfirm acceptance criteria and owners
• Confirm that mobilization tasks and commissioning items are completed or have agreed remediation with dates.
• Ensure all required crew inductions and certifications are recorded or scheduled for completion within the agreed window.
• Document a prioritized short-term blocker list with owners and target resolution dates.
• Publish the mobilization validation checklist with status and remediation dates.
• Schedule targeted competency refresh sessions for any certification gaps identified.
• Open safety-system remediation tasks for any failed verifications and assign resolution deadlines.
• Present first-period outcomes vs Solution Scope targets
• Establish whether production tonnes and development meters are on a path to meet Solution Scope targets within the agreed timeline.
• Document root causes for any shortfalls and agree corrective actions with clear dates.
• Confirm safety indicators are within acceptable bounds or have mitigation plans in place.
• Produce a recovery plan detailing actions, milestones, and dates to address production or development shortfalls.
• Create an equipment availability improvement plan with scheduled maintenance and spare-unit contingencies.
• Present outcome data against each acceptance criterion
• Root-cause analysis for any performance gaps
• Deployment and commissioning validation
• Equipment availability and maintenance backlog
• Safety performance and incident channel update
• Inductions, certifications, and competency checks
• Document pass or fail per criterion and capture acceptance decision
• Safety performance review
• Early safety systems and controls check
• Crew retention, certification status, and staffing risk
• Crew retention and equipment availability discussion
• Agree remediation plan for any failed criteria
• Open issues, continuous improvements, and action tracking
• Immediate blockers and remediation planning
• Agree corrective actions and timeline to acceptance gate