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BIM exchange guides

Quality and delivery

Prepare a model handover package

Deliver the model with the settings, dependencies, validation evidence and revision context the next team needs.

Reading time
3 min
For
BIM coordinators, delivery managers and model recipients
Learning objective
Assemble a traceable package that another team can open, understand and review.

Agree what the recipient will accept

Before the deadline, confirm the purpose, recipient, permitted distribution, delivery location and approval process. Agree model scope, format, schema, naming convention and required supporting information. Ask the recipient to test a small package early enough to correct compatibility problems.

Adapt this workflow to the project information requirements, delivery agreement and any required client templates.

Include enough context to reproduce the delivery

Package item table
Package itemWhat it should answer
Model and companion assetsWhich files must stay together for the recipient to open the result?
Delivery manifestWhat is this revision, who prepared it and what is its intended use?
Source revision listWhich discipline models and revisions were included or excluded?
Export configurationWhich application version, scope, format options and transformations were used?
Coordinate noteWhich units, origin, axis convention and project reference apply?
Validation evidenceWhich checks ran, what failed and what was accepted as an exception?
Change and issue listWhat changed since the last delivery and what remains unresolved?
Recipient instructionsHow was the package tested and where should questions be recorded?

Use paths that remain valid after the recipient extracts the package. Test a copy from a different folder so missing assets or references to your workstation are discovered before delivery. Avoid placing access tokens, passwords or private workstation paths in the manifest.

Example delivery manifest

Delivery manifest template
Delivery: Example project / coordination review / R03
Prepared by: [name and team]
Prepared on: [date and time zone]
Purpose: [agreed review task]
Model files: [file names and sizes]
Source revisions: [list or attached schedule]
Export application and version: [value]
Format and schema: [value]
Scope and exclusions: [value]
Units and coordinate reference: [value]
Applied transformations: [value or none]
Receiving application tested: [name and version]
Validation evidence: [report names]
Open issues and exceptions: [identifiers]
Approval status: [pending / accepted / rejected]
Reviewer and decision date: [value]
Distribution: [approved recipient group]

If checksums are used, state the algorithm and calculate them on the final files. A checksum can help detect a changed or incomplete file; it does not by itself prove who created or approved the package.

Release the package in a controlled sequence

  1. Freeze the candidate

    Identify source revisions and export configuration. Place outputs in a new revision folder rather than overwriting the last accepted delivery.

  2. Review the final files

    Run checks on the files that will actually be sent. If output changes, repeat affected checks and refresh the manifest.

  3. Transfer through the agreed channel

    Send the complete package to the approved location and confirm the recipient can access it.

  4. Obtain a receiving decision

    Record receipt separately from acceptance. Ask the recipient to confirm the tested application and report issues against the delivery identifier.

  5. Preserve the evidence

    Keep the accepted package, decision and superseded revision history according to the project's retention process.

Keep handover issues tied to the model

BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) supports exchanging model-related issues between applications. Where both teams support it, use it to retain issue context alongside the agreed model revision. A BCF issue package does not replace delivery of the model itself.

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