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Basis of Presentation (Policies) | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2013
Basis of Presentation |
Revenue recognition Fixed-price contracts | Revenue recognition Fixed-price contracts — Historically, a substantial portion of the Company’s revenue has been generated under fixed-price contracts. For fixed-price contracts, the Company recognizes revenues using the percentage-of-completion method, which may result in uneven and irregular results. Unforeseen events and circumstances can alter the estimate of the costs and potential profit associated with a particular contract. Total estimated costs, and thus contract revenues and income, can be impacted by changes in any of the following: productivity, scheduling, the unit cost of labor, subcontracts, materials and equipment. Additionally, external factors such as weather, client needs, client delays in providing permits and approvals, labor availability, governmental regulation and politics may affect the progress of a project’s completion and thus the timing of revenue recognition. To the extent that original cost estimates are modified, estimated costs to complete increase, delivery schedules are delayed, or progress under a contract is otherwise impeded, cash flow, revenue recognition and profitability from a particular contract may be adversely affected. In the percentage-of-completion method, estimated revenues and resulting contract income is calculated based on the total costs incurred to date as a percentage of total estimated costs. If an estimate of total contract cost indicates a loss on a contract, the projected loss is recognized in full at the time of the estimate. The loss amount is recognized as an “accrued loss provision” and is included in the accrued expenses and other liabilities amount on the balance sheet. As the percentage-of-completion method is used to calculate revenues, the accrued loss provision is changed so that the gross profit for the contract is zero.
Other contract forms | Other contract forms — The Company also uses unit-price, time and material, and cost reimbursable plus fee contracts. For these jobs, revenue is recognized based on contractual terms. For example, time and material contract revenues are recognized based on purchasing and employee time records. Similarly, unit price contracts recognize revenue based on accomplishment of specific units at a specified unit price. For all of its contracts, the Company includes the provision for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts in accrued expenses. Changes in job performance, job conditions and estimated profitability, including those arising from final contract settlements, may result in revisions to costs and income. These revisions are recognized in the period in which the revisions are identified. Claims are included in the calculation of revenues when realization is probable and amounts can be reliably determined. Revenues in excess of contract costs incurred on claims are recognized when the amounts have been agreed upon with the customer. The caption “Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings” represents unbilled receivables which arise when revenues have been recorded but the amount has not been billed under the terms of the contract until a later date. Balances may represent: (a) unbilled amounts arising from the use of the percentage-of-completion method of accounting which may not be billed under the terms of the contract until a later date, (b) incurred costs to be billed under cost reimbursement type contracts, or (c) amounts arising from routine lags in billing. For those contracts in which billings exceed contract revenues recognized to date, excesses are included in the caption “Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings”. The Company considers unapproved change orders to be contract variations for which we have customer approval for a change in scope but for which we do not have an agreed upon price change. Costs associated with unapproved change orders are included in the estimated cost to complete the contracts and are treated as project costs as incurred. The Company recognizes revenue equal to costs incurred on unapproved change orders when realization of price approval is probable and the estimated revenue amount is equal to or greater than the costs related to the unapproved change order. Unapproved change orders involve the use of estimates, and it is reasonably possible that revisions to the estimated costs and recoverable amounts may be required in future reporting periods to reflect changes in estimates or final agreements with customers. The Company considers claims to be amounts Primoris seeks, or will seek, to collect from customers or others for customer-caused changes in contract specifications or design, or other customer-related causes of unanticipated additional contract costs on which there is no agreement with customers on both scope and price changes. Revenue in excess of contract costs from claims is recognized when agreement is reached with customers as to the value of the claims, which in some instances may not occur until after completion of work under the contract. Costs associated with claims are included in the estimated costs to complete the contracts and are treated as project costs when incurred. In accordance with applicable terms of construction contracts, certain retainage amounts may be withheld by customers until completion and acceptance of the project. Some payments of the retainage may not be received for a significant period after completion of our portion of a project.
Significant revision in contract estimate | Significant revision in contract estimate— As previously discussed, revenue recognition is based on the percentage-of-completion method for firm fixed-price contracts. Under this method, the costs incurred to date as a percentage of total estimated costs are used to calculate the revenue to be recognized. Total estimated costs, and thus contract income, are impacted by many factors. For projects that were in process in the prior year, but are either completed or continue to be in process during the current year, there can be a difference in revenues and profits related to the prior year, had current year estimates of costs to complete been known in the prior year.
Customer Concentration | Customer Concentration — The Company operates in multiple industry segments encompassing the construction of commercial, industrial and public works infrastructure assets throughout primarily the United States. Typically, the top ten customers in any one calendar year generate revenues in excess of 50% of total revenues and consist of a different group of customers in each year. During the three-months and six-months ending June 30, 2013, revenues generated by the top ten customers were $216 million and $443 million, respectively, which represented 48.6% and 51.9%, respectively, of total revenues during the periods. During the three and six month periods ending June 30, 2013, a large gas and electric utility represented 7.6% and 8.0%, respectively, of total revenues and a large pipeline company represented 8.2% and 5.0%, respectively, of total revenues. During the three and six months ending June 30, 2012, revenues generated by the top ten customers were $185 million and $364 million, respectively, which represented 54.8% and 57.9%, respectively, of total revenues during the periods. During the three and six month periods ending June 30, 2012, the Louisiana DOT represented 11.6% and 13.3%, respectively, of total revenues and a large gas and electric utility represented 12.1% and 11.9%, respectively, of total revenues. At June 30, 2013, approximately 6.5% of the Company’s accounts receivable were due from one customer, and that customer provided 6.4% of the Company’s revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2013. At June 30, 2012, approximately 6.8% of the Company’s accounts receivable were due from one customer, and that customer provided 4.1% of the Company’s revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2012.
Multiemployer Plans | Multiemployer Plans— The Company participates and contributes to a number of multiemployer benefit plans for its union employees at rates determined by the various collective bargaining agreements. The trustees for each multiemployer plan determines the eligibility and allocations of contributions and benefit amounts, determines the types of benefits and administers the plan. The potential withdrawal obligation may be significant. Any withdrawal liability would be recorded when it is probable that a liability exists and can be reasonably estimated, in accordance with GAAP. In November 2011, the Company withdrew from the Central States Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund multiemployer pension plan. At June 30, 2013, the Company had recorded a withdrawal liability of $7.5 million on its balance sheet. The Company has no plans to withdraw from any other agreements. See Note 19 — Commitments and Contingencies.
Inventory and uninstalled contract materials | Inventory and uninstalled contract materials — Inventory consists of expendable construction materials and small tools that will be used in construction projects and is valued at the lower of cost, using first-in, first-out method, or market. Uninstalled contract materials include certain job specific materials not yet installed which are valued using the specific identification method.

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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for major classes of inventories, bases of stating inventories (for example, lower of cost or market), methods by which amounts are added and removed from inventory classes (for example, FIFO, LIFO, or average cost), loss recognition on impairment of inventories, and situations in which inventories are stated above cost. If inventory is carried at cost, this disclosure includes the nature of the cost elements included in inventory. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 43 -Paragraph 3, 5-10, 15, 16, 17 -Chapter 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Financial Reporting Release (FRR) -Number 206 -Paragraph b -Subparagraph i, ii -Chapter 2 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6361739&loc=d3e7789-107766 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 43 -Section A -Paragraph 9 -Chapter 3 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 330 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6386783&loc=d3e4492-108314 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 330 -SubTopic 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2126999 Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 330 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6386783&loc=d3e4556-108314 Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 81-1 -Paragraph 69-75 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for pension and other postretirement benefit plans. 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