Cost Estimating

Since 1996, CMDR Associates, Inc. has been providing professional cost estimating services which constitutes a large portion of the firm's project assignments. We have provided cost estimating, life cycle cost analysis, value engineering and other cost management solutions for several large-scale construction projects. CMDR provides multi-disciplinary cost estimating support during site evaluation, planning, design, construction/implementation and post-construction phases, including:

• Project Program Estimates
• Conceptual Design Estimates
• Budget Estimates
• Schematic Design Estimates
• 50%, 90% 100% Construction Document Estimates
• Change Order Review
• Independent Cost Estimates (ICEs)
• Price Negotiations

Cost estimation is based on both engineering and economics. Our cost estimators are familiar with the physical and operational characteristics of the project at an engineering level of detail so that the likely costs can be estimated through standard techniques such as analogy or parametric estimation. We understand that cost estimating process often requires working intensively with the most knowledgeable people that will be directly involved in the project that understand the concepts, the physical nature, and operational properties of the project; ask probing and open-ended questions that enable analysis of the project’s likely costs and risks; and then synthesize an accurate cost estimate from all the diverse data.

Based on individual project requirements, our staff prepares detailed cost estimates using CSI Master Format Divisions 1-17, Uniformat/Uniformat II, project specific work breakdown structures, in Imperial or Metric Units of Measure. The cost data sources usually include material quantity takeoffs from project documents (specifications, drawings, change orders, schedules, etc.), current RS Means cost databases, historical cost databases and vendor price quotes.