Cost Estimating Resources

Contents

• Books
• Government Reports
• Periodicals
• References
• Software
• Technical Reports

Books

• Building Estimator's Reference Book - Updated continuously, this manual covers updated construction methods, material and labor costs, labor productivity (man-hours), construction finance, scheduling, construction management, bidding, negotiating contracts, value engineering, types of cost estimates, overhead, insurance, profit, change orders, and more.
• Cost Estimating Guides - Labor and material cost guides. Most come with a CD and include a stand-alone estimating program, National Estimator with a multimedia tutorial. Also included with these 1999 editions is a job costing program, Job Cost Wizard, that lets you turn estimates into invoices and export your estimates to QuickBooks Pro.
• Library of Congress
• Prentice Hall Engineering Cost Estimating Books:
  • Engineering Cost Estimating, 3/e, November, 1991, Phillip F. Ostwald, University of Colorado, 576 pp., Cloth (0-13-276627-2). A discussion of principles and techniques for the economic evaluation of technical designs for operations, products, projects, or systems.
  • Estimating In Building Construction, 5/e, Frank R. Dagostino, Leslie Feigenbaum, Texas A&M, Coming August, 1998 from Prentice Hall Career & Technology, Copyright 1999, 393 pp., Cloth, ISBN 0-13-377938-6. Combining coverage of principles with step by step procedures, this text provides everything needed for an estimating class for construction, architecture, and engineering students. Includes the approach of tracing the progress of a complete project throughout the book. Updated to show the computer as an important estimating tool.
  • Managing the Construction Process: Estimating, Scheduling, and Project Control, 1/e, November, 1996, Frederick E. Gould, 400 pp., Cloth (0-13-352337-3). This text covers all areas of the Construction Management industry-- with a balanced focus on both theory and practicality.
  • Simplified Estimating For Builders And Engineers, 2/e, December, 1991, Joseph E. Helton, Texas State Technical Inst., 224 pp., Cloth (0-13-812967-3). Presents the basics of building estimating in a sequence based on the MASTERFORMAT of the Construction Specifications Institute.
• Richardson Engineering Services publishes a four volume set (4250 pages) called "Process Plant Cost Estimating Standards." Richardson Standards are now available on CD ROM in PDF format. Richardson software, winRACE, is now available in 32 bit versions for virtually every OS. They are located in Mesa, Arizona. Call them at (602) 497-2062, fax to (602) 497-5529 or e-mail at kgraham@uswest.net. They can also be reached on Compuserve at GO Richardson.
• RS Means Cost Books
• Wiley Industrial Engineering Books:
  • Cost Estimating- 2nd Ed., Rodney D. Stewart, Wiley-Interscience, Z-0-471-85707-6, 1991, 359pp, cloth. This revision of the author's earlier work on cost estimating has been updated to provide currently applicable examples, data and techniques.
  • Cost Estimator's Reference Manual- 2nd Ed., Rodney D. Stewart, Richard M. Wyskida, James D. Johannes (eds.), Wiley-Interscience, 0-471-30510-3, 752 pages, cloth, 1995. This updated and expanded edition describes how to estimate accurate costs for engineering projects as well as where to find additional in-depth material on specific aspects of cost estimating.
  • Design to Cost, Jack V. Michaels / William P. Wood 0-471-60900-5,  Published: Jun 1989, Copyright: 1989. How to estimate the cost of producing products or services by means of the design-to-cost method, which systematically constrains design goals according to available funds.

Government Reports

• United States General Accounting Office (GAO)

  The General Accounting Office is the investigative arm of Congress. Charged with examining matters relating to the receipt and disbursement of public funds, GAO performs audits and evaluations of Government programs and activities.

  • GAO Reports and Testimony
  • GAO's Performance and Accountability Series and High Risk Update
  • Comptroller General Decisions and Opinions
  • Federal Agency Rules:
    
    • GAO Reports of Federal Agency Rules
    • GAO Federal Rules Database
    • Form for Submission of Federal Agency Rule Under the Congressional Review Act
  • GAO Policy/Guidance Publications
  • Special Publications
  • GAO FraudNET - Report allegations of fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement of federal funds.

Periodicals

• American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE) - Newsletter
• American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE) - Technical Journal 
• Cost Engineering - The international journal of cost estimation, cost/schedule control, and project management. Published by AACE International.
• Design Cost Data Magazine - the cost estimating magazine for architects, contractors, engineers, cost estimators, insurers, building owners, appraisers, and construction financiers.
• Journal of Cost Analysis & Management (a publication of the Society of Cost Estimating & Analysis) is a multi-disciplinary, refereed journal that publishes articles on a variety of subjects that deal with cost estimating and cost analysis in a variety of contexts, and with systems and concepts that affect costs and their estimation/analysis. Areas of interest include subsets of accounting, statistics, forecasting, economics, and production operations management.
• Journal of Parametrics is a quarterly professional publication of the International Society of Parametric Analysts (ISPA).
• National Estimator is a publication of the Society of Cost Estimating & Analysis (SCEA). Members of the Society receive copies as a benefit of membership. Subscriptions are also available for non-members are on a yearly basis. 
• Parametric World is the periodical newsletter of the International Society of Parametric Analysts (ISPA).

References

• Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)
• NASA Financial Management Manual (FMM)
• NASA Cost Estimating Guidelines provides general guidelines for the development of parametric cost estimates for proposed space systems at JSC.
• Office of Management & Budget (OMB) Documents
• Parametric Cost Estimating Handbook - This Handbook is intended to be used as a general guide for implementing and evaluating parametric based estimating systems, and as the text material for a basic course in parametric estimating techniques

Software

• ACEIT (Automated Cost Estimating Integrated Tools) helps analysts store, retrieve, and analyze data; build cost models; analyze risk; time phase budgets; and document cost estimates.  It is a generic, flexible, Windows-based system you can use to estimate virtually any task on any type program. The result of government-sponsored efforts, the ACEIT suite of applications is available to U.S. Government organizations with no charge for use.
• BEST ESTIMATE - Estimator for renovators & remodelors general contractors, design/builders, architects & designers. 
• Bidworx Takeoff and estimating software for construction management.
• BSD SoftLink products enable users to perform cost management, cost engineering, value analysis, and construction specifications.
• COCOMO - In 1981 the Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO) was published in the book Software Engineering Economics by Dr. Barry Boehm. There are several tools that implement the model available via the Internet:
  • COCOMO II - This program is an implementation of the 1981 COCOMO Intermediate Model. It predicts software development effort, schedule and effort distribution. It is available for SunOS or MS Windows and can be downloaded for free. The COCOMO II model is an update of COCOMO 1981 to address software development practice's in the 1990's and 2000's.
  • COCOPRO implements Boehm's COCOMO technique for estimating costs of software projects. It supports the intermediate COCOMO model, and allows automatic calibration of the model to a cost history database.
  • COOLSoft uses a hybrid of intermediate and detailed versions of COCOMO. This allows for the reuse of existing code, development of new code, the purchase and integration of third party code, and hardware integration.
  • Costar is a software cost estimation tool based on COCOMO. A software project manager can use Costar to produce estimates of a project's duration, staffing levels, effort, and cost. Costar is an interactive tool that permits managers to make trade-offs and experiment with "what-if" analyses to arrive at the optimal project plan.
  • Revised Intermediate COCOMO (REVIC) is available for downloading from the US Air Force Cost Analysis Agency (AFCAA).
  • TAMU COCOMO is an on-line version of COCOMO from Texas A&M University.
• COSMIC has over 810 computer programs that were originally developed by NASA and its contractors for the U.S. space program. Search all program abstract texts for the search term "cost".
• Cost Analysis Strategy Assessment (CASA) is a Life Cycle Cost (LCC) decision support tool. CASA can present the total cost of ownership depending on user selections: including RDT&E costs, production costs, and operating/support costs. CASA covers the entire life of the system, from its initial research costs to those associated with yearly maintenance, as well as spares, training costs, and other expenses.
• Cost Estimating Guides - Labor and material cost guides. Most come with a CD and include a stand-alone estimating program, National Estimator, with a multimedia tutorial. Also included is a job costing program, Job Cost Wizard, that lets you turn estimates into invoices and export your estimates to QuickBooks Pro.
• Cost Xpert - software costing tool calculates information including project costs, schedules, tasks, deliverables, maintenance, and support requirements.
• COSTIMATOR - Computerized cost estimating and process planning for manufacturing.
• CostTrack is an integrated cost/project management software package.
• Crystal Ball - Choose a range for each uncertain value in your spreadsheet. Crystal Ball uses this information to perform hundreds of what-if analyses. These analyses are summarized in a graph showing the probability for each result.
• DeccaPro activity based cost estimating software.
• ECOS European Space Agency (ESA) Costing Software.
• ECOM European Space Agency (ESA) Cost Modeling Software.
• EMQUE's Perfect Project integrated accounting, estimating, cost and project management software for the construction industry.
• DecisionTools Suite (@RISK, PrecisionTree, TopRank, BestFit, and RISKview) provides a suite of integrated decision analysis programs running from a common toolbar in Microsoft Excel.
• D4COST•2000 is a system that provides the tools to produce  building cost estimates.
• DOD Tools and Models Index - This index contains abstracts of tools and models that are currently used in the Department of Defense and have the potential for wider application.
• ForecastX, available in an ActiveX control, cross-platform libraries and Java, allows you to add business forecasting, time series forecasting, demand and inventory planning, data mining, sales forecasting, optimization and statistical algorithms to your client server and web-based applications.
• KAPES (Knowledge Aided Planning & Estimating System) is a knowledge-based computer system which can be used to control purchasing and outsourcing costs, the generation of bid cost estimates, and the improvement of shop floor efficiency.
• Means DemoSource allows you to download free estimating software demos and product information that you can use to make construction estimating software decisions for your organization.
• Micro Estimating Systems, Inc.
  • Machine Shop Estimating is an engineering based, computer-aided, estimating system.
  • Layout Pro for Windows is an engineering based, computer-aided, processing planning system.
  • FabPlan is an engineering based, computer-aided, processing planning and estimating system.
• NASA/Air Force Cost Model (NAFCOM) - The NAFCOM96 Cost Model is a computer model for estimating aerospace program costs for development and production. NAFCOM96 operates in the Microsoft Windows environment.
• PACES (Parametric Cost Engineering System) is a military construction cost estimating system.
• PCM Parametric Cost Model from Parametric Consultants. The cost calculation within this model is driven by a mass and a complexity factor. The complexity factor is derived by a reverse calculation with a similar type of equipment where the costs are know. ECOM is linked to these different parametric models in the simple way of exchanging data via files. Since the user has no access to the formulae, this method can be considered as a black-box approach, where just the supplier takes care about the maintenance of the internal calculation process. This requires an experienced estimator in order to receive reliable cost figures.
• PRICE Estimating Suite- PRICE Parametric cost estimating tools are used across many industries on a variety of projects. Some of the projects include proposal development; bid/no bid decisions; cost analysis; project management; vendor negotiations; strategic decision making; CAIV and Design to Cost; cost budgeting and project scheduling support. The PRICE tools can be used for estimating the cost of hardware, software, microcircuits, and life-cycle costs.
• Primavera Systems, Inc. - provider of project portfolio management software; information technology, professional services, new product development, construction, engineering, and maintenance and turnaround projects; resource management; professional services automation; IT governance.
• Pulsar is a PC-based construction cost estimating package that uses the R.S. Means Cost Data.
• RSMeans QuickCost Calculator - Select from more than 50 building types in hundreds of locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. The RSMeans Construction Cost Calculator provides you with total project cost, as well as breakouts for sub-disciplines, all localized to your selected area.
• RACER (Remedial Action Cost Engineering and Requirements System) will estimate costs for Studies, Remedial Design, Remedial Action, and related site work at environmental restoration projects.
• SEER project evaluation tools for hardware and software developers, by Galorath.
  • SEER-DFM estimates and helps you to design out manufacturing, tooling and assembly costs.
  • SEER-H predicts the resources required for developing new hardware, including that based on new technologies.
  • SEER-IC estimates custom integrated circuit development and production costs, generates specifications, and evaluates potential yields.
  • SEER-SEM predicts, measures and analyzes resources, staffing, schedules and costs for software projects.
  • SEER-SSM is a software sizing tool that creates estimates of a project’s scope.
• Small Satellite Cost Model (SSCM) is a parametric cost model which runs on any Microsoft Excel-supported platform. The latest version, SSCM98, estimates the development and production costs of a small satellite bus for Earth-orbiting or near-planetary spacecraft.
• Software Architecture Sizing and Estimating Tool (SASET) is available for downloading from the US Air Force Cost Analysis Agency (AFCAA). (Note: This tool is no longer available from AFCAA.  If anyone knows where it is, let me know.)
• Space Operations Cost Model (SOCM) - Version 1.0 is available covering Planetary and Earth Orbiting robotic science missions. The model estimates post-launch Mission Operations & Data Analysis (MO&DA) staffing and cost requirements and includes cost relationships for several Space Operations Management Office (SOMO) services (tracking network costs and others).
• SPSS Products - SPSS is a tool kit of statistics, graphs and reports for use in a variety of applications in commercial, academic and government settings. Applications include surveys, marketing and sales analysis, data mining, quality improvement and statistical research of all types.
• SYSTAT provides a selection of research quality statistics and interactive graphics for scientists, engineers and statisticians.
• TANK RACER (Tank Remedial Action Cost Engineering and Remediation System) will estimate costs for site assessments, remedial design, remedial action, and related site work at underground storage tank (UST) sites.
• Timberline Software - Construction cost estimating software.
• TRACES (Tri-Services Automated Cost Engineering Systems) provides cost engineers with tools to prepare budgetary, Government estimates, and current working estimates in support of the DOD military program and the Corps of Engineers Civil Works program.
• Video Estimator lets you draw on pictures to estimate material. It combines elements of CAD, spreadsheet and database software into a cost estimating program.
• Visual Estimator - construction cost estimating & bidding system for Windows
• Welcom
  • Cobra is a cost management system designed to manage and analyze budgets, earned value, actuals, and forecasts.
  • Open Plan is an enterprise-wide project management software system that supports multiple projects.
  • WelcomHome is a virtual project office that provides a process-driven approach for distributed team members. It can be used both independently and in conjunction with scheduling and cost management tools such as Microsoft Project, and Welcom’s Open Plan and Cobra.
• WinEstimator, Inc. is the producer of several Windows-based, cost estimating software products for use in the construction industry.
• WinRACE - Rapid Access Cost Estimating for general construction and process plant construction.

Technical Reports

• NASA Technical Report Server (NTRS) - A service that allows users to search the many different abstract and technical report servers maintained by various NASA centers and programs.