ARBE4308: Cost Planning & Estimating

WHAT DO WE NEED TO SEE IN YOUR ASSESSMENT 4?

Students are required to prepare a cost plan for a projects construction costs. The project requirements are outlined in the provided drawing package and the Architectural Project Brief document. The cost plan for construction of the proposed project should be in the AIQS – Standard Cost Analysis format and include reasonable allowances for all necessary construction costs, preliminaries, overheads, margin and escalation. The cost plan should address the following:

Students should submit two files for this assessment task including:

1. A single pdf

Students should submit a single pdf which can be opened and read with Adobe Acrobat. The single pdf should be named Last Name_Student number.pdf e.g. BEARD_1234567.pdf

The single pdf should contain the following in the following order:

1. A cover letter, at a minimum outlining the course name, assignment number, student name, student number and date; followed by

2. The completed AIQS Cost Analysis Forms and Cubit or Cost X “Trade Summary” report. These may be the only documents your client will see; followed by

3. An analysis of the site to identify anything that may impact on costs, describing constraints, site management considerations and including a layout of the site management i.e location of sheds etc to inform the prelims. The layout may be A3 landscape; followed by

4. A cost plan strategy considering the type of builder who will eventually price the project including the calculations for anticipated overheads, anticipated profit margin along with the reasons for the margin decision, any risks that have been identified along with a risk register (remember the Four T’s); followed by

5. Details of any assumptions or exclusions that have been made to the estimate based upon the information available and any RFI’s received. Note: If no responses were received to RFI’s, details can still be provided as to what has been allowed; followed by

6. A bar chart (gantt) of the anticipated project programme (note this is not just the construction program). The program may be included as A3 landscape orientation; followed by

7. Prelims calculations set out in a pro forma and based on typical costs of the anticipated type of builder; followed by

8. A “Trade Report” detailing all of the trades measured; followed by

9. Screen shots in colour from the Buildsoft Cubit or RIB Cost X file of the CALCULATION SHEET (Lower section of the screen) showing the complete details for at least five measured quantities and including any relevant “on-screen” take-off details, followed by

10. Screen shots in colour from the Buildsoft Cubit or RIB Cost X file of the RATE SHEET (Tab beside the Calc Sheet) for at least five rates or composite rates.

Screen shots must be complete, show all columns, the top menu bar and the total at the bottom of the page. Marks will be deducted for incomplete screen shots. Windows users can use the “Windows Snipping Tool” (look for it with Google) in full screen mode for a good result. Mac will no doubt have an equivalent utility. There some examples showing suitable extent of screen shots at the end of this document.

AND

2. A Buildsoft CBX file or RIB Cost X EXF file containing the cost plan in AIQS Cost Analysis elements. The file will be complete with all rate and quantity calc sheets. The cost plan should include measurement calc sheets and rate/composite rate sheets utilising publicly available rates e.g. Rawlinsons Australian Construction Handbook. The cost plan should include allowances for preliminaries, overheads, margins, escalation and any other costs and resources (Labour, Materials, Plant and Subcontract) identified.

The file should be named Student number.CBX or Student number.EXF e.g. 1234567.CBX or 1234567.EXF. Ensure the Buildsoft Cubit or RIB Cost X file is backed up with all of the Calculation sheets, rate sheets & plans included by ticking the check boxes upon export or it cannot be opened to be marked.

Important information

The orientation of all pages (apart where noted above) in the single pdf must be upright and readable on the screen without being turned (i.e. not upside down or sideways). Failure to provide the correct presentation will incur penalties and be at the risk of not passing.

File submission is via the Assessment area on Canvas and is the responsibility of the student, unreadable files cannot be marked and zero marks will be awarded. The ability for multiple file uploads will be provided on Canvas to enable students to ensure files are readable.

Emailed submissions will most definitely NOT BE ACCEPTED

If more than one pdf document and one .CBX or .EXF file is submitted then only one file, the latest of each type will be marked.

Submissions must be presented in a professional manner, hand writing, sketches and mark ups must all be legible and the file must contain all sheets in the one direction i.e. upright and readable on the screen without being turned (i.e. not upside down or sideways). Failure to provide a professional and correct presentation will incur penalties and be at the risk of not passing.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is entirely the student’s responsibility to gain access to the Buildsoft Cubit or RIB Cost X software which are both Windows based software. Any software that needs to be installed should be installed in adequate time to complete the assessment task and ensure the software will run on their computer.

Regards

Cameron