Technical Committee on Cost Estimating

Chair: Lesly Tribelhorn, MT
Vice Chair: Dave Kent, NY
Secretary: Edwin Okonkwo, FHWA

Objective and Scope
To create an AASHTO position regarding a recommended policy on best practices for how to develop estimates. The ultimate goal of this Technical Committee is to prepare written policies/guidelines for cost estimating at all stages of project development.

Publication Responsibility
The committee is working to develop recommended procedures for preparing final estimates and for reviewing bids prior to concurrence in award. In addition, guidance will be included for improving pre-bid, bid review, and evaluation policies and procedures. Below under "Technical Committee Reports" is a link to a document which gives guidance on cost estimating. This document, when completed, will be come AASHTO publication.

The committee is also involved in reviewing the NCHRP 8-49 study, “Procedures for Cost Estimation and Management for Highway Projects during Planning, Programming, and Preconstruction,” on which it may use to assist on AASHTO publications for cost estimating.

Meeting Minutes

The following are the official minutes from recent technical committee meetings:

• Fall 2011: Bloomington, MN (Adobe pdf format, 304 kb)
• Fall 2010: Baton Rouge, LA (Adobe pdf format, 145 kb)
• Fall 2009: Omaha, NE (Adobe pdf format, 27 kb)
• Fall 2008: Saratoga, NY (Adobe pdf format, 98kb)
• Fall 2007: St Louis, MO (Adobe pdf format, 457kb)
• Fall 2006: Portland, ME (Adobe pdf format, 450kb)
• Fall 2005: Daytona Beach, FL (Adobe pdf format, 1Mb)
• Fall 2004: Mobile, AL (Adobe pdf format, 34k)
• Fall 2003: Burlington, VT (Adobe pdf format, 24k) (Note: Document is not actual meeting mintues, but a letter to the TC members from the Chair dated 4-2004)

Conference Call Minutes

The following are the official minutes from recent technical committee conference calls:

• January 2012:  TCCE Teleconference (1-5-2012) (Adobe pdf format, 27 kb)
• November 2011:  TCCE Teleconference (11-3-2011) (Adobe pdf format, 25 kb)
• September 2011:  TCCE Teleconference (9-1-2011) (Adobe pdf format, 22 kb)
• July 2011:  TCCE Teleconference (7-14-2011) (Adobe pdf format, 20 kb)
• May 2011:  TCCE Teleconference (5-5-11) (Adobe pdf format, 21 kb)
• March 2011: TCCE Teleconference (3-3-11) (Adobe pdf format, 783 kb)
• January 2011: TCCE Teleconference (1-06-11) (Adobe pdf format, 27 kb)
• November 2010: TCCE Teleconference (11-4-10) (Adobe pdf format, 36 kb)
• September 2010: TCCE Teleconference (9-2-10) (Adobe pdf format, 18 kb)
• July 2010: TCCE Teleconference (7-1-10) (Adobe pdf format, 80 kb)
• May 2010: TCCE Teleconference (5-6-10) (Adobe pdf format, 63 kb)
• March 2010: TCCE Teleconference (3-4-10) (Adobe pdf format, 90 kb)
• January 2010: TCCE Teleconference (1-7-10) (Adobe pdf format, 87 kb)
• November 2009: TCCE Teleconference (11-5-09) (Adobe pdf format, 52 kb)
• September 2009: TCCE Teleconference (9-03-09) (Adobe pdf format; 16 kb)
• July 2009: TCCE Teleconference (7-2-09) (Adobe pdf format, 23kb)
• May 2009: TCCE Teleconference (5-7-09) (Adobe pdf format, 28kb)
• March 2009: TCCE Teleconference (3-5-09) (Adobe pdf format, 35kb)
• January 2009: TCCE Teleconference (1-16-09) (Adobe pdf format, 20kb)
• April 2008: TCCE Teleconference (4-18-08) (Adobe pdf format, 20kb)

Technical Committee Reports/Documents

Below are this committees reports or documents that are useful to cost estimators. These are not AASHTO publications, and should not be treated as such.

• December 2011: FHWA_Comments Practical Guide to Estimating (Word doc, 75kb)
• December 2011: NCHRP 20-07 Practical Guide to Estimating (Word doc, 5.93 mb)
• July 2009: Revised TCCE Report - A Practical Guide to Estimating (Adobe pdf format, 1018 kb)
• June 2008: FHWA Guidance for Major Project Cost Reviews (Adobe pdf format, 48kb)
• August 2007: TCCE Report - A Practical Guide to Estimating (Adobe pdf format, 418kb)

Research information dealing with Cost Estimating

NCHRP 20-07(274) - Price Indexing for Transportation Construction Contracts

Olumide - Sliding Scale Contingencies for the Highway Construction Project Development Process

FHWA - Highway Construction Cost Increases and Competition Issues

FHWA - Major Projects, Cost Estimating

NCHRP project 20-7(152) titled "Project Cost Estimating A Synthesis of Highway Practice"

NCHRP Project 8-49 "Guidance for Cost Estimation and Management for Highway Projects during Planning, Programming, and Preconstruction"

NCHRP 08-60 project "Guidebook on Risk Analysis Tools and Management Practices to Control Transportation Project Cost"

NCHRP 8-36 Task 72: “Guidelines for Cost Estimation Improvements at State DOTs”

NCHRP Project 8-36 Task 72: “DOT Approaches to Implementing Cost Estimate Management Process Improvements”

Synthesis on Construction Unit Cost Development: Technical Report

Capacity Building Workshops for Cost Estimation and Cost Management

Transportation Estimators' Association (TEA)

Members

For detailed member contact information, click here.

Other Links

Montana Department of Transportation draft Risk Management Plan spreadsheet