What does a project construction cost estimate include? Identify the items that are included when compiling a contractor's project construction cost estimate.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: All of these

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
A competitive and realistic construction estimate must capture the full cost of executing the work. That means direct costs (labour, materials, equipment), indirect costs (site overheads and head-office allocations), and a reasonable profit margin commensurate with risk and market conditions.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • We are describing a contractor's estimate intended for bidding or internal budgeting.
  • Scope includes all resources to deliver drawings/specifications to completion.
  • Profit is treated separately from costs but included in the final price.


Concept / Approach:
Direct costs are traceable to specific activities; indirect costs support the project but are not tied to a single task. Profit compensates for capital at risk and business overheads not directly billable. A complete estimate combines all three to produce a tender or internal baseline.


Step-by-Step Solution:
List direct cost components: labour, materials, consumables, rented or owned equipment.Add indirects: site establishment, supervision, utilities, insurances, permits, mobilization/demobilization, and head-office support allocations.Apply contractor's profit as a percentage or lump sum aligned with risk, competition, and market.Hence the correct choice is “All of these”.


Verification / Alternative check:
Standard estimating checklists and bid formats (BOQ-based or work-package based) require separate lines for overheads and profit in addition to direct costs.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Any single component alone underprices the job; “Only direct costs” ignores overhead and profit, which is unrealistic and unsustainable.


Common Pitfalls:

  • Double-counting head-office overhead in both indirects and profit.
  • Ignoring escalation and contingency for uncertain quantities or prices.


Final Answer:
All of these

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