The Chief Estimator Software
The Chief Estimator Software
The Chief Estimator Software
Table of Contents
Features ……………………………………………………… 3
Tutorials & Help………………………………………………… 4
System Files ………………………………………………….. 4
Toolbars & Menus ……………………………………………. 5
Software Installation ………………………………………….. 6
Register the Software ……………………………………… …. 6
Resource Rates ………………………………………………... 7
Estimate Notes ………………………………………………….. 9
Estimate WBS ………………………………………………… 10
Enter Resource & Production Rates…………………………… 11
Copy & Prorate ……………………………………………….. 13
Apply Margin …………………………………………………. 14
Schedule Export ………………………………………………… 15
Cash Flow ……………………………………………………… 16
Vendor Quotations …………………………………………….. 17
Bid Closing …………………………………………………….. 18
Unbalance Bid …………………………………………………. 19
Reports …………………………………………………………. 20
Utilities ………………………………………………………… 23
Advantages …………………………………………… ……… 24
The Method
The Projects
• Infrastructure • Transit
• Airports • Process and Power
• Toll Roads • Heavy Civil
• Commercial Buildings • Tunnels
• Mines • Bridges
The Technology
• Multiple level workbreakdown structures (WBS) • Bid lump sum hard money projects
• Parametric estimating • Bid unit price tenders
• Create composite work assemblies • Bid with detailed crews & production rates
• Bid with conceptual unit rates • Bid utilizing historical man-hour factors
• Award subcontract packages • Generate cash flows
• Award procurement packages • Plot resources over time
• Maintain database of currency exchange rates • Automatically convert between metric & imperial
• Bid projects in multiple currencies • Set resource rates in multiple currencies
• Report in any currency • Convert resource database between currencies
• Report cash flows in multiple currencies • Enter quotations in any currency
Form Toolbars: Each form within the system has its own toolbar that
is displayed at the top to assist you in entering or selecting data.
Utilities: The system also includes utilities to assist you in
preparing estimates. Included is a phonebook utility for entering and Utilities
saving a list of contacts such as Clients, Suppliers and
Contact Manager: this is a Phonebook
Subcontractor, a utility for entering and saving currency exchange application where users can enter
rates and a utility for entering and saving measurement conversion phone, fax and e-mail numbers.
factors.
Currency Exchange: update, add or
delete currency exchange rates.
Required Resource Fields: these are the mandatory fields. To get started enter the total rates in the base rate field.
Subcontract
Equipment
Material
Crew
Subcontract
Equipment
Material
Field Name Description
Labor
Crew
Quick Pick Click yes for frequently used resources. x x x x x
Alt UOT Alternate unit of time.(shifts, days, months etc.) x x x
Alt Fact Conversion factor for alternate unit of time x x x
Burdens Calculate payroll burdens or equip oper costs or material taxes. x x x x
Alt Total Rate Base Rate x Alternate factor.(rate per shift, day, month) x x x
Alt UOT Prod Production per alternate unit of time. (example;m3 per shift) x
AlT UOM Alternate unit of measure (metric or imperial) x x x
Alt Fact. Conversion factor between metric and imperial x x x
Alt Unit Rate Unit Rate in other measurement system (Unit rate/Alt Fact) x x x
Formula Dispalys burdens included in formula. x x x x
Qty per Lot Quantity per lot, such as per 100. x
Rate per Lot Rate x quantity per lot. x
Category Used to organize resources into groups. x x x x x
Hot Key Used to enter a resource quickly. x x x x x
Quote Tag Tag a resource to automatically include in a resource package. x x x x x
Specific Factors Fields added by the user when creating burden formula. x x x x
Burden Formula: setting up burden formula is optional. You can start using the system by ignoring burdens and
working with total rates only. For more information on setting up burden formula, refer to the help contents or user guide.
Plug Unit Rates: The resource files also include the ability to setup a Plug Rates: library of conceptual unit
library of Conceptual (Parametric) Plug Unit Rates. Plug rates are all rates. When setting up unit rates you have
inclusive unit rates. You may wish to setup a library of these rates if you the option of using a single rate or building
do a lot of conceptual estimating. Plug rates can also be entered directly the rate from historical man-hour factors.
into the bid without selecting then from a resource file.
Enter Estimate Notes:
The estimate file can be linked to general external files in other formats
such as Excel or Word.
Step 8: Setup Links to External Files
Link Organization Chart: International Project Estimating also
provides a typical Project Organization Chart in Excel Format. This is an optional step to assist the user in
linking their estimate to external files. There
are two methods of linking files.
Find Resource Rates Quickly: Select Resources from a Resource File: you
must ensure that the appropriate resource file is
linked to the bid. To view the resource file within
the Enter Estimate form, click on “Resources”
under “Select View Type”. Point to the
appropriate resource type icon (labor,
equipment, crews, material, material assembly
or subcontract). If you know the first letters of
the code point to the resource window and enter
them. The cursor will go to the resources
starting with that letter. Enter the next letter and
so on until the resource is displayed. Click
“Enter” to select the resource. If you don’t know
the code, click on the “Select Category” icon,
drill down and find the appropriate category.
Point to the resource and double click. If you
select more than one resource at a time you can
highlight the resources and then point to the line
in the bid, drag and drop.
Setup Quick Resources on the Fly: if the
Setup Resources directly in the Bid:
resource has not been setup in the resource
file you may find it quicker to setup the
resource directly in the bid. Point the mouse
just to the right of the appropriate line in the
bid, right click and select “Enter Quick
Resources”. Pick the appropriate resource
type. A default code and description will be
provided that you can change if you wish.
Enter the quantity and unit rate. You can also
click on Quick Material on the estimate menu.
Procurement Schedules:
Quotations:
Create Alternate Cost Groups: Freeze Items: if you do not want to alter the
price of any item or range of items, highlight
the items and select “Freeze Selected
Items”. You can generate a Bid Summary that
will display the remaining open items.
.
Bid Reports:
Analysis Reports:
General Reports:
The following document describes some of the advantages of the IPE Chief Estimator
Software over competitive software products. The advantages become immediately
obvious the minute you start using their software.
Listed below are the features which make the IPE Chief Estimator standout over the
competition;