VA hires the best cost consulting firms in the country and yet we
experience repeated errors and omissions on every project. These are
not new or unusual items, but they consistently get past A/E and VA quality
assurance reviews and result in construction change orders. Please
review your project documents and make sure you do not make these
mistakes.
Estimating, Design Development Phase :
o Investigate pending major projects, large re-zoning actions, and pending legislation that
could impact the local costs, (e.g.) legalized gambling, etc.;
o Include building area take off with diagram for each major building component,
dedicated wing - laundry, energy plant, etc.;
o Identify problems and costs associated with additions to existing structures;
o Verify and include documentation to the reasonableness of detail unit costs used, such
as: subcontractors pricing, suppliers' costs, etc.
o Track labor rates, noting expiration dates and possible increases, including imported
skilled labor;
o Provide back up data supporting the submission and drawings;
o Provide separate estimate for New Construction and Renovations. Provide separate
estimate for the cost of removing any asbestos finishes, which will become exposed
during the alteration work;
o The overall conversion factor (GSF vs. NSF) for the New Construction should not
exceed 2.0., and
o Use VA estimating format 12 category building system with each estimate submission -
note the level of detail required, and the units of measure as shown in the Manual.
Identify and explain differences from previous estimate.
AEQA 10-95
Department of Veterans Affairs
Facilities Management Office
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