Estimating and Bidding
This 10-week course will cover the basics of advanced building estimating to include but not limited to unit price cost estimating; quantity takeoff; labor; material; equipment; and computer applications. Bid strategies, productivity, and value engineering will also be examined.
Course Modality
The course is primarily set up as 10 modules delivered over 10 weeks. The weekly class meetings are virtual, live and synchronous; therefore, you can expect to interact with the professor and fellow students.
Student Engagement and Participation
This course is rigorous and requires attendance, participation and submission of assignments. Please allot time for readings, reviews, and completion of those assignments. At the end of the 5 weeks those who have gained the required points will be awarded a certificate of completion. The certificate will be emailed to the email of record.
Course Pre-requisite
At a minimum, registrants must have basic skills in Microsoft Excel and Word (such as creating and utilizing a spreadsheet, maneuvering columns and rows). If a refresher is needed on that subject, please review videos on YouTube and/or LinkedIn Learning.
Course Schedule
| Week | Topic(s) | Class Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Types of Estimates | 6:00pm-8:50pm |
| 2 | Quantity Takeoff | 6:00pm-8:50pm |
| 3 | Labor and Equipment Costs | 6:00pm-8:50pm |
| 4 | Bidding Methods | 6:00pm-8:50pm |
| 5 | Productivity | 6:00pm-8:50pm |
| 6 | Categorizing Costs | 6:00pm-8:50pm |
| 7 | Estimating Software | 6:00pm-8:50pm |
| 8 | Bidding a Job | 6:00pm-8:50pm |
| 9 | Bid Strategy | 6:00pm-8:50pm |
| 10 | Bid Follow-up | 6:00pm-8:50pm |
Course Learning Outcomes (CLO)
- Understand the principal role of the estimator.
- Read and interpret bid documents.
- Recognize different types of estimates and their uses.
- Perform quantity takeoffs and generate detailed estimates.
- Determine labor and equipment costs.
- Describe different bidding methods, agreements, overhead, profit, and bid strategies.
- Explain how to categorize direct and indirect costs.
- Understand labor productivity in various segments of construction projects.
- Visualize and understand the construction process through site visitation.
- Create construction estimates from a Revit model.
- Demonstrate the ability to utilize estimating software.
- Demonstrate the ability to utilize cost data bases.
- Participate in the estimating process as a team member.
- Understand the role of ethics in the bidding process.
Instructor
Dr. Michael Emmerreceived his B.S. in Construction Management, Suma Cum Laude, from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston in 2002, his M.S. in Construction Science and Management from Clemson University in South Carolina in 2004 and his Ph.D. from the University of Florida’s College of Design, Construction, and Planning in Gainesville in 2009. His areas of research and interest are sustainable construction with a focus in material extraction/reuse and deconstruction, estimating, and is also active in promoting and exploring owner training and productivity in the AEC industry. He has been teaching full-time for over ten years and before that worked in the construction industry for over 25 years in a variety of positions to include laborer, carpenter, carpenter foreman, superintendent, project manager, and owner’s representative.
Dr. Emmer is a member of the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) as a trustee, the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), United States Green Building Council (USGBC), City of Attleboro Planning Board & Historical Commission, Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE), and Housing Works of Rhode Island (HWRI) board of directors.
Questions? Reach out!
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