Cost Estimator

The Program Development, Coordination, and Support Directorate is responsible for the design, coordination, and management of OBO’s construction and renovation programs.

The Department of State (DOS), Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, Directorate of Project Development, Coordination and Support, Office of Cost Management (OBO/PDCS/COST), requires cost estimating services to complete the task requirements stated below.

As a Cost Estimator assigned to an organizational element of the Office of Cost Management (OBO/PDCS/COST), the incumbent performs a wide range of cost estimating and cost management consulting duties associated with overseas construction and maintenance projects for which OBO is responsible. In furtherance of these responsibilities, the incumbent tasks that typically include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following

• Reviews and supports with the preparation of estimates for construction projects; provides a complete range of cost analysis and cost management services that include, but are not limited to program, cost and price analysis, cost planning, concept cost estimating, budget development, detailed cost estimating through the planning and execution phases of construction projects, preparation of Independent Government Estimates (IGEs), proposal price analysis, and data management to support institutional historical database requirements;
• Advises and assists with construction market surveys including gathering in-country construction cost data evaluating the impacts of laws, taxes, and all other conditions pertaining to construction cost estimates; and participates in discussions with foreign officials regarding the Department’s related cost issues including such topics as real estate matters, utility requirements, tax regulations, local government- controlled services, and economic issues likely to affect the estimated cost of construction.
• Analyzes project and program requirements and prepares conceptual and detailed budget estimates that may be developed from partially complete scopes of work, such as space programs, requirements reports, existing conditions assessments, surveys, standard criteria sketches, detailed drawings, project manuals, etc.; updates cost estimates based on provided scope definition; and analyzes project scopes of work and program requirements and prepares or reviews comparative estimates for design and construction alternatives;
• Analyzes project requirements and preparation of budget estimates and other cost estimates at all phases of project development and execution; ensures that all cost estimates are published using standard formats institutionalized by the Office; prepares Current Working Estimates (CWEs) in accordance with OBO program requirements, policy, and guidance and Office operating policies and procedures; and prepares work products and services in accordance with Office operating policies and procedures;
• Prepares professional products and provides professional services on all cost engineering and cost analysis/management/control matters and consistently applies disciplined cost management controls, thereby ensuring adherence to project
  budget limitations.
• Conducts or facilitates the preparation of risk analyses for OBO construction cost estimates, including the development of project risk registers, identification of risk mitigation strategies, and calculation of appropriate contingency estimates; prepares fully developed, active risk registers in support of the Division Chief, Office Director, assigned planning manager, and/or Project Director, depending on the current phase of planning and execution of each assigned project; and negotiates the final consensus of the risk register, including all associated mitigation strategies and cost estimates, with the architectural/engineering (A/E) contracting firm;
• Coordinates cost estimates developed for program requirements from other OBO organizations and program budget estimates with project stakeholders and ensures that all such estimates developed internally or by stakeholders external to the Office meet minimum quality requirements and relevant published performance targets of the Bureau.
• Prepare reports, draft, correspondence, and attends project meetings. Coordinates, prepares, presents, and communicates work-related information to the Division Chief and Office Director.
• Remains abreast of current knowledge of cost engineering, analysis, and management and control theories, principles, and methodologies, and discusses their applicability to Division operations with the Division Chief.
• Maintains program and reference materials, project files, and relevant background documents and provides input to policies, procedures, and written instructions for the Division Chief, the Office Director, and other senior management officials.
• Analyzes and advises on contractor proposal prices and comparison with Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs) and Request for Proposal (RFP), Scope of Work (SOW), and prepares proposal price analysis and technical reports to support negotiation of equitable contract award amounts; and
• Advises on all cost related aspects of contracts between the United States Government (USG) and independent architectural/engineering cost estimator consultants for each project.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Demonstrated experience in MS Excel; Word; Outlook, and Cost Estimating software.
• Understanding of the methods and techniques of engineering cost management and control as they apply and relate to construction practices and procedures, combined with knowledge of various professional engineering disciplines (such as civil, mechanical, and structural), to enable the incumbent to identify, analyze, and resolve unusual and complex engineering/architectural problems related to construction methods, materials, and technologies, contracting techniques, resources, scheduling, and other engineering aspects of the construction industry.
• Understanding and knowledge of construction contracts and contracting techniques and methods, including both pre-award and post-award contract procedures, and the ability to analyze available methods and techniques as well as construction
  contract procurement alternatives, such as design/build, build-to-lease, etc. - Working knowledge of the delivery of overseas construction projects by demonstrating understanding variables and challenges associated with building construction in different regions of the world.
• Skill in acquisition strategy, budget monitoring, contract evaluation, cost management, and contract management, and an understanding of accounting techniques, including owner budget development and program cost control, construction contractor price formulation, and contract proposal price breakdowns.
• Working knowledge of proposal price alternatives, including Guaranteed Maximum Price, Firm Fixed Price, and re-measurement contracts based on Bills of Quantity.
• Knowledge of cost models, including parametric cost modeling techniques and scalable computerized cost models and their application to conceptual estimating for long-range project planning purposes.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply a variety of U.S. laws and regulations governing the procurement of design and construction services for overseas projects, including but not limited to the Brooks Act, Balance of Payments Program, Defense Base Act, Foreign Service Building Act, Omnibus Diplomatic Security Act, and Part 25 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and prioritize assignments and workload (CWEs, IGEs, memos, price comparisons, etc.).
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, in order to serve as a representative of the Division/Office/Bureau; to write and defend studies and reports; to advise the supervisor, project managers, and other engineer/architects on construction contract issues; to transfer knowledge on historical and current cost data and underlying trends on both a global cost basis and on a post-specific basis to colleagues and office management; and to answer questions regarding a myriad of issues related to cost management, contracting practices, award procedures, etc.
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution; and a minimum of Eleven (11) years of demonstrated knowledge and understanding of construction cost estimating.

Other Duties:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.