Standard Forms for Cost Planning & Cost Control | Capital Works Management Framework

There are template forms for the cost planning and cost control of building projects and civil engineering projects. Each form can be used as a template for different cost planning and control functions at different stages in the delivery process of a project.

All of the principal cost-holding categories are established when the Outline Cost Plan is produced. The values in each category then go through a process of being validated every time a new report is produced as the project progresses through its delivery process, up to the completion of Analysis of Outturn Costs report.

CO1: How to use the Costing Document (Building Works) Template
C01 also describes the national standard building and site elements that the Costing Document is based on.
CO1 – How to use the Costing Document (Building Works) Template (PDF)

CO1.1a: Excel template for costing building works
To be used to create all of the cost control reports listed below.CO1.1a – Costing Document (Building Works) (Excel)

CO 2: How to use the Costing Document (Civil Engineering Works) Templates
CO2 – How to use the Costing Document (Civil Engineering Works) Templates (PDF)

CO 2.1a: Excel template for costing civil engineering works (Roads)
To be used to create all of the cost control reports listed below.CO2.1a – Costing Document (Civil Engineering Works) Roads (Excel)

CO 2.2a: Excel template for costing civil engineering works (water sector)
To be used to create all of the cost control reports listed below.CO2.2a – Costing Document (Civil Engineering Works) Water Services (Excel)

CO 2.3a: Excel template for costing civil engineering works (Marine)
To be used to create all of the cost control reports listed below.CO2.3a – Costing Document (Civil Engineering Works) Marine (Excel)

Cost and Carbon documents

Further guidance will be forthcoming over the following weeks

Price Variation Workbooks

The guide and workbook documents can be viewed on the Price Variation Workbook section of this website.

Cost Report Activities and Output Documents

The following table summarises the main cost report activities and their output documents.

a: Outline Cost Plan

The Outline Cost Plan is a schedule of principal cost holding categories that are established at the start of the design process and remain constant up to the Analysis Of Outturn Costs stage.

The value of each cost holding category can be subject to change during at the various validation stages in the delivery process of a project, ranging from realistic target costs in the Outline Cost Plan to actual incurred costs at the Analysis of Outturn Costs. The initial values entered in the Outline Cost Plan should be realistic target costs. In summary the Outline Cost Plan should be based on:

The Outline Sketch Scheme (design) / Preliminary Planning (design) developed for the most realistic cost effective option in a range of options for a project;
Benchmark cost data adjusted to establish realistic targets for each principal cost-holding category;
Costs associated with the assessment of site / ground conditions – using updated historical cost data and approximate quantities where appropriate.The Outline Cost Plan total should in addition include for VAT at the appropriate rates.

As every project is different, professional judgement should be exercised as to the levels of investigation and reporting requirements that are needed for a particular project – including appropriate investigation into market behaviour and prices.
The Outline Cost Plan is a key cost document that informs Project Review 3.

b: Developed Cost Plan, Outline Cost Plan (Revised)

The Developed Cost Plan / Outline Cost Plan (revised) is the key cost control document developed at the conclusion of the Developed Sketch Scheme / Preliminary Planning stage.

The principal cost holding categories in the Outline Cost Plan are disaggregated into sub-cost holding categories as appropriate in the Developed Cost Plan/Outline Cost Plan (revised) and adjusted in line with design changes as the design evolves during Project Reviews 4 and 6 in the planning stage.

The Developed Cost Plan/Outline Cost Plan, Revised is a key cost document that informs Project Review 4. It is at this review stage that clearance from the Sanctioning Authority is required before the project can proceed.

These cost plans may be subject to amendment as the project passes through Project Reviews 5 and 6.

c: Tender Cost Analysis

The Tender Cost Analysis takes place at tender evaluation stage based on the preferred tenderer’s price. Its purpose, during the tender evaluation stage, is to enable the comparison of the detailed tender costs under the relevant principal and subsidiary holding categories with those in the pre-tender budgeted costs as set out in the most recently developed/revised cost plan.

For Employer-designed projects, this will be the Developed Cost Plan (Building Works) or Outline Cost Plan Revised (Civil Engineering Works); and
For design-and-build projects, this will be the last cost plan developed in advance of the transfer of design risk to the Contractor – typically, the Outline Cost Plan.

d: Analysis of Outturn Costs

The Analysis of Outturn Costs takes place as part of the Post-project Review when the project has been completed. Its purpose is to compare the actual outturn costs of the project with the budgeted costs as set out in the Tender Cost Analysis It is structured in the same way as the Tender Cost Analysis with adjusted costs (as a result of compensation events) for the principal and subsidiary categories.