CEC Cost Databases & Resources 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When escalating a cost estimate from a prior year to the current year using cost indices, which formula is correct?
- Current Cost = Historical Cost × (Historical Index / Current Index)
- Current Cost = Historical Cost × (Current Index / Historical Index) (Correct answer)
- Current Cost = Historical Cost + (Current Index - Historical Index)
- Current Cost = Historical Cost / (Current Index × Historical Index)
Correct answer: Current Cost = Historical Cost × (Current Index / Historical Index)
To escalate costs, multiply the historical cost by the ratio of the current index to the historical index.
Question 2: The RS Means 'crew' designation in a cost database entry primarily communicates what information?
- The number of workers required on the project
- The specific mix of workers and equipment used to perform the task (Correct answer)
- The union jurisdiction responsible for the work
- The total labor hours budgeted for the task
Correct answer: The specific mix of workers and equipment used to perform the task
A crew designation in RS Means specifies the composition—types and quantities of workers and equipment—used to calculate the unit cost.
Question 3: Which cost database format organizes construction costs by functional building systems (e.g., substructure, shell, interiors) rather than by trade?
- MasterFormat
- UniFormat (Correct answer)
- SectionFormat
- GreenFormat
Correct answer: UniFormat
UniFormat organizes costs by functional building systems, making it ideal for conceptual estimating before trade details are defined.
Question 4: A local contractor's historical project data shows costs 12% above RS Means published rates. How should an estimator account for this?
- Ignore RS Means and use only the contractor's data
- Apply a +12% adjustment factor to RS Means bare costs (Correct answer)
- Switch to a different cost database
- Use RS Means labor only and contractor material costs
Correct answer: Apply a +12% adjustment factor to RS Means bare costs
Applying a calibration factor derived from historical bid comparisons to a published database is standard practice to localize generic data.
Question 5: What does the 'output' column in an RS Means productivity data entry typically represent?
- Total project output in dollars
- Daily crew production quantity (units per day) (Correct answer)
- Material waste output percentage
- Equipment output in horsepower
Correct answer: Daily crew production quantity (units per day)
The output column shows how many units of work a specified crew can complete in a standard workday.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the function of the Dodge Data & Analytics (Dodge) platform in construction estimating?
- Provides unit cost data for materials and labor
- Tracks construction project leads, starts, and market data (Correct answer)
- Generates automatic quantity takeoffs from drawings
- Publishes union wage agreements by region
Correct answer: Tracks construction project leads, starts, and market data
Dodge Data & Analytics specializes in construction market intelligence—project leads, starts, and industry trends—rather than unit cost data.
Question 7: When a cost database lists a material cost as 'delivered to site,' what additional cost should an estimator consider for remote or difficult-access projects?
- Sales tax only
- Additional freight surcharges and access premiums (Correct answer)
- Standard contractor markup
- Warranty and insurance costs
Correct answer: Additional freight surcharges and access premiums
Remote or restricted-access sites often require additional freight, specialty transport, or access premiums beyond standard delivered pricing.
CEC Cost Databases & Resources 3
When escalating a cost estimate from a prior year to the current year using cost indices, which formula is correct?