The SAEO is part of the WSDOT Design Office, providing technical support in the disciplines of Estimating, Risk Analysis, Value Engineering, and Project development Support to WSDOT headquarters and regional offices. The group also blends the resources in the areas of cost risk, value engineering, estimating, project development support and training in an effort to aid project offices in to the effective delivery of construction projects. SAEO provides oversight, training, review, and scheduling assistance through a variety of workshops, studies, estimating tools, and project development courses. They also provide varying degrees of technical support to other state and local agencies.
Primary Responsibilities
The SAEO Branch has primary responsibility for the following:
- Scheduling all CEVP/CRA Workshops
- Scheduling All Value Engineering Studies.
- Maintaining and supporting General Special Provisions Library
- Maintaining and supporting the Unit Bid Analysis histories.
- Scheduling and delivering Project Development Training.
- Maintaining and supporting the Estimate & Bid Analysis System.
- Maintaining and supporting the Plan Specification and Estimate Word Program.
- Managing Consultants assigned to workshops and studies
Technical Assistance
The SAEO offers technical assistance to other offices for the following:
- Estimating
- Value Engineering
- Project Development Training
- Cost Risk Assessment
- Cost Estimating Validation
- Basis of Bids
- BidTabs Pro
- EBASE
- PS&E WORD
- GSP formatting
- Wage Rate Determination
The Cost Risk Estimating Management Unit works collaboratively with project managers to review and validate cost and schedule estimates and assess risks for projects to support project managers who are under increasing pressure to deliver projects on time and on budget. This requires that an “on-time” date and “on budget” figure be established. WSDOT recognizes that project cost and schedule estimates, in particular early cost declarations, are more appropriately expressed, not as a single number, but as a range, to accomplish this WSDOT identifies project risks and uncertainty; our products and services include:
- Risk Based estimating workshops: Cost Estimate Validation Process - CEVP®, Cost Risk Assessment – CRA, combined workshops with Value Engineering (VE-CRA/VE-CEVP), other workshops as requested and tailored to project needs;
- Reports with actionable information that project managers and teams can use to pro-actively respond to identified project risk;
- Training in project risk management and risk-based estimating.
The Estimating Unit develops and maintains statewide estimating policy for WSDOT. The unit supports projects as requested: (1) provides training in estimating field, (2) provides answers to questions regarding estimating, (3) reviews estimates, (4) leads risk analysis for project cost and schedule, (5) responsible of maintaining and providing technical support for E-BASE and Bid Tab Pro, (6) Maintains GSP libraries and run lists, and is responsible for wage and GSP publications. The Estimating Unit keeps up to date with current practice in transportation estimating, evaluates new tools and techniques for use at WSDOT, and provides support and expertise to the CEVP/CRA program.
Project Development Support provides technical support and training for engineering data systems used in the preparation of Estimates, Contract Plans, and the PS&E Word Program used to create Special Provisions throughout the state. Project Development Support manages the publishing process for revisions to the General Special Provisions and Amendments to the Standard Specifications.
The Project Development Trainers are a knowledgeable, statewide team creating, updating, and delivering project development training as needed for WSDOT employees. The Project Development Trainers utilize a variety of instructional methods to provide innovative, practical, and up-to-date information. This training helps employees develop knowledge and skills to successfully complete tasks and projects within scope, schedule, and budget.
Value Engineering (VE) is a systematic process that focuses on major issues of a complex project. A Value Engineering study uses a multidisciplined team to develop recommendations for important design decisions with the primary objective of value improvement.