Pre-Tender Estimates & Independent Cost Reviews
Know what your project should cost before tenders come back, with a detailed, independent baseline built from your drawings.
What is a pre-tender estimate?
A pre-tender estimate (PTE) is a detailed forecast of the likely construction cost, prepared once the design is developed enough to tender, and before tenders are invited. It is the benchmark that returned tenders are measured against.
Without one, it is hard to tell whether a low bid is competitive or incomplete, or whether a high bid reflects genuine risk. A good PTE lets you set a realistic budget, confirm the scheme is viable, and challenge tender returns with evidence.
We prepare pre-tender estimates for developers, clients, architects and contractors, measured to NRM2 and priced at current market rates for the project's location.
Who uses a pre-tender estimate
Benchmarking tender returns with confidence
When tenders come back, a PTE turns a set of lump sums into something you can compare. Returns that sit well below the estimate are checked for missing scope; those well above are checked for over-pricing or excess risk.
We can also carry out an independent cost review of an existing budget or cost plan, which is useful for fit-out budgets or before a funding decision.
Frequently asked questions
A detailed estimate of the expected construction cost, prepared from the tender-stage design before tenders are invited. It is used to set the budget and to evaluate the tenders that come back.
A cost plan is developed during design and is usually elemental and less detailed. A pre-tender estimate is prepared at tender stage from more developed information and is priced in more detail.
Accuracy depends on how complete the design is. With a well-developed tender pack, a detailed PTE should typically sit within a few percent of competitive returns. We state all assumptions and exclusions so you can see where uncertainty remains.
Yes. We can compare and level the returned tenders against the pre-tender estimate and flag missing scope, anomalies and qualifications.
Yes. We provide independent cost reviews of fit-out budgets and market pricing benchmarks before tendering.
Related services
Have a tender deadline?
Send us your drawings and scope. We'll confirm coverage, measurement standard and a fixed fee within 24 hours.
Get a free quote