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Open Standard · M3 Cost & Estimating

M3.5 Cost Forecasting & Commercial/Contract Interfaces

By the end of this section, the learner should be able to produce and challenge a credible cost forecast that explains what the project or package is now expected to cost, why that expectation differs from the authorised baseline or prior forecast, what commercial and delivery assumptions the forecast depends on, and where material uncertainty remains. They should be able to build Estimate to Complete (ETC) from the remaining scope rather than simply extrapolating spend; combine incurred cost and ETC into Estimate at Completion (EAC); reconcile commitments without double counting them; assess uncommitted work, changes, claims, remeasurement, escalation, currency, productivity and schedule effects; and translate contract information into a realistic project-cost outlook.

Knowledge

Articles and chapters

  • M6.5 — Claims & Forensic Analysis

    1. Practical outcome The learner should be able to preserve relevant records, define a forensic question, establish a reliable chronology, test cause and effect across schedule and cost, distinguish facts from assumptions and produce reproducible findings. They should understand how project-controls…

    20 Oct 2026
  • Project Controls Open Standard

    Collaborative work -n-progress contributed by members and experts from across the community cadre.The Project Controls Open Standard brings together practical project controls knowledge in one free,…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M6.4 — Assurance & Control Reviews

    1. Practical outcomeThe learner should be able to plan and conduct a proportionate review of project-controls data, processes and outputs; test evidence against stated criteria; identify material weaknesses; communicate their consequences; and verify corrective action. They should distinguish…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M6.2 — Change Control

    1. Practical outcomeThe learner should be able to recognise a potential change, record and define it, assess integrated consequences, identify the correct authority, support an approve/reject/defer decision and track implementation to verified closure. They should distinguish a changed requirement…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M6.1 — Project Controls Strategy & Governance

    1. Practical outcomeThe learner should be able to design and operate a proportionate project-controls strategy: define what decisions the project needs, identify the information and controls that support them, assign ownership and authority, establish an integrated operating cycle, set escalation…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M5.4 — Integrated Forecasting & Predictive Analysis

    1. Practical outcomeThe learner should be able to produce one coherent view of expected project outcomes by reconciling schedule, cost, physical accomplishment, acceptance, commercial exposure and uncertainty. They should identify inconsistent assumptions, distinguish target from forecast, build…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M5.3 — Integrated Cost & Schedule Performance

    1. Practical outcomeThe learner should be able to connect authorised scope, time-phased budget, evidence of accomplishment and incurred cost at a common cut-off. They should calculate and interpret basic Earned Value Management measures, reconcile them to source records, distinguish cost efficiency…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M5.2 — Variance & Trend Analysis

    1. Practical outcomeThe learner should be able to establish a valid comparison, calculate period and cumulative variance, analyse a time series, distinguish delivery deterioration from timing or data effects, find causes across discipline boundaries and test whether an intervention improves the…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M4.5 — Contingency & Uncertainty

    1. Practical outcomeBy the end of this section, the learner should be able to establish, explain, govern and reassess cost and schedule provision for uncertainty without hiding it inside the base plan. They should be able to distinguish base budget or duration from contingency and, where the…

    17 Oct 2026
  • M4.4 — Risk Response & Control

    1. Practical outcomeBy the end of this section, the learner should be able to turn an analysed threat or opportunity into a controlled management response that is proportionate, owned, time-bound and integrated with the way the project is actually delivered. They should be able to distinguish a…

    17 Oct 2026

Discussions

1,048 discussions

  1. 47replies
    Forensics - How to determine why?
    Forensic Claims Analysisby David Andreotti· 18 years ago
  2. 13replies
    Cash loading
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Rajeev P.U.· 18 years ago
  3. 16replies
    Float v Contingency
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Uri Shachar· 18 years ago
  4. 10replies
    VO & Working Programme
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Sajid Balma· 18 years ago
  5. 20replies
    No contract programme
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Ian Mackrell· 18 years ago
  6. 18replies
    Owner Directed Change
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Brad Richey· 18 years ago
  7. 8replies
    Delay of payments release
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Ayman Eleish· 18 years ago
  8. 0replies
    No Subject Specified
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Raed Hussein· 18 years ago
  9. 19replies
    DELAY BASIS, COMMENTS NEEDED.
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Marwan Ibrahim· 18 years ago
  10. 2replies
    Payment on maintenance of vehicle
    Forensic Claims Analysisby Omer Hassan· 18 years ago

591–600 of 1,048

Blogs

Thought leadership

  • PROCEDURES No 16 – Quality Standards

    Fed up with adverts from software companies and consultancies that are going to change the world of Planning and solve all your project problems? This series of occasional articles promises nothing but thought provoking questions on how well we understand the basics of our profession from the…

    PP Admin

    23 Aug 2026
  • Baseline Change Management

    Changes to the Baseline must be accommodated so that the baseline accurately represents the current plan.

    Rafael Davila

    8 Aug 2017
  • Time Equals Money

    We have all been told that time equals money. Even, time is money. But what does any of that truly mean? Time and money separately are highly debatable subjects. The combination of the two can certainly be a conundrum. However, it is this author’s belief that in construction, this may as well be a l

    Michael Bensussen

    21 Sept 2016

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  1. MacclesfieldPermanent EmploymentCivil / Building / E&M
    £95,000

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