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The many years of estimating I have under the belt helps significantly with tenders, feasibility studies, tender evaluations but also when you need a second opinion or check existing estimates.

An estimate is not only the cost price calculation but also requires 1) the project planning, 2) risk and opportunity management/quantification, 3) engineering and design optimizations, 4)  alternatives, 5) Client qualifications. Estimates can be sharp, but the tender often gets won elsewhere. Here (my) experience can make a difference.

I strongly believe that an estimator can be most useful in fields in which he is intimately familiar. My expertise is described in some detail further on on this page and on the “experience” page following.
It won’t make a lot of sense asking me to – for instance – estimate a major onshore pipe installation scope, or deep water offshore installations. I won’t add a lot of value there.

Design and Engineering

Most projects involve design and engineering. This should not be done in splendid isolation by the specialized engineers, but the estimator needs to be involved to make sure the cost implications of choices made become part of the engineering/design process. This is one place where tenders get won or lost.

I remember a tender we revisited where I noticed the backfill of a large diameter concrete pipe was designed with gravel, which was expensive and hard to get at the specific location. I called the – very experienced – designer and asked him why he had chosen this solution. He started to laugh and said there were indeed other less gold plated solution which were good enough, but he waited for the question to be asked!

Installation engineering is highly dependent on using correct and not too conservative/optimistic starting points. Unfortunately this goes wrong/not-optimal more often than not. 

Design and engineering optimization influences the cost price far more than squeezing a subcontractor for the last percent (not that we should not look at this as well though)

The first thing I do is to make a rough planning of the project, preferably in Microsoft Project. This planning gets finetuned during the tender proces. The initial planning and associated cost indication helps getting a grip on the project from the start onwards.

Sometimes I see tenders without a proper planning, even in late stages! Very frightening. In that case the first thing I do is to make this planning!

Van Oord is strong in dredging and having worked there since 1993 I am familiar with estimating all types of dredging: capital dredging, maintenance dredging,  backfilling, beach nourishment, land reclamation.

I have made estimated using all kinds of dredging equipment, such as: Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers (TSHD), Cutter Suction Dredgers (CSD), Backhoe Dredgers, Water Injection Dredgers (WID), Grab Dredgers, DOP pumps, Airlifts, any various other tools. 

The choice what kind of equipment to use is the most important. Often a combination of 2 or 3 types of dredging equipment can be most cost effective. Mobilisation costs play an important role.

Estimating dredging work is actually rather difficult. There are many uncertainties such as the weather and the soil parameters.  Further uncertainties have to do with vessel availability and mobilization location, productions, expected infill, slopes and over depths which can be achieved. Decisions have to be made who takes the burden of the risk.

Rock installation can be used for coastal protection, construction of bunds and breakwaters, scour protection, pipe stability

Rock installation is mostly executed by Side Stone Dumping Vessels (SSDV), anchored barges, Flexible Fall Pipe Vessels (FFPV), Land Based Earth Moving Equipment.

Rock dumping with FFPV’s is highly specialized factory work. The remainder of rock dumping is more “rough”. The choice of installation equipment depends strongly on what is locally available. The estimating  difficulties lay mainly in the logistics, weather delays and the calculation of the bruto quantities (losses by penetration and over height/width). 

I have calculated design, purchase and installation of various pipe materials: steel, stainless steel, HDPE, GRP, Concrete

Installation is normally done by Shallow Water Pipe Lay Barge, Pipe Pull sea to land and from a stringing yard into the sea, Float & Sink, Of Bottom Tow, Installing piece by piece with underwater coupling 

These are the most complex tenders because of the multitude of interfaces. Planning is very important here.

These kind of projects carry a high risk profile. Dredging delays can cause delays to the following pipe laying activities. However, when the dredging goes faster than expected, the benefit is often nil pipe lay can’t start earlier and the trench needs to be maintained. High risks, but limited opportunities.

The last year I have mainly  worked on tenders involving relocation works and improvement works. Nature enhancement is still in a early stage of development. The challenge is to come with a solid tender, not promising too much but still convincing the Client you are the specialists and know what you are doing within the limits of knowledge. Careful proposal writing, cost efficiency and creativity are called for.

The main nature enhancement works I have looked at are 1) Spat on Substrate: having oyster larvae settle on substrate in a protected environment and then setting then out in full sea. 2) Setting out of mature oysters: glue to structures and install in full sea 3)  growing of corals from larvae stage till setting out on degraded reefs 4) design, assembly and installation of artificial “tree reefs” to provide a safe habitat for sea life.

Most dredging, rock dumping and pipe installation projects require a variety of supporting activities. These scopes of work can be quite substantial. Think of HDD installation, Cofferdam installation, Onshore pipe installations, String yard for pipe fabrication, Rock stockpile areas, Temporary roads.

The larger scopes can be estimated but need mostly to be subcontracted. A good RFQ is key! The art here is proper time management. Subcontractors need to be allowed sufficient time to come with a proper proposal. It could be required to send a rough RFQ first and finetune asap. Sufficient float for a proper evaluation is required as well; proposals unfortunately aren’t always what we expect them to be…

The smaller scopes – if well understood but not within the comfort zone – can be estimated to a less strict accuracy. The impact of this larger uncertainty is limited. 

In principle I work remote from Thailand. However, if need is there I can fly out and work elsewhere.

Internal rates are often confidential — I’m happy to use placeholder figures you adjust later. 

For me to find info and communicate with your employees I have learned it is helpful to have a sort of buddy to help me with the logistics. You also have to decide what info I have access to. I can advise you how things were done on previous projects.

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