USACE Cost Estimator

About Company:

Kundlas Consulting Group LLC is a professional consulting firm specializing in construction inspection and compliance services for public infrastructure projects. Our core services include on-site inspection of roadway, bridge, and utility construction to ensure adherence to engineering specifications, safety standards, and contract requirements. We support clients with daily reporting, materials testing coordination, schedule tracking, and quality assurance oversight. Additional services include project management, grants management for federally funded infrastructure and disaster recovery programs.

About the Role:

The Cost Estimator will support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) READI contract by developing detailed and parametric cost estimates for emergency response, disaster recovery, infrastructure restoration, facility rehabilitation, and resiliency projects. This role provides cost engineering expertise to support project planning, budgeting, scope development, acquisition strategies, and decision-making throughout all phases of project delivery.

The Cost Estimator will analyze project requirements, engineering designs, technical specifications, construction methodologies, and market conditions to prepare accurate and defensible cost estimates in accordance with USACE standards and federal requirements. The position requires close coordination with architects, engineers, project managers, construction professionals, and government stakeholders to ensure estimates accurately reflect project scope, schedule, risk, and resource requirements.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Cost Engineering, Architecture, Engineering Technology, or a related technical discipline.
• MCACES MII Certified Estimator with demonstrated experience preparing construction cost estimates.
• Professional experience developing detailed, conceptual, parametric, and engineer's cost estimates for construction, infrastructure, or facility projects.
• Proficiency in MCACES MII, RSMeans, cost estimating databases, and related cost engineering software applications.
• Strong knowledge of construction methods, labor productivity factors, equipment costs, material pricing, and subcontractor cost analysis.
• Experience reviewing engineering drawings, technical specifications, construction documents, and project scopes.
• Strong analytical, mathematical, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Professional Estimator (CPE), Certified Cost Professional (CCP), or equivalent cost engineering credential.
• Experience supporting USACE, FEMA, NAVFAC, GSA, DoD, or other federal construction and infrastructure programs.
• Experience preparing estimates for emergency response, disaster recovery, infrastructure restoration, or Design-Build projects.
• Familiarity with life-cycle cost analysis, risk-based estimating, and value engineering methodologies.
• Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), federal contracting practices, and government project delivery processes.
• Experience supporting large-scale civil works, facility construction, or infrastructure rehabilitation programs.

Responsibilities:

• Develop detailed and parametric cost estimates supporting emergency response, disaster recovery, and infrastructure restoration projects.
• Review project plans, specifications, engineering studies, reports, and construction documents to define project scope and estimate requirements.
• Prepare conceptual, preliminary, detailed, and independent government cost estimates in accordance with USACE estimating procedures.
• Utilize MCACES MII and other approved estimating tools to develop labor, material, equipment, subcontractor, and indirect cost estimates.
• Perform quantity takeoffs, pricing analyses, escalation assessments, and cost validation activities.
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, project managers, construction specialists, and government representatives to resolve estimating issues and clarify project requirements.
• Support value engineering studies, constructability reviews, and risk assessments to identify cost optimization opportunities.
• Prepare cost estimate reports, basis-of-estimate documentation, cost narratives, and supporting technical documentation.
• Maintain current pricing databases, historical cost information, and market intelligence to support estimate accuracy.
• Participate in project planning, acquisition support, budget development, and project review activities as required.

Skills:

The ideal candidate must possess strong expertise in construction cost estimating, cost engineering, and project budgeting to support emergency response and recovery projects. Proficiency in MCACES MII, quantity takeoff methodologies, cost databases, and estimating software is essential for developing accurate and defensible cost estimates. A thorough understanding of construction practices, labor productivity factors, equipment utilization, material pricing, and federal construction requirements is critical for evaluating project costs and supporting acquisition decisions. The candidate should demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess project risks, interpret technical documentation, and develop realistic cost projections under rapidly evolving project conditions. Experience performing parametric estimating, independent government estimates, value engineering evaluations, and risk-based cost analyses is highly desirable. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are necessary for preparing cost reports, presenting estimate findings, and coordinating with multidisciplinary teams and government stakeholders. Familiarity with USACE cost engineering procedures, disaster recovery operations, and federal infrastructure programs is essential for successful performance under the USACE READI contract.