Estimates

Yes. Customers may not send an RWA for acceptance without an approved Summary Cost Estimate (SCE) or Overtime Utility Estimate (OUE) linked to their Work Request.

The customer must always pay cost increases. It is important for the Project Manager to manage the customer’s expectations, especially utilizing the ranges of accuracy identified on the SCE Form.

Please visit OFM’s website of Overtime Utilities FAQs should you have any additional questions on OUEs.

The OUET is used for all above standard services such as:

• Custodial or janitorial services
• Special cleaning (above office standard)
• Operations and maintenance and additional utility costs related to special tenant agency program equipment or furniture
• Electrical
• HVAC utility costs that exceed 10 hours of operating service for Federally owned space and outside the normal operation hours as described in the lease for leased space. However, if local market practice provides standard HVAC that exceeds 10 hours (and/or Saturday hours), additional reimbursement is not required and the lease must state the building's normal operating hours.

The SCE is used for all other projects and services.

Yes, customers are encouraged to send an RWA Work Request in eRETA as soon as they identify a need for a project or service. This will prompt GSA to assign a PM and start developing requirements including estimates.

The Summary Cost Estimate (SCE) is the electronic estimate in RETA used by PBS personnel to summarize the total estimated direct and indirect costs of a project.

The GSA Project Manager associated with the RWA Work Request completes the SCE in RETA.

PBS charges for travel when the travel is outside of PBS’s local area (50 miles) or is in excess of the typical travel required for a project (e.g., the customer requires PBS to be on-site more than the typical project).

Yes.

Typically, PBS creates the detailed estimate / Independent Government Estimate (IGE), and uses it to generate a Summary Cost Estimate (SCE).

Yes, but PBS must still conduct its own due diligence to verify the validity of the customer’s estimate. Per PBS RWA Policy, GSA can accept customer-provided cost estimates to support an RWA as long as the customer is willing to share the basis for those estimates in order for the GSA Cost Estimator, or the GSA PM, to acknowledge in writing that the customer-provided cost estimate is acceptable.