4Clicks is excited to open our Getting Started class to our strategic business partner, RSMeans! We are now offering a co-branded online training class to serve e4Clicks and JOCWorks clients alike! This online class is perfect if you don’t have time to make it to one of our 2-Day Introductory regional training classes but could use some...Continue Reading

4Clicks Introduction to RSMeans Estimating – VIRTUAL TRAINING – November 20th This online session provides an incredible opportunity to be introduced to RSMeans Cost Data.  Plus, you can participate from your own office!  Whether you are an Owner, Contractor, Subcontractor, AE, Facility Manager, Planner, or Procurement Professional; this six (6) hour session is perhaps one...Continue Reading

This online class is perfect if you don’t have time to make it to one of our 2-Day Introductory regional training classes but could use some help getting started. Getting Started class is six (6) hours and designed to get you up and going with your e4Clicks Project Estimator. You won’t learn the entire program,...Continue Reading

This online class is perfect if you don’t have time to make it to one of our 2-Day Introductory regional training classes but could use some help getting started. The Getting Started class is six (6) hours and designed to get you up and going with your e4Clicks Project Estimator. You won’t learn the entire...Continue Reading

Congrats to Air Force Nominees for the 58th Annual Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service! Dr. Steven F. Butler, Air Force Materiel Command Robert S. Jack, II, Air Force Global Strike Command and Dr. Grant T. Hammond, Air Education Training Command   Additional information per Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs- JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH,...Continue Reading

KPI’s for Construction Cost Estimators – KPI stands for Key Performance Indicator, thus the real question is how do you measure the performance of a cost estimator.  Here a few “hard” and “soft” KPI’s, and I love to hear your thoughts! – Number of post submission iterations/changes – Ability and willingness to collaborate with all...Continue Reading

There are several ways to organize estimates. A very small project can be organized using one estimate, while a large project may require up to 10 or even 15 estimates. In the case of 4Clicks’ Project Estimator users, most have multi-year contracts (3 to 5 years in duration). During a multi-year contract, many projects may...Continue Reading

1. Collaboration – “no successful cost estimator is an island”, It is critical to understand the full scope of any project. Collaboration spans discussions with Owners, Contractors, Subs/Trades about the Projects including; site visits and sharing estimates, jointly reviewing/refining, negotiating estimates, and more! 2. Transparency – Despite what you may hear, there is no “secret...Continue Reading

The Unit Price Book and Technical Specifications will be used to support Job Order Contracts for conventional facility construction at the following installations within the USACE Ft. Worth District; Corpus Christi Army Depot, TX, Fort Bliss, TX, Fort Hood, TX, Fort Polk, LA, Fort Sam Houston, TX and White Sands Missile Range, NM.Continue Reading

Join us in Las Vegas, NV for our awesome classes! Take advantage of an opportunity to bring your estimating skills to the next level! 1. The last scheduled 2-day Introductory Course for 2013 – June 19th – 20th 2. 4Clicks’ Estimating with RSMeans – June 18th Our 2-Day Introductory Class is perfect for new e4Clicks...Continue Reading

I recently saw these questions on Linked-in. “Is asking for an estimators/contractors breakdown and takeoff for their proposal a fair request?” “How much information should an estimator give?” In our worlds of JOC and SABER asking detailed unit price breakdowns is not only a reasonably request, but standard practice. Detailed line item estimates, including line...Continue Reading

1-Day Training Class – San Antonio, TX – May 17th, 2013 Who Should Attend? Estimators, Project Managers, Contractors, Owners, AE’s If you currently use RSMeans Cost Data for line item estimating or work on government JOC, SABER, IDIQ, or similar projects…or would like to…this course is for you! REGISTER TODAY Cost: $149.00 per attendee.Continue Reading

You wanted it; now it’s here!  This new 1 day class is designed to provide an overview of construction cost estimating, from conceptual to detailed.  We also cover important related topics such as finding opportunities, leveraging site visits to avoid pitfalls, discussing useful tips to ensure complete estimates, and so much more!   This course is...Continue Reading

Our “2-Day Introductory Class” for e4Clicks Project Estimator is coming up soon, March 13-14, 2013 in Las Vegas, NV. We also are offering a NEW course, “1-Day Construction Cost Estimating 101, featuring RSMeans Cost Data” at NO CHARGE, on March 12, 2013 at the same location. Participants of our 2-Day session are welcome to come...Continue Reading

Peter Cholakis, 4Clicks CMO, was recently appointed to the NIBS (National Institute of Building Sciences) NBIMS (National BIM Standard) Planning Committee, as well as Chair of the NBIMS3.0 Terminology Subcommittee. The adoption of standards and best practices for BIM, the life-cycle management of the built environment, is very important to our Nation’s economy as well...Continue Reading

Just a quick note on the importance of teamwork to you SABER and JOC programs. While we all know the value of Owners, Contractors, and AE’s working together, it’s also important that Procurement, Planning, and PMs/CEs and DPW staff work together. Everyone working with the same data, within software tools; not only saves time, but...Continue Reading

“CE AFSCs were promoted at a 26.2% rate, more than 3% higher than the AF average–a testament to the outstanding work and contributions to the mission made by the CE family every day.” – Mickey Addison, Engineer/Base Support Officer at United States Air Force.  Allain Eric B 436 CES, Dover AFB, DE Clifford David L,...Continue Reading

We’d like to wish everyone; Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Healthy and Prosperous New Year. Thank you all for your business, support, and friendship. “In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” Dietrich BonhoefferContinue Reading

It Has Always Been the Soldier: It is the Soldier, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press; It is the Solder, not the poet who has given us the freedom of speech; It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer who has given us freedom to demonstrate It is the...Continue Reading

Teaching Construction Cost Estimating:  Experience and mentoring play a major role in developing cost estimating skills, however, training and retraining are also very important.   A sample construction cost estimating course outline  shown below.  If your organization is interested in an on-site session, please give us a call. Levels of Cost Estimating                 Order of Magnitude...Continue Reading

Recently I noted the following on Linked In – “When I was at ODD, I was constantly asked by the staffers who’d been there for a while why the AF didn’t have an installation command like the Army or Navy…I explained how much more airpower is dependent on bases, AF doctrine for combat support, etc.,...Continue Reading

Job order contracting is an innovative procurement technique designed to provide more responsive facility maintenance and repair and minor construction. It is intended to significantly reduce engineering and procurement lead-times by awarding a competitively bid, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity, multitask contract to a single general contractor. The contract consists of detailed task specifications for a multitude of...Continue Reading

What is BIM, and what can you do to develop best practice in terms of bridging the disconnection between key BIM stakeholders? A focus upon “change management” would likely delivery the highest return on your investment. BIM is the life-cycle management of the built environment supported by digital technology. As such it requires an understanding...Continue Reading

Join us in the Springs! e4Clicks Project Estimator Introductory Class – October 17th and 18th 4Clicks will be hosting our awesome 2-day introductory training session in Colorado Springs. Work directly with e4Clicks Project Estimator and do actual detailed item cost estimates with RSMeans Cost Data. You will even take a quick look at Visual Cost...Continue Reading