Bid Smarter. Build Margin
Protection Into Every Project.
Respond to design changes faster than competitors. Track cost impacts before they become change orders. Protect your margins from concept through closeout.
Phase three. The budget is presented. The owner asks where the number came from. Nobody in the room can fully trace it.
Active Estimating is a Full-Cycle Cost Intelligence Platform
Built by construction practitioners with 30+ years of estimating and preconstruction experience.
We help general contractors maintain cost control from preconstruction through closeout, whether you're running CM at Risk, Design-Build, or hard bid projects.
What If You Could Respond to
Design Changes the Same Week?
Margin erosion starts earlier than you think. By the time you see problems in monthly reports, the damage is done.
How It Usually Works
- Design changes pile up faster than your team can price them
- Tight deadlines force estimates based on incomplete information
- Change order disputes require hours of documentation
- Trade coordination gaps surface during construction
- Bidding requires padding for uncertainty or accepting margin risk
With Active Estimating
- Update estimates quickly when design changes
- Model-based estimating with automated data conditioning
- Every assumption tracked, every change logged for disputes
- Coordinate trade scopes with shared quantity data
- Bid with confidence, not excessive contingency
cost intelligence that protects margin
Respond faster. Document better. Defend your number with data.
Faster Response
Update estimates quickly when design changes. Be the GC who answers owner questions the same week.
Documented Trail
Every assumption tracked. Every change logged. When disputes arise, the evidence exists.
Model-Based Estimating
Automated data conditioning from BIM. Extract quantities directly, update estimates as models evolve.
Better Bid Accuracy
Detailed estimates even on tight timelines. Bid with confidence, not excessive contingency.
Different Projects, Different Value
How you engage determines which capabilities matter most.
CM at Risk / GMP
GMP negotiations require defensible assumptions. Lock in cost basis, track design evolution, document every change that affects your guaranteed price.
Design-Build
You own design cost outcomes. Early conceptual budgets set owner expectations. Track design evolution against your original cost basis. Document scope changes for contract protection.
Hard Bid / Design-Bid-Build
Respond to addenda quickly. Track what changed between bid sets. When you win, establish baseline scope for change order protection through construction.
IPD / Target Value Delivery
Continuous collaboration requires continuous cost visibility. Real-time feedback keeps design aligned with target. Track value engineering decisions and their impacts.
CM at Risk / GMP
GMP negotiations require defensible assumptions. Lock in cost basis, track design evolution, document every change that affects your guaranteed price.
Design-Build
You own design cost outcomes. Early conceptual budgets set owner expectations. Track design evolution against your original cost basis. Document scope changes for contract protection.
Hard Bid / Design-Bid-Build
Respond to addenda quickly. Track what changed between bid sets. When you win, establish baseline scope for change order protection through construction.
IPD / Target Value Delivery
Continuous collaboration requires continuous cost visibility. Real-time feedback keeps design aligned with target. Track value engineering decisions and their impacts.
Full-Cycle Cost Intelligence
Click to learn more about each module.
AEConcept™
Early conceptual budgets for owner discussions and GMP development. Defensible numbers before detailed design exists.
AEConnect™
Track design evolution and cost impacts. Respond to changes faster than competitors. Coordinate trade pricing.
AECalibration™
Change order documentation. Cost-to-complete tracking. Assumption validation as construction reveals reality.
Two Ways to Get Cost Intelligence
White-label our expertise or bring our platform in-house.
Platform Subscription
Your preconstruction team operates the platform with our training and support. Build permanent internal capability and institutional knowledge.
Best for:
GCs with dedicated preconstruction staff and repeat project types
Expert Services
We deliver estimates, change order analysis, and cost tracking directly. Extend your preconstruction capacity without adding headcount.
Best for:
Project-based needs or teams at capacity
Your Cost Basis Travels With the Project
Conceptual estimates become design tracking baselines. Design assumptions become construction validation benchmarks. One continuous cost thread from first budget through final closeout.
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