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Reference

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Reference #

Reference module highlighted on navigation bar

In This Section #

  • Introduction
  • Cost Database Viewer
  • Escalation
    • Source
    • FOS Building Index
    • Percentage Change From Prior Year
  • Escalation Table
    • Data Grid
    • Calculating Forecasted Cost
  • Reference Admin
    • Escalation Matrix Maintenance
    • Update Table From API

Introduction #

The FOScore® Reference Module includes a Cost Database Viewer and Escalation data. These resources are used to analyze current costs as well as forecast future costs.

Cost Database Viewer #

The Cost Database Viewer tab of the Reference Module provides an opportunity to group, browse, and search available Cost Item Databases. 

To begin, click on the Item Database selection in the upper left. The dropdown menu offers two choices, My Items and Simplebid®, other options may be added for client-created references.

  • My Items enables you to view items that you have entered into the system in the Item Database Maintenance section of the Estimating Module.
  • SimpleBid® consists of a database of more than 16 thousand items that can be accessed using either MasterFormat® or UniFormat® coding.

Next review, and if needed, change the Rate Table at the top right. Unit costs are calculated, in part, using the selected Rate Table.

Find the desired item and the related unit cost and note.  More detailed item data is available in the Estimating Module.

Cost Database Viewer with Simplebid selected
This image shows the grid display with grouping applied for Uniformat® and MasterFormat® levels 1 and 2.
Cost Database Viewer with My Items selected
Sample search being applied to the Simplebid database in the Cost Database Viewer
The search tool being applied to the Simplebid database.

Customize Layout #

In the upper right corner of the Cost Database Viewer, you will find the Customize Layout option. Click this option if you would like to modify the look of the database viewer by changing what items you see, how they are sorted and grouped, in addition to other options.

Customize Layout feature highlighted

The image below shows some of the options available in the Sorting tab of the Customize Layout feature.

Customize Layout options: Sorting, Grouping, Filtering, and Column Chooser tabs

Within the Customize Layout feature, there are four available tabs:

  • Sorting
  • Grouping
  • Filtering
  • Column Chooser

Each tab allows you to apply the named function on many of the fields within the Cost Database. Click on the circle to the right of the fields you would like to include in the Database Viewer.

The following fields are available for selection:

Item IDItem CodeDescription
Item Unit CostUnitNote
MF1MF2MF3
MF4UF1UF2
UF3UF4Crew
AttachmentLabor UnitLabor Productivity
Labor Productivity UnitLabor ProductionLabor Production Units
Labor Unit CostMaterial PriceMaterial Unit
Material ConversionMaterial Conversion UnitsMaterial Unit Cost
Eqp PriceEqp UnitEqp Unit Cost
Created byCreated (date)Updated By
Updated (date)Cost DateGroup Link
Cost NoteStatus

Escalation #

Source #

The Source graph depicts data for select Producer Price Indexes (PPIs) published monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. An API connection to the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) ensures current information. Client administrators update the data in the Estimating Admin Module, Escalation Maintenance section by selecting Update Table From API in the Escalation Maintenance Matrix. While the information is updated by FRED monthly, client administrators have access to perform an update at any time. Once the update has been done, the latest information will be visible on the Escalation graphs and will populate throughout the module.

Escalation tab with hover notes being highlighted
Hover notes are a feature throughout this section of the module. Simply roll your mouse left or right to view date-specific information.
Escalation Matrix Maintenance with Update Table from API link highlighted
Go to Admin/Escalation Maintenance to access this function.

FOS Building Index #

FOS Building Index showing Start For and End For Trend lines

The system plots a default trend line and allows you to perform analysis by changing the start and end dates of the trend line as desired. There are three sets of data in this graph:

  • FOS Building Index
    • The FOS Building Index is based on the PPI values shown in the Source chart with a proprietary weighting applied; historical and current data is represented by the blue line on the graph.
  • Trend
    • This is determined by the years selected in the Start For Trend and End For Trend drop-down boxes.
      • To change a trend, change the values in the drop-down boxe(s).
      • The trend is represented by the purple line in the graph as well as a percentage value in the upper right corner above the graph.
  • Forecast
    • This is derived from values entered in the Escalation Maintenance section of Admin and is represented by the pink line on the graph.

Moving your mouse along the graph will display hover notes showing data for a particular period in time.


The below image is a conceptual representation the FOS® Building Index.

Artistic rendering of proprietary weighting of Producer Price Index variables

Percentage Change From Prior Year #

This graph is based on the same data as the FOS Building Index but displays a percentage change from the prior year. Once again, blue represents historical and current data while pink represents forecast data.

Percentage Change from Prior Year graph

Escalation Table #

Data Grid #

The Escalation Table represents the FOS Building Index data in a grid format and can be used to forecast costs.

Escalation Table showing FOS Building Index data in grid format

Calculating Forecasted Cost #

Using the drop-down menus located above the Escalation Table, you are able to extrapolate different cost and escalation scenarios for comparison purposes.

Escalation calculator located in Escalation Table
  • Value Entries
    • Escalate From
    • Escalate To
    • Base Cost
  • Results
    • Total Escalation
    • Escalation Per Year
    • Forecasted Cost

Reference Admin #

Escalation Matrix Maintenance #

The Escalation Matrix Maintenance grid is available for authorized users in the Estimating Admin section of the software. As in the Escalation tabs, the blue-shaded areas represent historical values up until the Department of Labor’s most current data. The pink cells are available for you to enter user-defined values that may deviate from standard projections, for example, if local conditions have changed in such a way that they would influence future costs. Revising the value in one month will result in all future months being recalculated.

Escalation Matrix Maintenance table with sample data
Calculation being demonstrated in the Escalation Matrix Maintenance grid

Once the desired update has been performed, click Preview changes to see review, Save changes to save, and Recalculate to finalize the update. Some rounding to whole numbers may occur.

Calculation results from Escalation Matrix Maintenance displayed
Preview changes, shown above, is followed by Save changes and Recalculate or Cancel changes.

Update Table From API #

To update historic PPI data and the FOS Building Index (FBI), click the Update Table From API link. The most recent information available from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) API then be available in the system.

Update Table from API link highlighted on the Escalation Matrix Maintenance screen located in the Admin Module

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