Estimate Scenarios
An Estimate Scenario is a what-if analysis built on top of an existing estimate. It lets the team substitute specific modules, suppliers, or cost assumptions without modifying the base estimate, then compare the resulting cost impact alongside the baseline.
Scenario Types
Section titled “Scenario Types”| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bid Leveling | Scenario used during bid comparison (tied to a bid package) |
| Value Engineering | Cost-reduction or alternative-method analysis |
| Supplier Substitution | Replace a supplier in the cost model |
| Design Alternate | Evaluate a design alternative |
| Self-Perform vs. Subcontract | Compare self-perform vs. subcontract cost |
Scenario Lifecycle
Section titled “Scenario Lifecycle”Draft → Generated → UnderReview → Recommended / Approved / Rejected- Draft — scenario is being defined; substitutions are being collected
- Generated — the scenario has been materialized; a cloned estimation has been created with all substitutions applied
- UnderReview — the generated estimate is being evaluated
- Recommended — the reviewer recommends adoption
- Approved — the scenario is accepted
- Rejected — the scenario is declined
Substitutions
Section titled “Substitutions”A scenario is built from one or more substitutions. Each substitution replaces a single estimation module with an alternative:
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Replacement Module | The catalog module ID of the replacement |
| Supplier | Optional supplier for the replacement |
| Replacement Type | How the replacement was sourced (contractor alternative, existing module, new project module, price only, scope adjustment) |
| Cost Delta | Automatically computed: replacement cost minus original cost |
| Scope Delta Summary | Human description of scope differences |
| Risk Delta Summary | Human description of risk differences |
Comparison
Section titled “Comparison”When a scenario is generated, Darwin computes:
- Base estimate total — total of the base estimation
- Scenario estimate total — base total minus original costs plus replacement costs
- Delta amount and percent — the net change
Comparisons for a bid package can be retrieved in bulk, enabling side-by-side evaluation of multiple scenario alternatives.
Relationship to Bid Management
Section titled “Relationship to Bid Management”Estimate scenarios are an optional analysis layer. They are not required for bid management — bid packages can be issued and leveling can proceed with or without scenarios. Scenarios add rigor when the team wants to formalize what-if evaluations and track which alternatives were considered before award decisions.