Should Cost Model

The Construction Playbook, Government Guidance on sourcing and contracting public works projects and programmes Version 1, produced by the Cabinet Office and published in December 2020, is focused on getting projects and programmes right from the start. Its principles and policies are intended to transform how public works projects and programmes are assessed, procured and managed. It is a ‘compact’ between government and industry, setting out how they will work together in future.

It states:

‘Having a clear understanding of the whole life costs and risks of delivering a project or programme is best achieved by producing a Should Cost Model (SCM). A SCM provides a forecast of what a project or programme ‘should’ cost over its whole life, including both the build phase and the expected design life.

‘All projects and programmes should produce a SCM. The level of investment in producing a SCM will vary with the complexity and significance of the procurement. For major works projects and programmes a SCM will be more detailed and, while the level of detail will evolve, they should be produced during the planning and preparation stage to support the DMA (Delivery Model Assessment).

‘The SCM will drive a better understanding of the whole life costs and risks associated with different options and scenarios. This will inform engagement with bidders and the appropriate commercial strategy including methods to incentivise the supply chain to focus on whole life cost. It will drive more realistic budgets by providing greater understanding of the impact of risk and uncertainty on both cost and schedule. The SCM should also be linked to the whole life carbon assessment.’

For more information see: The Construction Playbook.

NB Government Functional Standard, GovS 008: Commercial, Version: 2.0, published by HM Government in September 2021, defines should cost modelling as: ‘A financial modelling technique to determine the expected cost of goods or services that are provided by suppliers.’

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Government Construction Strategy.
• Procurement.
• Public procurement.
• Public project.
• Should cost.
• The Construction Playbook.
• Whole life costs.
• Whole life carbon.