Manual for Preparation of Cost Estimates and Related Documents for VA Facilities  

VA has a responsibility to act as a responsible steward of tax dollars. That stewardship is conveyed in turn to the design team. VA expects the entire design team to take ownership of the project construction budget and to be an advocate for successful execution of the project within the available funding. The cost estimator's role must be viewed as a critical element of project cost management. Rather than limiting responsibilities to simply reporting costs, the estimator must be an integral part of the design team, continually interacting and providing input to design decisions at every stage of development.