What provides control over the accumulation of estimates into the final bid?

The estimate summary sheet plays a vital role in controlling the accumulation of estimates into the final bid. It serves as a comprehensive document that aggregates all cost estimates from various components of the project, such as materials, labor, overhead, and contingencies. By consolidating these individual estimates, the summary sheet allows for a clear overview of the total projected costs, ensuring that no detail is overlooked.

Additionally, the estimate summary sheet enables project managers and estimators to analyze and adjust their bids effectively. They can see how changes in one area, such as a fluctuation in material costs or adjustments in labor rates, impact the overall bid. This organized structure also supports more accurate decision-making when finalizing bid amounts, fostering transparency and accountability, which are crucial in the competitive bidding process.

While other options like the project manager, construction schedule, and bidding software do contribute to the estimating process, they do not provide the same central control and synthesis of the estimates that the estimate summary sheet does. The project manager oversees the overall process, the construction schedule may outline timelines and project flow, and the bidding software can aid in calculations but lacks the specific function of consolidating and controlling cost estimates in the manner that the estimate summary sheet does.