Which document provides initial information necessary for cost estimating?

• A. SOW
• B. Site Survey
• C. CRO
• D. O&M

Answer: (A)

The initial cost estimate comes from a document that clearly defines what work will be done, how it will be accomplished, and what is expected as deliverables. The Statement of Work provides this level of detail: project scope, specific tasks, required performance and standards, deliverables, responsibilities, assumptions, constraints, and the overall schedule. With those elements, you can translate the work into quantities of materials, labor hours, equipment needs, and subcontractor requirements—formulas that drive early budgeting. A site survey, while valuable for confirming site conditions and refining those numbers, is used to adjust the estimate rather than establish the initial baseline. O&M concerns relate to ongoing costs after completion, and while a CRO might shape requirements, it typically does not establish the full scope and constraints needed to cost the project from the outset.