Colorado Springs, CO · estimating nationally
Independent Cost Estimators
Accurate cost opinions, budget validation, quantity takeoffs, and independent estimate reviews — for architects, engineers, owners, municipalities, state agencies, and federal project teams.
TCMG provides independent construction cost estimating and cost consulting for public and private project teams that need reliable budgets, third-party estimate reviews, and construction cost validation — without contractor bias.
- 30+ yrs estimating buildings
- >$1B estimated in construction value
- within 5% estimate accuracy
- $500K–$900M project range
Hundreds of estimates delivered.
Estimating rigor: CSI MasterFormat (Divisions 00–33).
Team up with TCMG
Putting a team together for a pursuit? Request the TCMG capability statement and we'll send it to you directly: what we estimate, how we structure it, and how to bring us onto your team.
Requests come straight to TCMG. We review each one and send the statement by email.
Certified and credentialed
TCMG is a certified Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Small Business Enterprise (SBE), and Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE). Public and federal project teams carry participation goals they have to meet when they assemble a team, and these are the certifications those goals are written against.
Professional memberships
Design teams and contractors that bring TCMG in.
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- TDG Architecture
- Lionheart Places Architecture
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- Design Services Group
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- Copestone General Contractors
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- B&M Construction
- Top Notch Plumbing
- Diamond Ridge Excavation
Public agencies TCMG has estimated for.
Federal
Agency and federal-facility project support.
- U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
- NOAA
- Denver Federal Center
- Mike Mansfield Federal Building
State & Municipal
Public-agency estimates and budget validation.
- State of Wyoming
- City of Boulder, CO
- City of Durango, CO
- City of Loveland, CO
- City of Westminster, CO
Organization names are shown to indicate project experience only. They do not imply endorsement of TCMG by any agency or firm.
Core services
Structured to CSI MasterFormat, Divisions 00–33 — the standard the design teams and public agencies that hand-pick their estimators already work in.
Independent Cost Estimating
Conceptual, design-phase, and full CSI MasterFormat estimates — unbiased cost opinions for budgeting and bid comparison.
Estimate Reviews & Cost Validation
Third-party review of an estimate already in hand, independent budget validation, and value engineering options before decisions lock in.
Quantity Takeoff Services
Detailed measurement of construction scope — the measured basis underneath an accurate price.
Government Independent Cost Estimating
Estimates and validation built to survive a council meeting, a board review, or an appropriation request.
Estimator Consulting
Stand up an estimating department, mentor estimators, or get an independent QC pass on internal work.
Why independence matters
An unbiased number, from someone with no stake in the award
A contractor's estimate is a bid. A design team's estimate is a hope. An independent estimate is neither — it is what the work should cost, prepared by someone who does not benefit from the answer. That is what makes it usable for budgeting, for bid comparison, and for public accountability.
TCMG’s estimating work is informed by real construction experience, not just spreadsheet pricing. This field-based perspective helps identify missing scope, unrealistic assumptions, constructability concerns, and budget risks earlier in the process.
Who TCMG serves
- Architects
- Engineering Firms
- Municipal Governments
- State Agencies
- Federal Agencies / GSA-Related Work
- School Districts
- Healthcare Organizations
- Developers
- Private Owners
Proof, in the format buyers know
What a TCMG estimate looks like
A TCMG estimate in CSI MasterFormat — Cover and Summary shown, the Div 00–33 detail protected.
Sample K-12 Facility — 60% CD
- Project
- Sample K-12 Facility (illustrative)
- Phase
- 60% Construction Documents
- Estimate basis
- CSI MasterFormat, Divisions 00–33
- Gross area
- ~85,000 SF (illustrative)
- Prepared by
- TCMG — independent cost estimate
Color legend
- Inputs
- Formulas
- TBD
- Owner-provided
- Alternates
Summary of probable cost
| Div | Description | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | General Requirements | — |
| 03 | Concrete | — |
| 05 | Metals | — |
| 09 | Finishes | — |
| 23 | HVAC | — |
| 26 | Electrical | — |
| Total probable cost | — protected — |
Values neutralized for this preview. A real estimate carries fully priced Div 00–33 line items.
Division 03 · Concrete — detail view
How one division is measured underneath the summary above.
| Line | Description | Qty | Unit | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 30 53.10 | Continuous footings, 3,000 psi | 42.6 | CY | — |
| 03 30 53.20 | Spread footings, 3,000 psi | 18.4 | CY | — |
| 03 30 53.40 | Foundation walls, 8 in. | 1,240 | SF | — |
| 03 21 11.60 | Reinforcing steel, #5 bars, continuous | 12,300 | LB | — |
| 03 30 53.55 | Slab on grade, 4 in., welded wire fabric | 26,800 | SF | — |
| 03 15 16.20 | Expansion and control joints | 940 | LF | — |
| 03 35 13.30 | Power trowel finish | 26,800 | SF | — |
| 03 39 23.13 | Curing compound, membrane | 26,800 | SF | — |
Divisions 00–33 continue. Full detail supplied with the estimate.
Send us your project
Right-fit project? Tell us what you're building and we'll follow up personally. No price forms — this is a conversation.
Frequently asked questions
What does TCMG do?
TCMG — The Construction Management Group of CO, LLC — is an independent cost estimating practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It prepares unbiased construction cost estimates for buildings, and also offers estimator consulting and estimator training for contractors.
What is an independent cost estimator?
An independent cost estimator prepares a construction cost estimate that isn’t tied to a contractor bidding the work, so the owner or design team gets an unbiased number for budgeting and bid comparison.
How accurate are TCMG’s estimates?
TCMG estimates land within 5%, backed by 30+ years of experience and more than $1 billion of construction estimated across hundreds of estimates.
What kinds of projects does TCMG estimate?
Buildings first — commercial, institutional, healthcare, educational, public safety, and similar — typically ranging from $500K to $900M, along with the utility, civil, and sitework scopes that come with them.
Where does TCMG work?
Nationwide. TCMG is based in Colorado Springs and estimates projects across the United States, including base estimating work for general contractors operating in multiple states. The estimate is built from the drawing set, so the work travels even where the office does not.
How does TCMG structure its estimates?
In CSI MasterFormat, Divisions 00–33 — the standard division-by-division structure the design and agency teams that hand-pick their estimators rely on. Estimating to CSI MasterFormat is how TCMG keeps an estimate complete and comparable, division to division, so nothing gets missed.
Why use a human estimator instead of AI takeoff software?
Automated takeoff tools measure what’s drawn but miss what’s absent, mispriced, or wrong for how a building is actually built. A seasoned estimator reads the full set, checks the takeoff by hand, and prices from real project experience — which is how TCMG holds to within 5%.
Who hires an independent cost estimator like TCMG?
Architects, engineers, general contractors, and public agencies — the teams that hand-pick their estimators and need a reliable, independent number.
Does TCMG publish its estimating rates?
No. Every project is different, so TCMG discusses scope and fee directly rather than posting rates. Send your project and we will follow up.