Misc Module

The Misc Module is ForgeX's catch-all for costs that don't fit in the other five modules. Use this for permits, fees, bonds, insurance, mobilization, and any other one-time or lump-sum costs.

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What Goes in Misc Module

📄

Permits & Fees

• Building permits
• Plan review fees
• Inspection fees
• Environmental permits
• Right-of-way fees

🛡️

Bonds & Insurance

• Performance bonds
• Payment bonds
• Builder's risk insurance
• Job-specific liability

🚚

Mobilization

• Crew mobilization
• Equipment transport (owned)
• Site setup costs
• Temporary facilities

⭕

Miscellaneous

• Cleanup and disposal
• Winter protection
• Traffic control
• Site security
• Anything else!

note

Misc Module is the simplest: Just description, quantity, and rate. No complex calculations.

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Adding Misc Items

Step 1: Navigate to Misc Tab

1. Open your scope
2. Click the "Misc" tab
3. Click "Add Misc Item" button

Step 2: Enter Item Details

descriptionstringrequired

Description of the miscellaneous cost

Examples:

• "Building Permit"
• "Performance Bond (1%)"
• "Crew Mobilization"
• "Winter Protection"

quantitynumberrequired

Number of units

Common patterns:

• Lump sum: Quantity = 1
• Per day: Quantity = number of days
• Per unit: Quantity = number of units

ratePerUnitnumberrequired

Cost per unit

Common patterns:

• Lump sum: Rate = total cost
• Per day: Rate = daily cost
• Per unit: Rate = unit cost

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Cost Calculation

The simplest module in ForgeX:

Total_Cost = Quantity × Rate_Per_Unit

Example: Building Permit

• Description: "Building Permit - Foundation"
• Quantity: 1 (lump sum)
• Rate: $2,500
• Total: $2,500

note

Misc items are NOT taxed by default. They're typically fees or services that aren't subject to sales tax.

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Common Misc Items

Permits & Regulatory Fees

Building Permits

Typical costs:

• Residential: $500-2,000
• Small commercial: $1,500-5,000
• Large commercial: $5,000-25,000
• High-rise: $25,000-100,000+

Calculating permit fees: Most jurisdictions use valuation-based fees:

Permit_Fee = Project_Valuation × Fee_Rate

Example: $500,000 project × 0.5% = $2,500 permit

How to enter:

• Description: "Building Permit"
• Quantity: 1
• Rate: $2,500

Plan Review Fees

Typical costs:

• Often 65% of permit fee
• Or separate flat fee: $500-3,000

Example:

• Permit: $2,500
• Plan review: $2,500 × 0.65 = $1,625

How to enter:

• Description: "Plan Review Fee"
• Quantity: 1
• Rate: $1,625

Inspection Fees

Typical costs:

• Per inspection: $100-300
• Or included in permit

Example: 5 inspections required

• Description: "Inspection Fees"
• Quantity: 5
• Rate: $150/inspection
• Total: $750

Environmental Permits

Types:

• Stormwater permit: $500-2,000
• Wetlands permit: $1,000-10,000
• Air quality permit: $500-5,000

How to enter: Separate item for each permit type

Bonds & Insurance

Performance Bond

What it is: Guarantees project completion

Typical cost: 0.5-2% of contract value

Example: $500,000 contract

Bond_Cost = $500,000 × 1% = $5,000

How to enter:

• Description: "Performance Bond (1%)"
• Quantity: 1
• Rate: $5,000

Payment Bond

What it is: Guarantees payment to subs/suppliers

Typical cost: 0.5-2% of contract value (often same as performance bond)

How to enter:

• Description: "Payment Bond (1%)"
• Quantity: 1
• Rate: $5,000

Builder's Risk Insurance

What it is: Insurance on the project during construction

Typical cost: 0.25-1% of project value

Example: $500,000 project

Insurance = $500,000 × 0.5% = $2,500

How to enter:

• Description: "Builder's Risk Insurance"
• Quantity: 1
• Rate: $2,500

Job-Specific Liability

What it is: Additional liability coverage for this project

Typical cost: $500-5,000 depending on project size/risk

How to enter:

• Description: "Additional Liability Insurance"
• Quantity: 1
• Rate: $1,500

Mobilization & Demobilization

What it includes:

• Moving crew to job site
• Transporting owned equipment
• Setting up temporary facilities
• Site office setup
• Establishing utilities

Estimating mobilization:

Option 1: Lump Sum

Mobilization = 2-5% of direct costs

Example: $200,000 direct costs

• Mobilization: $200,000 × 3% = $6,000

How to enter:

• Description: "Mobilization & Demobilization"
• Quantity: 1
• Rate: $6,000

Option 2: Per Day

If job is far from home base:

• Crew travel time: 4 hours/day × 10 workers × $30/hr × 2 days = $2,400
• Equipment transport: $1,500 (rental truck)
• Total: $3,900

How to enter:

• Description: "Crew Mobilization (4 hrs travel)"
• Quantity: 2 (to site + from site)
• Rate: $1,200
• Plus equipment transport as separate item

Site Setup & Temporary Facilities

Temporary power:

• Generator rental: $200-500/month
• Or utility hookup fee: $500-2,000

Temporary water:

• Water delivery: $150-300/week
• Or meter hookup: $300-800

Site office:

• Trailer rental: $200-500/month
• Setup/removal: $500-1,000

Portable toilets:

• Standard: $150-250/month each
• Wash station: $250-400/month
• Service: Usually included

Example: 3-month project

Generator: $400/mo × 3 = $1,200
Water delivery: $200/week × 12 weeks = $2,400
Toilets (2): $200/mo × 2 × 3 = $1,200
Total temporary facilities: $4,800

Cleanup & Disposal

Final cleanup:

• Labor: 2-4 workers × 2 days × $200/day = $800-1,600
• Dumpster: $400-800
• Sweeping: $200-500

Concrete waste disposal:

• Dumpster (20 CY): $400-600
• Haul fee: $100-200
• Disposal fee: $50-100/ton

How to enter:

• Description: "Final Site Cleanup"
• Quantity: 1 (lump sum)
• Rate: $2,500 (includes labor + dumpster + sweeping)

Winter Protection

For cold-weather concreting:

Insulated blankets:

• Rental: $2-5 per SF per month
• Example: 5,000 SF × $3 × 1 month = $15,000

Heating:

• Propane heaters: $150-300/day
• Fuel: $50-150/day
• Example: 5 heaters × 7 days = $2,100 rental + $700 fuel = $2,800

How to enter:

• Description: "Winter Protection (Blankets + Heaters)"
• Quantity: 1
• Rate: $17,800

Traffic Control

For work in streets or public areas:

Signage and cones:

• Setup: $500-1,500
• Daily rental: $100-300/day

Flaggers:

• 2 flaggers × 8 hrs × $30/hr × 5 days = $2,400

Lane closures:

• Permit: $500-2,000
• Barricades: $200-500
• Arrow boards: $300-600/week

Example: 1-week street work

Setup: $800
Daily rental: $200 × 5 = $1,000
Flaggers: $2,400
Total: $4,200

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Percentage-Based Misc Items

Some costs are calculated as % of other costs:

Performance Bond Example

Scenario: Performance bond is 1% of total bid

Problem: You don't know the total bid yet (chicken/egg problem)

Solution 1: Estimate Total First

1. Complete all other modules
2. Review bid total
3. Add Misc item: 1% of total
4. Bid recalculates with bond included

Solution 2: Approximate

1. Estimate bid will be ~$500,000
2. Add bond: $500,000 × 1% = $5,000
3. Adjust after finalizing bid if needed

Solution 3: Use Admin Variable

• Some companies set bond % as admin variable
• Applied automatically at bid level
• Check with your PM

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When to Use Misc vs Other Modules

📦Misc vs Materials

Use Materials for:

• Physical materials (plywood, lumber, etc.)
• Items with waste factors
• Taxable supplies

Use Misc for:

• Services (testing, inspection)
• Non-physical costs (permits, bonds)
• Lump-sum fees

🤝Misc vs Subcontractor

Use Subcontractor for:

• Work performed by subs (pumping, sawing)
• Services with defined scope/units
• Items needing buffer markup

Use Misc for:

• Administrative fees
• One-time costs
• Items without markup needed

🚚Misc vs Equipment

Use Equipment for:

• Equipment rentals
• Items with fuel charges
• Items with delivery fees

Use Misc for:

• Owned equipment (internal cost)
• Equipment transport (for owned)
• Setup costs

👥Misc vs Labor

Use Labor for:

• Crew hours and wages
• Regular workforce
• Items needing burden calculations

Use Misc for:

• One-time crew costs (mobilization)
• Administrative labor
• Lump-sum labor agreements

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Common Misc Item Examples

Example 1: Small Commercial Slab

Misc items for 5,000 SF parking lot:

1. Building Permit
   - Qty: 1
   - Rate: $1,200
   - Total: $1,200

2. Inspection Fees
   - Qty: 3 (footing, slab, final)
   - Rate: $150
   - Total: $450

3. Stormwater Permit
   - Qty: 1
   - Rate: $800
   - Total: $800

4. Portable Toilet (2 months)
   - Qty: 2
   - Rate: $200
   - Total: $400

5. Final Cleanup
   - Qty: 1
   - Rate: $1,500
   - Total: $1,500

TOTAL MISC: $5,350

Example 2: Large Commercial Building

Misc items for $2M high-rise foundation:

1. Building Permit
   - Qty: 1
   - Rate: $18,000
   - Total: $18,000

2. Plan Review Fee
   - Qty: 1
   - Rate: $11,700 (65% of permit)
   - Total: $11,700

3. Performance Bond
   - Qty: 1
   - Rate: $20,000 (1% of contract)
   - Total: $20,000

4. Payment Bond
   - Qty: 1
   - Rate: $20,000
   - Total: $20,000

5. Builder's Risk Insurance
   - Qty: 1
   - Rate: $10,000
   - Total: $10,000

6. Mobilization
   - Qty: 1
   - Rate: $25,000 (includes crew, equipment, setup)
   - Total: $25,000

7. Site Office Trailer (6 months)
   - Qty: 6
   - Rate: $400
   - Total: $2,400

8. Temporary Power (6 months)
   - Qty: 6
   - Rate: $350
   - Total: $2,100

9. Portable Toilets (6 months, 4 units)
   - Qty: 24 (4 units × 6 months)
   - Rate: $200
   - Total: $4,800

10. Traffic Control
    - Qty: 1
    - Rate: $8,500
    - Total: $8,500

11. Final Cleanup & Dumpster
    - Qty: 1
    - Rate: $4,500
    - Total: $4,500

TOTAL MISC: $127,000

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Tips for Misc Module

🔍Research Permit Costs Early

Before bidding:

1. Call building department
2. Ask about permit fees for your project size
3. Ask about plan review fees
4. Ask about inspection requirements
5. Get fee schedule if available

Savings: Accurate permit costs (off by 50-100% is common mistake)

📄Get Bond Quotes

If bonds required:

1. Call bonding company with project details
2. Get quote for performance + payment bond
3. Rate depends on your company's financial strength
4. Rates: 0.5-3% typically

Note: Some companies self-perform small jobs without bonds

🚚Don't Forget Demobilization

Mobilization includes:

• Getting to site
• AND getting back home

Common mistake: Only estimating mobilization, not demobilization

Fix: Double your mobilization cost, or label "Mobilization & Demob"

🌧️Weather Contingency

For long projects, add weather contingency:

Option 1: Add as Misc item

• Description: "Weather Contingency"
• Qty: 1
• Rate: 2-5% of direct costs

Option 2: Add buffer days to Labor/Equipment

When to use: Outdoor work, rainy season, winter months

🎁Owner-Provided Items

Some items owner provides:

• Testing (owner hires testing company)
• Some permits (owner pulls permit)
• Site security (owner provides)

Don't include in your bid if owner-provided!

Verify in RFP: Who provides what?

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Cost Rollup

Misc items roll up like all modules:

Individual Misc Item
        ↓
    Scope Misc Cost (sum all misc items)
        ↓
    Scope Misc Cost × Multiplier
        ↓
    Bid Misc Cost (sum all scopes)
        ↓
    Apply Module Markups (overhead, profit)
        ↓
    Bid Total

Typical Misc % of Total Bid

Job Type	Misc %	Main Items
Small residential	2-5%	Permit, cleanup
Small commercial	3-8%	Permits, bond, insurance
Large commercial	5-12%	Full regulatory + setup
High-rise/complex	8-15%	Extensive permits, bonds, insurance

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Common Misc Module Mistakes

warning

Watch Out For:

Mistake	Impact	Fix
Forgetting permits	Can't start work	Research permit costs early
Underestimating bond cost	Bond costs 2× estimate	Get quote from bonding company
Missing mobilization	Profit eroded by transport	Always include mob/demob
No cleanup allowance	Extra cost at job end	Add $1,500-5,000 cleanup
Skipping temporary facilities	Workers have no toilet/power	Estimate monthly costs × duration
Not including traffic control	Street work permit denied	Review traffic management plan
Wrong insurance calculations	Underbid by thousands	Use % of contract value

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Misc Module Checklist

tip

Before finalizing your bid, verify you've included:

• Building permit (if required)
• Plan review fee (often 65% of permit)
• Inspection fees (typically 3-5 inspections)
• Performance bond (if required by contract)
• Payment bond (if required by contract)
• Builder's risk insurance (if not in overhead)
• Mobilization & demobilization
• Site office/trailer (if multi-month project)
• Temporary power (if no utility hookup)
• Temporary water (if no utility hookup)
• Portable toilets (minimum 1 per 10 workers)
• Traffic control (if work in public ROW)
• Winter protection (if cold weather)
• Final cleanup & dumpster
• Testing (if not owner-provided)
• Weather contingency (for long outdoor projects)

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Next Steps

⚙️

Bid Settings

Review and adjust bid-level variables

📋

Estimator Workflow

See misc items in full bid workflow

📄

Creating a Bid

Complete bid creation guide

🔗

Scope Linking

Link related scopes