In addition to its cost management and project management functions, the ECES can also be used to support a number of other program and project functions. These functions include:

Bid solicitation, collection, and evaluation;

Communicating project data between installations, complexes, agencies, and industry;

Providing a project checklist;

Cost and schedule estimating;

Historical cost/schedule data collection;

Historical project data collection (for example, technology deployments, project conditions);

Validating and calibrating cost estimates and software tools; and

Establishing and disseminating best practices and lessons learned.

Several government agencies are already incorporating this structure into existing and future cost estimating models, databases, and other similar software tools and systems.

1.1 The Environmental Cost Element Structure (ECES) covered by Classification E 2150 (and Adjunct E 2150) provides a consistent and comprehensive structure across all phases of environmental remediation projects and is a tool to improve the cost management of those projects. This guide is intended to facilitate the application of the ECES to any environmental remediation project, without regard to project size.

1.2 Classification E 2150 establishes the broad, top-level framework for environmental remediation projects by providing a hierarchical list of project elements to two levels of detail. Its associated Adjunct E 2150 supports the top-level structure by providing more detailed elements and definitions of the ECES to three additional levels of detail. Although it is assumed that the user is familiar with Classification E 2150, much of the content of the classification is repeated in this guide to relieve the user of the burden of back-and-forth referencing during use. It is assumed, however, that all users of this guide will have at hand both Classification E 2150 and the Adjunct E 2150 during project planning.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.