Dependent cost items

Dependent cost items are cost items with values calculated based on a percentage of the cost of other items. Examples include insurance the company carries, bonds, and labor overhead. The value of the cost item is calculated using the configured percentage and the adjusted billable amount of all items in a section. For example, if you add a dependent cost item that is configured at 2% for the Labor section, and the adjusted billable amount for all labor cost items is $4000, the dependent cost item value is $80.

You can configure dependent cost items in the project level configurations (Settings > Configurations > Dependent cost items) or you can add them manually.

Step by Step — Add an existing dependent cost item

Add a dependent cost item when the value of a cost item is based on the values of other cost items in the same section.

A dependent cost item must already be configured in the project settings.

  1. From the Cost item pricing page, click the Add dependent cost item icon. The Add dependent cost item dialog box opens.

  2. In the Available dependent cost items section of the dialog box, click the Add icon for the dependent cost item. The selected items are shown in the Selected dependent cost items section of the dialog box. You can add multiple cost items.

  3. Click Add. The dependent cost item is added as a line on the Cost item pricing page.

  4. Click Save on the Cost item pricing page.

If a cost item for the section named in the cost item has already been added, Change calculates the Adjusted cost of the dependent cost item based on the adjusted costs of the cost items in the section.

Step by Step — Add a new dependent cost item

When you want to add a dependent cost item, and it has not been configured, you can create it and add it manually.

The dependent cost item is added to this cost item pricing only and is not available for future pricing. If you plan to use a dependent cost item for multiple issues, it is best practice to define it in project settings.

  1. From the Cost item pricing page, click the Add dependent cost item icon. The Add dependent cost item dialog box opens.

  2. Click Add manual dependent cost item. A slide-out panel opens in the dialog box.

  3. Enter the dependent cost item information, and then click the Add to selected dependent cost items button. The new cost item is shown in the selected cost items section. You can add multiple cost items.

  4. Click Add. The dependent cost item is added as a line on the Cost item pricing page.

  5. Click Save on the Cost item pricing page.

If a cost item for the section named in the cost item has already been added, Change calculates the Adjusted cost of the dependent cost item based on the adjusted costs of the cost items in the section.

Step by Step — Edit a dependent cost item

You can edit the Adjusted CB Qty for any dependent cost item or the Cost percentage for a manual dependent cost item.

On the Details tab, the Cost percentage field for a manual dependent cost item and the Adjusted CB Qty field for any dependent cost item are the only editable fields. The remaining fields on the Details tab and those on the Dependency and Cost Categories tab are for information only. The Dependency tab shows the items that are used to calculate the dependent cost item. When you add a dependent cost item to the grand total, the Dependency tab shows all cost items used to calculate the value.

The Cost percentage field in the Edit slide-out panel is disabled when the dependent cost item was configured in the project settings.

  1. From the Cost item pricing grid, select the dependent cost item, and then click the Edit icon. The Edit slide-out panel opens.

  2. On the Details tab, enter a new value in the Cost percentage field, if it is a manual dependent cost item. If the field is disabled, the dependent cost item was configured at the project level and cannot be edited. You can also enter an adjusted cost.

  3. Click Apply. Change uses the updated cost percentage to calculate the value of the dependent cost item. If you entered an adjusted cost, Change calculates the unit cost.

  4. Click Save on the Cost item pricing page.