Forward for estimators
The estimator's information problem is historical-comp retrieval: 'what did we pay for similar mech rough-in on the last hospital project?' Forward queries the GC's connected project history and returns the comps with cited sources.
The estimator's daily friction
Mid-size commercial estimators chase 8-15 active bids at any given time. Each bid requires:
- Historic cost data from similar past projects
- Spec section comps + scope-of-work boundaries
- Sub pricing patterns by trade + region
- Schedule realism checks against past performance
Today, this lives across the Sage 300 / Vista / Procore completed-projects archive + estimator’s personal notes + tribal knowledge. Retrieval is forensic.
What Forward does for estimators
Estimator texts the Forward number with a comp query:
You: mech rough-in cost per sf on hospital projects last 3 years Forward: 4 hospital projects found (2023-2026): • St. Mary Cardio Wing $42/sf completed 11/2024 • Methodist Tower 3 $48/sf completed 06/2025 • UC Health Pavilion $51/sf completed 02/2026 • Baylor Day Surgery $39/sf completed 04/2024 Range: $39-51/sf Average: $45/sf Notes: UC Health includes seismic upgrades (+$5/sf). Baylor predates current copper pricing. Sources: Procore commitments + final pay apps from each project.
The bid-velocity story
Estimators routinely turn around bids in 10-14 days. Comp retrieval is 30-60 minutes per bid in our interviews. Across 12 bids per estimator per quarter, that’s 6-12 hours of purely retrieval-tax time, every quarter. Forward collapses that to text-message round trips.
How to try it
Drop your email above to scope a pilot. Estimator-facing comp retrieval works against any connected Procore historical project archive.
Try Forward right now
Drop your email above for early access — or skip the form and text +1 (682) 300-6750 from your phone. The live demo answers anything you can ask a project manager in plain English — no signup needed.