PRICE/COST PROPOSAL
PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS
Price/Cost Proposal: Provide complete, current, and accurate cost or pricing data in accordance with
Federal and Department of Energy Acquisition Regulations. A separate Price/Cost Proposal form is
required for each task, each phase, phase summary, and total project summary. For example, if the
project has four tasks for each phase and two phases, then the Offeror should provide a separate
Price/Cost Proposal for each task of the first phase, a first phase summary Price/Cost Proposal, a
separate Price/Cost Proposal for each task of the second phase, a second phase summary Price/Cost
Proposal, and a total project summary Price/Cost Proposal. The Price/Cost Proposal shall be completed
and signed by an authorized official for your organization.
In order to ensure that all information provided in the Price/Cost Proposal is complete and accurate and
includes the necessary detailed documentation to allow NREL to perform the required review and
evaluations in a timely and efficient manner, the following information should be provided for the
individual cost categories or cost elements. Failure to submit the required information may delay the
review, negotiation, and award of a subcontract. If available, providing a copy of a recent (within the
past 12 months) of a Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) or other cognizant government agency
audit report of your organization’s accounting system and/or or direct and indirect rates will expedite
review and evaluation of the price/cost proposal.
▪ Direct Materials: Direct materials are normally purchased parts, purchased items or services
(e.g., welding, minor fabrication, etc.), raw materials, standard commercial items, interdivisional
transfers at other than cost, etc. All direct materials should be identified separately on an attached
sheet with the quantity, unit price, and total amount provided. Further, price/cost proposal should
indicate whether the unit price for each direct material item was determined and documented
using written vendor quotes, catalog prices, prior invoices, engineering or shop estimates, or
some other method with an explanation provided. Provide supporting documentation (cost or
pricing data) such as the written vendor quotes, copies of the catalog page indicating the price, or
prior invoices for all direct material items.
▪ Material Overhead: If accounting system includes material overhead, propose such indirect
costs in this area. Indicate the rate(s) used and provide an appropriate explanation. If the
proposed indirect rate is a government approved rate (e.g., provisional, forward pricing, etc.)
describe the nature of the agreement and provide a copy of the agreement. If the proposed indirect
rate is not a government approved rate, provide the method of computation and application of the
indirect expense, including cost breakdown and showing trends and budgetary data to provide a
basis for evaluation of the reasonableness of the proposed rate(s). For proposed rates beyond the
Offeror’s current fiscal year, the rates should be based on a combination of actuals to date, plus
projections from the Offeror’s three to five year business plan.
▪ Direct Labor: Direct labor should indicate the hours, hourly rate, and total for each individual
or category of labor proposed. Indicate whether the basis for the proposed direct labor hourly
rates is the current actual salary rate of the individual, the current actual average of the proposed
categories, the current actual average of the proposed individuals within a category, and whether
an escalation factor was applied. If an escalation factor was applied, indicate the factor and
methodology for applying same. Indicate whether fringe benefits are included in the direct labor
costs, and if so, the fringe benefit rate and dollar amount. Provide verification of labor rates,
either with a copy of a recent (within the past 12 months) of cognizant government audit agency
report, or copies of current payroll documentation.