The program also automatically estimates project mobilization and demobilization costs.

Current supply and equipment prices along with the Davis-Bacon wages are contained in a separate database, which is automatically queried by the program. Most cost values found in the database are supplied by Western Mine Engineering, Inc.’s Mining Cost Service. All costs, prices, wages, and administrative fees can be easily altered by the user within the operating parameters of the program. A user’s manual fully explains program operations, utility functions, and most of the algorithms used in the cost-estimating calculations. The manual also contains a detailed tutorial example that enables the evaluator to quickly learn how to use the primary features of the program. Help screens are available for all but the most apparent entries. These screens explain the type of information requested by the program and the way in which Sherpa determines its suggested values. Help screens also provide the user with alternative data that can be used to modify Sherpa’s suggested values. Complete project output reports may be sent directly to a printer. In addition, program output may be saved to text files that can then be imported into any major word processing program to further enhance printed output.
 

HERE'S How Sherpa for Reclamation Bonds works:

First, enter basic information regarding the project such as location, distances to support and disposal facilities, and project duration. Then move on to a series of screens where you can enter engineering parameters associated with specific site tasks. For instance, if the reclamation plan requires the removal of a concrete foundation, the program provides a screen upon which you enter the foundation thickness, height, perimeter length, and method of reinforcement, along with the distance to the disposal site. The program immediately estimates and displays equipment and labor requirements (in terms of hours), along with the equipment unit operating costs and the hourly wage estimates. You can then view all the information displayed by Sherpa and adjust it as necessary. The program provides ten separate entry screens for each reclamation task. For instance, if you had eight adits scheduled for closure at one site, then you would enter the engineering parameters for each on a separate screen.

After you have filled out a screen for each site task, you then move on to a series of screens where you can review preliminary results. If these seem inappropriate, you can return to the input screens and make adjustments as necessary. The first result screen displays the equipment fleet required to accomplish your reclamation project. Sherpa’s cost engineering processes are designed to minimize the number of machines mobilized to the site. For example, if several separate tasks would each typically require a different sized bulldozer, the program attempts to apply one or two sizes to all the tasks, and if this is technically feasible, it reduces the fleet accordingly. On the next result screen, Sherpa displays the crew required for your project.

The program then displays a summary of the costs for each site task. All subsequent calculations are based upon this summary value. These calculations include estimates of project administrative costs such as contractor’s profit, liability insurance, bond premium, engineering and design fees, indirect costs, and project management fees. A contingency is also provided to cover the costs associated with unanticipated or unforeseen project requirements. As with all costs displayed in the program, you can adjust any of these fees as necessary.

Finally, Sherpa totals all the project task costs and administrative fees to provide an estimate of the required reclamation bond value. You can then send the results to either a printer or a text file and save all the entered data to a project file.