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5.4: Submission Checklist

  • Page ID
    52231
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    Purpose of This Checklist

    This checklist serves as your final quality control step before submitting your cost estimation and budget package. It ensures your work is:

    • Complete
    • Consistent with previous milestones
    • Professionally formatted
    • Transparent and traceable
    • Ready to be reviewed by stakeholders or sponsors

    Your budget is not just a document—it’s a leadership tool. Use this checklist to confirm that what you’re submitting reflects maturity, accountability, and decision-readiness.

    Section 1 – Cost Categories and Input Summary

    Cost Categories and Input Summary Checklist
    ✔ Criteria
    ☐ All relevant cost types are included: Labor and Non-Labor
    ☐ Each cost item is clearly labeled and categorized (Fixed/Variable, One-Time/Recurring)
    ☐ Costs are classified as Direct or Indirect where appropriate
    ☐ Items are linked to WBS tasks, deliverables, or roles
    ☐ Assumptions or data sources are noted (e.g., rate cards, vendor pricing)

    Section 2 – Labor Cost Estimation

    Labor Cost Estimation Checklist
    ✔ Criteria
    ☐ Labor effort estimates are based on Milestone 3 data
    ☐ Hourly rates are appropriate and applied per role (not blended unless justified)
    ☐ Tasks are clearly named and traceable to WBS IDs or scope areas
    ☐ Total labor cost is accurately calculated (Effort × Rate)
    ☐ All roles and time allocations are realistic and documented
    ☐ Assumptions (availability, part-time load, internal vs. external) are clearly stated

    Section 3 – Non-Labor Cost Estimation

    Non-Labor Cost Estimation Checklist
    ✔ Criteria
    ☐ All significant project costs beyond labor are represented (e.g., software, services, equipment)
    ☐ Quantity, unit cost, and duration are clearly shown
    ☐ Each cost is tied to a project use case or deliverable
    ☐ Source or benchmark is cited (e.g., vendor page, past project, market rate)
    ☐ Total per line item is accurately calculated and documented
    ☐ Recurring vs. one-time costs are differentiated

    Section 4 – Total Budget and Allocation Model

    Total Budget and Allocation Model Checklist
    ✔ Criteria
    ☐ Labor and Non-Labor subtotals are presented clearly
    ☐ Contingency is shown as a separate, justified line item
    ☐ Budget is organized either by category, phase, or milestone
    ☐ A clean grand total is clearly stated
    ☐ Budget format is easy to scan and ready for executive-level review
    ☐ Percentages of total cost (optional but encouraged) are used to show relative spend

    Section 5 – Contingency and Funding Narrative

    Contingency and Funding Narrative Checklist
    ✔ Criteria
    ☐ Contingency is calculated based on project risk—not a flat guess
    ☐ Assumptions and known risks are briefly explained
    ☐ Funding narrative clearly states:
    • What the budget covers
    • What uncertainty is accounted for
    • What the sponsor is being asked to approve
    • | ☐ | Narrative is written in sponsor-facing, professional tone (no academic language)

    Document and Formatting Integrity

    Document and Formatting Integrity Checklist
    ✔ Criteria
    ☐ All 5 sections are included and clearly labeled
    ☐ Tables and figures are neatly formatted and aligned
    ☐ Fonts, bullets, and heading levels are consistent
    ☐ Units, symbols, and dates are consistent (e.g., $USD, 2025)
    ☐ No placeholder content or unexplained abbreviations
    ☐ Document is proofread, professional in tone, and free of typos

    Submission Logistics

    ✔ Criteria
    ☐ File is saved as .docx or .pdf , per instructions
    ☐ File name follows convention: Milestone4_Budget_YourTeamName.docx
    ☐ Submission is on time and uploaded to the correct platform or folder
    ☐ All team member names (if group project) are listed on the title page

    Final Review Prompts (Optional Self-Check)

    • Would a sponsor understand what you’re asking for—without a walkthrough?
    • Would your team be able to defend the logic behind each number?
    • Have you priced everything your team plans to do?
    • Is there enough clarity for someone else to take this budget and build a project proposal from it?

    If the answer to all four is yes—your milestone is ready.


    This page titled 5.4: Submission Checklist was last modified on Wed, 02 Sep 2026 04:01:30 GMT and is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sukhjit "Bob" Singh.

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