Why An IFE?
An Independent Fee Estimate (IFE), review or cost analysis is typically required by the FAA for Planning, Design, Construction or other Administration Professional Services agreements that are expected to exceed $100,000 OR is the first project conducted under a multi-year or multi-project agreement.
Additionally, when you hire an engineering consultant for your airport, the FAA will require an IFE for the first project conducted with the new firm - regardless of the project's size.
IFEs are a confidential review for airport sponsors prepared by a professional, independent, experienced third-party reviewer that analyses the consultant project's scope of work.
The IFE expert must have specialized knowledge in a wide array of varied engineering tasks and understand at a minute level the depth of complexity and efforts needed (see the FAA's Section 300 of the AIP Sponsor Guide, which discusses the procurement of professional services and how IFEs fit into the equation).
Tasks analyzed by your expert will encompass various phases including engineering design, construction administration, planning, environmental and various sub-consulting tasks like surveying, geo-technical, etc. Your IFE expert independently develops costs for all these tasks.
AirportIFE will not only prepare your IFE review in a professional and timely manner but we will be available to you throughout your negotiation process with your consultant to clarify, answer questions or, if necessary, re-look at tasks to assure a fair and reasonable fee for the services is reached.
The good thing is that the fees associated with an IFE are 90%+ reimbursable by the FAA as an administrative expense!