Preconstruction & Estimating

Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) is the process of developing a project's technical scope and cost basis to a level of definition sufficient to support a final investment decision, typically following an industry-standard Front-End Loading (FEL) framework. FEL 0 represents the earliest conceptual stage, where an opportunity is first identified and screened for basic feasibility and fatal flaws, before significant investment is committed. FEL 1 then establishes the conceptual engineering basis and business case for a project; FEL 2 develops preliminary engineering, layouts, and cost estimates to evaluate project feasibility and select a preferred development option; and FEL 3, often referred to as FEED, advances engineering to a detailed, execution-ready level, defining scope, schedule, and cost with the accuracy needed to move confidently into procurement and construction. Each stage progressively reduces uncertainty, allowing owners to commit capital only as project definition and confidence increase.

For mining and resource-based projects, a parallel set of study stages guides investment decisions. A Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) provides an early, order-of-magnitude evaluation of a project's potential economics based on limited data, typically used to screen opportunities before committing to more detailed study. A Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) refines that assessment with more detailed engineering, testing, and cost estimation to determine whether a project warrants further investment. A Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), sometimes called a bankable feasibility study, represents the highest level of project definition, providing the detailed engineering, cost, and risk analysis required to secure financing and support a final construction decision.

ICPE is experienced across both the FEED/FEL framework common to industrial and utility projects and the PEA, PFS, and DFS study stages used in mining and resource development. Whatever stage your project is at, the ICPE team can help quantify costs, define scope, and identify risks, giving you the confidence to make informed investment decisions before a shovel ever hits the ground.