Project Budget and Bid Estimate. The project budget and bid estimate is not an MS Project report, but is generated via word (e.g., Excel, Office) processing software. Assume that there is a fixed indirect cost for the project of $45,000 and a variable indirect cost for the project of $2000 per scheduled working day. Only four activities have a contingency budget and the total of the contingency budget is $28,000. A management reserve of $25,000 is to be included. Use a profit margin of 24% of the cost of all project direct and indirect costs. However, round up your profit margin calculation so that your bid to the customer will be to the next highest five thousand dollar level.