Prepare cost estimates

I have to send this cost estimate to Priya in procurement and then to Mark, the finance director, for e-signature by Friday. Check the worksheet to confirm every line has a unit cost, quantity, and extended total, ensure the VAT row is present and correct, verify the total matches the summary sheet, and flag any rows where the supplier quote is older than 60 days before I route it.

Before I send the estimate to the buyer, make approval obvious: put the final customer price and percentage margin at the top, make a visible link from each line item to its source quote, highlight any assumptions or provisional items in amber, and attach a one-line comment explaining why totals would change if a supplier discount is applied.

The supplier emailed a higher unit price for the aluminium extrusion after I finished the estimate. Procurement wants the original target but finance will reject unexplained increases. I can absorb the increase in contingency, push the change to the client, or re-run quantities for a cheaper spec. Which option most likely keeps the project on schedule and acceptable to Mark, and what immediate note should I add to the file before I escalate?

Estimating keeps getting delayed because quotes come in late or change and I re-run the whole workbook under time pressure. Where am I losing credibility and time, and what two habits should I adopt next quarter so estimates are stable enough for procurement and finance to sign off without last-minute firefights?