Playbooks
Industry procurement playbooks
Decisions, regulations and cost models for the buyers whose engineering spend carries the most compliance weight.
Sheet codeP
Sheet—
Revision2026-11-06
DisciplinePlaybooks
10
Playbooks sheets
revised 2026-11-06
6
Linked calculators
shareable, printable
0
Vendor affiliations
independent desk
P-01 · MedTech playbookMedical Device (ISO 13485 & FDA 510(k)) Engineering Outsourcing: Vetting NPD Firms, Design History Files & Hourly RatesVet ISO 13485 NPD firms, price a 510(k) program at $135-$225/hr, and keep the design history file yours. Worked cost model, supplier checklist and FAQP-02 · A&D playbookAerospace & Defense (ITAR / EAR / CMMC 2.0) Engineering Procurement: US-Person Staffing, Cloud CAD Traps & Air-Gapped AIITAR 22 CFR 120-130, EAR and CMMC 2.0 rules for buying CAD, PLM, AI and engineering staff: US-person checks, cloud traps, and a worked enclave cost moP-03 · A&E firm playbookStructural & Civil A&E Firm Playbook: Subconsultant Markup Rules, Responsible Charge & Professional Liability DeductiblesSubconsultant markups, NCEES responsible charge and professional liability deductibles for A&E firms, with a worked $3.2M structural fee and risk modeP-04 · Solar and MEP playbookCommercial MEP, Solar PV & Battery Storage (ESS) Playbook: High-Volume 50-State PE Stamping SLAs & Per-Site PricingPer-site PE stamp pricing for solar, battery storage and MEP: $350/site, $195 at 25+ a month, 1.35x SE states, $425 per extra state. Worked model and P-05 · Controls playbookIndustrial OEM, Robotics & PLC Controls Engineering Playbook: Commissioning Rates, Travel Per-Diems & Staffing MSAsControls and commissioning engineers bill $72-$165/hr plus overtime, per diem and travel time. Worked 3-week site model, MSA rate-card terms and safetP-06 · Startup hardware playbookHardware Startup DFM & Prototyping Playbook: Avoiding EVT/DVT Change-Order Traps & Hidden Tooling MarginsPick an NPD agency at $135-$225/hr or $25K-$180K per phase, avoid EVT/DVT change-order creep, and get open-book tooling quotes. Worked budget and checP-07 · Forensic playbookForensic Engineering & Expert Witness Retainer Playbook: 2026 Inspection, Deposition & Trial Testimony Hourly Rate BenchmarksApproximate 2026 forensic engineer rates: $175-$450/hr inspection, more for deposition and trial, retainers of $2,500-$10,000. Worked case budget and P-08 · Automotive CAE playbookAutomotive & EV Tier-1 Supplier Playbook: Optimizing CATIA, Siemens NX & Ansys Crash/Thermal Simulation Token PoolsRight-size CATIA, Siemens NX and Ansys crash and thermal licences: $11,500 NX seats, $22,000 solver seats, $12,500 HPC packs, telemetry rules and a woP-09 · R&D credit playbookA&E and Custom Manufacturing IRC Section 41 Playbook: Surviving IRS Funded-Research Audits & Form 6765 Section GHow A&E and custom manufacturers survive IRC 41(d)(4)(H) funded-research audits and Form 6765 Section G. Worked QRE model, contract review and fee comP-10 · Pro-bono playbookHumanitarian, Indigenous STEM & Post-Disaster Engineering Aid Playbook: Corporate Pro-Bono Secondments, CSR Tax Deductions & Volunteer Engineering ProgramsHow engineering firms support pro-bono and post-disaster work: secondments, volunteering, Good Samaritan limits, and the US tax rules on time, expense
Benchmarks are typical 2025-2026 market ranges compiled by Engineer Aid, an independent desk not affiliated with the vendors named. Quotes vary by region, volume and timing; nothing here is legal, tax or engineering advice. Revised 2026-11-06.
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G-03 · Tool 01 · License auditCAD, PLM and simulation software license audit calculatorFind idle CAD seats and renewal uplift: SOLIDWORKS, Autodesk Flex, PTC Creo, Ansys and Siemens NX. Floating-seat and Flex breakeven math, 3-year TCO sC-01 · SOLIDWORKS VAR comparisonGoEngineer vs. Hawk Ridge Systems vs. TriMech: 2026 SOLIDWORKS VAR Pricing, Support SLAs & Renewal AuditSOLIDWORKS VAR comparison: Professional seats benchmark at $3,800/yr, renewals drift 9.5%/yr uncapped. What to compare across GoEngineer, Hawk Ridge aC-02 · CAD platform TCOSOLIDWORKS vs. PTC Creo vs. Siemens NX: 5-Year Enterprise Seat, PDM/PLM & Maintenance TCO Comparison5-year TCO for 25 CAD seats: SOLIDWORKS Pro about $767K, Creo Essentials $701K, NX $1.79M with PLM at $2,100/user/yr and a 3% cap. Full math and switcP-01 · MedTech playbookMedical Device (ISO 13485 & FDA 510(k)) Engineering Outsourcing: Vetting NPD Firms, Design History Files & Hourly RatesVet ISO 13485 NPD firms, price a 510(k) program at $135-$225/hr, and keep the design history file yours. Worked cost model, supplier checklist and FAQJ-02 · State guide: CaliforniaCalifornia (BPELSG) Engineering Guide: Seismic and Surveying Exams, DSA and HCAI SE Rules, PE Stamp Costs and the CA R&D CreditCalifornia BPELSG guide: PE vs SE authority, state seismic and surveying exams, 1.35x stamp fee math on a $3,800 floor, staffing rates and the CA 15% J-03 · State guide: TexasTexas (TBPELS) Engineering Guide: Mandatory Firm Registration, Windstorm Inspections, PE Seal Costs and Staffing RatesTexas engineering guide: TBPELS firm registration before you offer work, seal rules, coastal windstorm certification, 1.00x stamp fee math and franchi