A FEMA licensed engineer/architect with cost-estimating expertise or a certified cost estimator reviews all requests for replacement and validates the estimates. For any replacement requests over $5 million, the United States Army Corp of Engineers Center for Excellence for Cost Engineering performs an additional review of the repair and replacement estimates. FEMA considers the results of the USACE review prior to approving replacement.

For an Alternative Procedures Project with an estimated Federal share of at least $5 million, upon the Applicant's request, FEMA provides a FEMA-funded, independent validation of the cost estimate.