kuhuh - I'm sorry if it sounded as though I was criticizing you; I wasn't (although at time I do come off as a bull in a china shop.) My point was this: You're estimating work and you're employer seems to be leaving you in the dark. Years back, I worked for two contractors, we had historic rates from our projects, RS Means, Ryerson, etc, and something's were seat of the pants based on what we thought the production should be or what we needed it to be.
The estimating I do now is from the other side of the on the other side of the fence (this is a case where you don't want to be the low bidder; coming in 2nd or 3rd is ideal) As Qshake stated, Means is a good source of information. I use it for some things; painting, excavating, etc; things are fairly straight up. On a bridge rehab job, where there are steel repairs, bearing replacements, bridge jacking Means isn't geared toward that type of work.
You didn't mention what type of heavy/civil construction. People have didn't interpretation of heavy construction.