Selecting Engineering Services

QUALITY BEGINS WITH QBS

(Quality Based Selection)

The selection of a consulting engineer is one of the most important decisions you will make when completing a successful project. While the cost of engineering services for the average facility represents less than one percent of the total lifetime cost of construction, operation and maintenance, the design can have a major impact on all other costs. Investing in quality design services at the outset of the project often results in long-term savings.

Cost effective problem solving and high quality design can only be achieved with competence and experience. The Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) process helps clients find the design consultant most qualified for their project. It is a time-proven method endorsed by federal, state and local government and used by many private sector owners and institutions.

Following this simple method, consultants are selected first on competence, creativity and performance and second on negotiation of a fair and reasonable price. Selecting a consulting engineer based on price competition, limits the professionals resources to undertake a thorough analysis of a problem and to search for innovative solutions. It also denies access to the most valuable assets the professional has to offer: creativity and professional judgment.

Cheap design is expensive. Your investment in quality design will enable the most qualified consultant to apply technical knowledge and relevant project experience to develop a functional and cost effective facility design to meet your needs.

 

The QBS Process

The Basic QBS process to be followed by a client in the selection of a consulting engineer consists of the following steps:

Prepare a description of the project and request qualifications from a select list of firms.

Evaluate these firms based on their qualifications and select three to five firms to be interviewed.

Conduct interviews with the most qualified firms and rank firms based on both their qualifications and the interview.

Select highest ranked firm for detailed negotiations of scope of work, contractual terms and compensation.

Why QBS?

Many state and local governments, including Kentucky, as well as private industry, have followed the lead of the federal government in the procurement of consulting engineering services based on Qualifications Based Selection. In 1972, the U. S. Congress recognized the merits of competition based on qualifications and established as federal law, a policy that engineers are to be selected on the basis of competence and unique abilities for each project and at a fair and reasonable price. In addition, the American Bar Association has endorsed this qualifications based selection and negotiation process in its "Model Procurement Code for State and Local Governments."

Remember that Qualifications Based Selection does not mean you can not negotiate a fair and reasonable price for services. It does, however, mean that price is negotiated after competent, qualified professionals are selected by you.
Most importantly, it means that your project will be designed in the most competent and cost effective manner, not only for today, but also for the future.