Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 24

“From a scientific perspective, the comprehensive and quantitative research found that QBS procurement has substantive advantages on projects,” says Paul Chinowsky, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado and one of the authors of the report. “Engineering firms can use this data to bolster their case to owners that QBS is the appropriate method for contracting design.” The research was conducted by Chinowsky and Gordon Kingsley, associate professor at Georgia Tech’s School of Public Policy, both noted experts in the construction field, and was sponsored by ACEC and the American Public Works Association (APWA). Under QBS, A/E firms compete for design contracts on the basis of experience and technical expertise, not simply on cost. After evaluating and short-listing firms as a result of their qualifications, project owners negotiate a fair and reasonable price with the top-ranked firm. If the parties cannot agree on a price—which researchers say rarely happens—the owner begins negotiations with the second-ranked firm. The end result: the selection of the most technically qualified firm for a given project, at a price that fits the owner’s budget. “QBS incorporates multiple criteria developed by the owner for the selection of professional services, with particular importance placed on the experience of a firm in addressing similar projects,” explains Kingsley. “A single variable, such as cost, would not automatically eliminate a firm from consideration, as in low-bid procurement. This multiple-variable outlook is the basis of the argument that QBS ensures a wellrounded competitive process.” Brooks Act Placed Value on Experience “On critical measures, such as construction cost and schedule growth, QBS-based projects consistently have results that are superior to national averages.” GorDon KinGsley, GeorGia Tech ACEC was a major force behind the 1972 passage of the Brooks Act, which mandated that federal agencies must use QBS in procuring engineering and architectural services for public projects. Since then, most states and many municipalities have adopted procurement laws based on the federal statute. Though design services make up only a small fraction of the total cost of a project, the Brooks Act holds that design has a disproportionately large impact on safety, function, performance, constructability and lifecycle costs—all of which contribute to final product performance. Says Chinowsky, “while the benefits of QBS have been an abstract belief for a long time, there was never any quantitative confirmation.” This study was commissioned to fill that void. Chinowsky and Kingsley solicited information on nearly 200 public and ENGiNEEriNG iNc. March / april 2010 MarTin BarrauD/GeTTy iMaGes

Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010

Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010
Table of Contents
From ACEC to You
News and Notes
Market Watch
Legislative Action
How to Survive the Down Economy
Annual Convention Preview
Putting Transportation Design in Context
Sustainable BIM
The Case for QBS
AASHTO Uniform Audit & Accounting Guide
Insights from ACEC's Institute for Business Management
Members in the News
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - Cover2
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - Table of Contents
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - From ACEC to You
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 3
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - News and Notes
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - Market Watch
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - Legislative Action
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 7
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - How to Survive the Down Economy
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 9
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 10
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 11
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - Annual Convention Preview
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 13
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 14
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - Putting Transportation Design in Context
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 16
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 17
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 18
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - Sustainable BIM
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 20
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 21
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 22
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - The Case for QBS
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 24
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 25
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - AASHTO Uniform Audit & Accounting Guide
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 27
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - Insights from ACEC's Institute for Business Management
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 29
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - Members in the News
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 31
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - 32
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - Cover3
Engineering Inc. - March/April 2010 - Cover4
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