May 2014

COMMUNITIES: PRIVATE PRACTICE
National QBS Awards Seeks Nominees

Do you know a firm or public agency that is making qualifications-based selection of design professionals a priority? NSPE and the American Council of Engineering Companies want to recognize both public and private entities that are making exemplary use of the QBS process at the federal, state, and local levels.

ACEC and NSPE state chapters, a public or private entity, or an individual in the public or private sector may nominate candidates (self nominations are also permitted) for the 2014 QBS Awards by June 6. Award winners will be recognized during ACEC’s fall conference in Hawaii where they will be honored and receive an engraved trophy. Travel and hotel expenses will be paid by ACEC (as permitted by law).

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is the most recent recipient of the QBS Award. MWAA was selected for its efforts to serve the public interest with a selection procedure that has been used successfully since 1987. At MWAA, a price proposal is requested only after the top-ranked firm is selected based on professional qualifications, past contract experience, specialized experience, and technical competence. If a fair and reasonable price cannot be negotiated with the top-ranked offer, MWAA will terminate negotiations and proceed to issue an RFP to the next-highest ranked firm.

One award will be presented in each of the following categories: federal government sector, state government sector, and nongovernment sector. In addition to the QBS awards, up to four merit awards are also presented during the awards ceremony.

Nongovernmental entities and individuals eligible for nomination include private corporations, privately funded research labs, private utility companies, design professionals, construction contractors, developers, and any nongovernmental entity that uses the services of design professionals on a regular basis.

Public entities that operate under mandated QBS procedures are eligible to receive the award if they have demonstrated exceptional leadership in using qualifications-based selection. Entities that are not mandated to use QBS will receive priority consideration if all other criteria are rated equally. Federal, state, and local government departments/agencies, municipalities, school districts, university systems, public utility systems, and publicly funded research laboratories are eligible for nomination in the governmental entities category.

Access information about the National QBS Awards at www.nspe.org/awards.