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The Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) is the recipient of a QBS Merit Award for 2025. NSPE and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) partner each year to present the QBS Awards to recognize organizations that promote and make exemplary use of qualifications-based selection methods to procure the professional services of consulting engineers and design professionals at the federal, state, or local level. QBS is a procurement process that emphasizes experience and technical expertise over merely seeking the lowest bid.

Established in 1972, the CDB is tasked with managing Illinois’ building and capital improvement program. The board oversees construction for college and university buildings, health facilities, state parks, and is responsible for more than 8,700 state buildings.

On a continuing basis, it reviews building and construction codes and advises various state agencies and local government units on preparing long-range capital expenditure plans. Its seven-member bipartisan board (which is appointed by the governor and approved by the state senate to four-year unpaid terms) establishes policy and approves the selection of design professionals.

Recently, the CDB launched an Excellence in Design Program in order to develop a more rigorous procedure for selecting the most qualified designers for public works projects. Building on the QBS process, the agency has used for so long, the new program focuses on engaging shortlisted firms in a conceptual design competition to help stakeholders more clearly visualize the direction of a project much earlier in its evolution. It also employs a jury of architectural educators from throughout Illinois to review, critique, and offer additional insight to selection committee members.

The organization received the award during the ACEC Illinois’ Fall Conference in November. CDB Executive Director TJ Edwards expressed her gratitude for the recognition the development board received. "We are honored to receive this award, which recognizes our commitment to securing the highest-quality professional services for the people of Illinois," she said in a statement. "At CDB, excellence, transparency, and stewardship of taxpayer dollars guide everything we do. The QBS process is central to delivering safe, durable, and well-designed public facilities across the state, and our selection committees made up of both CDB staff and external experts work diligently to uphold those standards with integrity."

Kevin Artl, president and CEO of ACEC Illinois stated, "The Illinois Capital Development Board has demonstrated exceptional leadership in its commitment to QBS and is truly deserving of this national recognition. ACEC Illinois and our member firms are grateful for CDBs dedication to quality, transparency, and integrity, and we look forward to continuing our strong partnership to protect and advance this vital process."

NSPE’s Position on QBS

NSPE supports the procurement of design professional services on the basis of qualifications and strongly supports the Brooks A/E Act of 1972, which requires federal agencies to use qualifications-based selection procedures when obtaining design professional services. The Society also supports the adoption of "mini-Brooks" laws at the state and local level.

The professional services selection process should address specialized knowledge and skill, experience in the type of project involved, assignment of qualified personnel, ability of the engineers to perform on a timely basis, recognition of the project budgetary limitations, and such other areas of expertise as may be identified by the owner for prime consultant services, or the prime consultant for the subconsultant services.

The process for procurement must include a means where professionally qualified engineers or firms can be ranked on the basis of ability to provide the service, followed by negotiations with the best qualified engineer or firm to determine a mutually satisfactory agreement for the scope of services agreed upon.

The QBS Awards are presented annually to public and private entities and/or individuals who make use of or contributions to the advancement of the QBS process at the federal, state, and local levels. The nomination window for the 2026 awards will be open from April 1, 2026, to June 15, 2026. For more information visit the NSPE website’s recognition section.