On March 2, NSPE Vice President Tom Roberts, P.E., F.NSPE, testified before a Kansas House subcommittee on the importance of protecting and promoting the continued use of qualifications-based selection in Kansas. In response to an audit recommendation suggesting that the state move away from QBS, Roberts, a former president of the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers, testified on the tremendous value of using the QBS method.
“Numerous studies…illustrate the long term value of the QBS process,” he told the Transportation and Public Safety Budget Subcommittee. “Data shows cost savings through fewer change orders during construction, lower costs for preservation and sustainability, and ensuring the state gets exactly the project it wants and needs the first time.” Roberts added, “If the state [instead] asks a firm to submit an estimated cost upfront, you are forcing that firm to pick the approach to take on the project and robbing the client of choice. QBS allows them to select the firm that is the best fit, then let the client dictate the scope of work with help from the consulting engineer based on client needs, budget and timeline.”
On February 11, NSPE submitted a letter in support of QBS, which was included in KSPE’s testimony as part of the public record. Roberts will again testify on behalf of KSPE when the Kansas Senate holds a similar committee hearing on March 15.
Read more about NSPE’s action on QBS issues.