Transcript Document
Quality Based Selection
The Best Practice for Selecting
Professional Consultants
[DATE]
The Challenge of Delivering Projects
TIMELY
DELIVERY
BUDGET
MANAGEMENT
SOCIETAL
NEEDS
QUALITY &
INNOVATION
The magic triangle
How do we achieve greatest value?
Long-term savings through reduced life-cycle costs?
Timely delivery?
Quality and sustainability?
Innovation and added value?
Improved economic, social and environmental quality of life?
Taxpayer confidence?
How Does QBS Work?
The QBS model identifies the consulting team that best
addresses client objectives and delivers the greatest value;
Professionals compete based on qualifications and
understanding of the client’s needs;
QBS provides the opportunity for client and consulting team
to discuss and confirm client objectives through interviews;
Consulting team has the opportunity to discuss innovation
and the unique approach it would take to create a design that
best addresses the client’s objectives.
How Does QBS Work?
Client ranks the competing teams: the highest ranked
team is one that the client believes can design a project that
will best address their objectives;
A detailed scope of services is then established in
consultation with preferred team, including deliverables,
that will produce the best results in achieving the client’s
objectives;
Client and consulting team negotiate a fee and a realistic
project schedule that will enable the consulting team to
deliver the desired scope and quality of services.
How Does QBS Work?
Competitive: If negotiations with highest-ranked team
cannot be completed successfully, client abandons
negotiations with that team and opens negotiations with team
ranked second;
Client will not renew negotiations with highest ranked team.
What’s Wrong With the Lowest Price?
Rewards firms for using fewer resources on behalf of the
client (e.g. less experienced and less senior staff);
Disadvantages firms with greater appreciation of the
client’s needs;
Disadvantages firms that accurately anticipate
complications or that propose innovation;
Increase cost to client (more staff time and resources).
Best Practice is Good Policy
Competitive and transparent process focusing on merit,
quality and long-term value;
Long-term savings realized over decades;
Encourages in-house expertise to represent the client’s
and taxpayer’s interests;
Permits innovation and sustainable infrastructure;
Allows for creative risk management.
What’s in it for the Client?
Right team for right job
More realistic schedules and budgets
Fewer change orders and disputes
Better business relationship between
client/consultants/contractors/external agencies
Better service, better quality & better value for taxpayers
Who uses this approach?
Legislated by the US federal government and 44
state governments
Municipalities across the US and Canada,
including the City of Calgary and the City of London
The Government of Quebec has mandated its
ministries and agencies to use QBS for architectural
and engineering services
It Works: APWA Study (2009)
Georgia Institute of Technology and University of Colorado
reviewed more than 200 projects across US;
93% of clients expressed high or very high satisfaction with
consultants selected using QBS;
QBS reduced construction cost growth by 70 %;
QBS reduced construction schedule growth by 20%;
QBS provided better ability to address societal issues or
stakeholder concerns;
All U.S. Federally funded projects must use QBS.
Selecting a Professional Consultant
An InfraGuide “Best Practice” (June
2006)
Developed by the public sector –
for the public sector
Supported by extensive interviews
and research
“The recommended consultant
selection process is a competitive
qualifications-based process”
About InfraGuide
National Guide to Sustainable Municipal Infrastructure:
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
National Research Council
Infrastructure Canada
Canadian Public Works Association
Recognized national network of experts in public and
municipal infrastructure
Publisher of over 50 “Best Practice” documents supporting
sustainable infrastructure decisions