The new updated Analysis of QBS in the Procurement of Engineering Services finds that QBS provides direct benefits in both the design and construction phases of a wide variety of public and private sector projects. From direct cost and schedule benefits to indirect benefits of reduced management issues and increased innovation, QBS demonstrates a clear benefit when applied across a host of project types, sizes, and geographic regions.
Key Findings:
• QBS outperforms the national performance in cost growth (3 percent versus 6 percent)
• QBS outperforms the national performance schedule growth (7 percent versus 10 percent)
• QBS projects achieve a greater degree of consistency in terms of project success than non-QBS projects
• There is a strong association between the use of QBS and the quality of construction documents developed by the design team
• Projects incorporating QBS have a greater likelihood of producing innovative solutions
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Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) is a procurement process through which firms compete for work based on experience and technical expertise, rather than competing for the lowest cost bid. Under QBS, after firms are evaluated and shortlisted based on their qualifications, the top-ranked firm is selected for price negotiations, and, ideally, a fair and reasonable price is reached based on a detailed scope of the project. If an agreement on price cannot be reached with the most qualified firm, negotiations commence with the second most qualified firm. In most cases, the top-ranked firm is selected at a price that fits the client's budget.
QBS procurement results in fewer project delays and improves the likelihood of owner satisfaction with the overall project.
QBS ensures complex projects have the best talent by engaging experienced, stable design teams.
When firms have greater opportunity to explore innovations, they can produce better outcomes for clients. QBS enables innovation because price is not the only driving factor.
QBS is the primary procurement tool – even for agencies that experience lean staffing and high turnover.
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The ACEC/NSPE QBS Awards program recognizes public and private entities that make exemplary use of the Qualifications-Based Selection process at the federal, state and local levels. QBS Award winners serve as examples of how well the QBS process works, and they help ACEC and NSPE promote the practice of QBS in jurisdictions that do not use, or underuse, QBS to procure engineering services.
Nominations may originate from an ACEC Member Organization, an NSPE State Society, a public or private entity, or an individual in the public or private sector. Self-nomination is not permitted. Each nomination shall require, before submission, the signed endorsement of both the ACEC M.O. Executive Director and the NSPE State Society in the nominee’s state or region.
ACEC is the lead organization for this program in 2022. The Call for Nominations can be downloaded below. Nominations are due by COB Friday, June 17, 2022. If you have any questions, please send an email to ckim@acec.org.
The ACEC Research Institute’s mission is to deliver knowledge and business strategies that guide and elevate the engineering industry and to be the leading source of knowledge and thought leadership for creating a more sustainable, safe, secure and technically advanced build environment.