Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Debut Policy #2- Qualifications Based Selection

TOPIC – Qualifications-Based Selection

Draft Update 22 September 2006
Adopted January 2007
Sunset December 2007

Policy Statement

Since 1987, the Local Government Professional Services Selection Act has governed how architects, engineers and land surveyors are hired to design public projects for local governments. The Qualifications Based Selection process makes the qualifications of a design team the first consideration in the selection, followed by a price negotiation. A firm can be rejected if the Contracting Body believes its costs are too high. QBS is the industry standard used in 46 states to ensure that qualified professionals are chosen to design our roads, bridges, schools and all government facilities.

A more qualified professional can better analyze and develop a project scope prior to the beginning of any construction. A more qualified professional can offer the most appropriate concepts in planning, technology, and life safety to the project and potentially save money and money for the community that is being served. Architecture should optimize functional efficiencies and construction techniques, and create a strong relationship to the community being served. The price of services should be considered only after the approach and experience brought to the project are understood. Architecture cannot be considered a commodity driven by the lowest cost.


Issue
Professional Services and specifically Architectural Services are investments in both a building and in the community. As a small component of the overall construction cost, the selection of architectural services by the State of Illinois or a local governmental body should be based on finding the most qualified firms for a specific project in order to bring the greatest value to the sizable long term investment in a building’s construction.

Position
AIA Illinois supports the State of Illinois Architectural, Engineering and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act (Public Act 87-673) that competitively selects architects based on professional qualifications and competence, with negotiated fees for design services. AIA Illinois would encourage the application of this process to all levels of government and community in order to maximize the value of the larger dollar in construction.

No comments: