Selecting the Right Consultant Team

To select the best consultant for their project, Client's need to follow a specific process which minimizes the efforts required of all involved but maximizes the likelihood of successfully selecting the "best" team. With small assignments of less than $35,000 (Can), it may be best to go on a sole source basis. Mid-sized projects can be handled using a letter proposal with informal scope and schedule documents. Larger projects require a formal "qualification based selection" model to aid in selecting the best team for the project.

Preproposal preparation is a crucial stage of the process, both for Clients and Consultants. The goals, scope and key criteria or issues must be firmly and clearly established to get comparable proposals that address the Client's concerns.

Many selection systems are based on pre- approved lists of qualified consultants, sometimes supplemented with open requests for qualifications or requests for proposals. With an appropriate number of consultants identified to submit formal proposals, a proposal call is made, followed by detailed review by the Client. For large projects, a short list of leading contenders should be interviewed as a final step. A rating list showing the evaluation criteria should be used, and made available as part of the information package. Following selection of the "best" proposal, detailed negotiations can resolve outstanding issues before formal contract signing.

For additional information see "Selecting the Right Consultant Team" in the September 1997 ITE Journal (on which this note is based) and a manual prepared by the Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California "Quality Based Selection: A Guide for the Selection of Professional Consultant Services for Public Owners", copies can be obtained from them at Tel: 916-441-7991 or Fax: 916-441-6312.