ACEC Restores QBS At FEMA And Forest Service

Jay Skoog, ACEC Montana Executive Director

ACEC has capped a successful effort to defend qualifications-based selection (QBS) at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The agency recently chose to use QBS for its National Map Modernization Program, a $150 million contract that could double in size as the program is expanded throughout the nation. Late last year, FEMA issued a notice stating that it was considering using acquisition methods other than QBS. ACEC responded with a letter and subsequent discussions with the agency that resulted in QBS being chosen as the proper acquisition method for this procurement.

This effort follows another recent action by ACEC that succeeded in persuading the U.S. Forest Service to recall a solicitation that requested price information in the RFP. The agency had requested price information in its RFP for geo-technical services while claiming that these services were not architectural or engineering. The RFP was withdrawn, and re-issued to comply with QBS. ACEC will continue to monitor the agency to ensure that future solicitations are done in accordance with QBS procedures.

"These latest actions are a reminder that we as an industry must remain vigilant to violations of QBS," said ACEC Montana Executive Director Jay Skoog, who is leading a similar QBS advocacy effort involving the General Services Administration.

"QBS represents one of the cornerstones of our industry, and the Council will continue to vigorously resist any effort to weaken this important standard."

Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Ohio Named 2003 QBS Grant Winners

Stephen C. Anderson, ACEC Incoming vice chairman.

ACEC partnered with The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and The American Public Works Association (APWA) to provide $20,000 in grants designed to assist states with the creation and development of a QBS Facilitator Program. State QBS Facilitator Programs are used to educate state agencies and members of state legislatures about the benefits of QBS. Grants allocated to the states help to pay for meeting and conference costs, QBS publications, and grassroots efforts. Since 1990, the QBS Facilitator Grant Program has allocated over $385,000 to state facilitator programs.

"The QBS Facilitator Program has been very effective in promoting the use of QBS at the state and local levels," said Stephen C. Anderson, ACEC incoming vice chairman who represented the Council in determining grant recipients. "Coupled with our efforts at the federal level to enforce and expand the scope of the Brooks Act, QBS Facilitators ensure that public infrastructure projects benefit from the talent and expertise of the most qualified design firms."

Have Fun At ACEC/PAC Events In Boston!

ACEC/PAC supporters will have the opportunity to play at the Pinehills Golf Club (listed as one of the "Top Ten You Can Play For 2002" by Golf Magazine). You also can enjoy a historical journey on a beautiful 65-foot schooner sailing out of Gloucester Harbor, as well as a luncheon at the Bull and Finch — better known to TV viewers as Cheers. Of course, no trip to Boston in the spring would be complete without a Red Sox game at historic Fenway Park — one of the most fabled institutions in all of sports. For more information on these fabulous PAC events, click here.

And that’s not all. Convention attendees also have the opportunity to win an Apple PowerBook G4! Tickets will be sold at the Convention at the ACEC/PAC table. The drawing will be held on May 14, 2003 at the Buffet Breakfast. You do not need to be present to win.

Further information about the ACEC/PAC events is available by contacting Lorna O’Hara at 202-682-4314.

New Dates For Best Practices Series

Register for the newest ACEC Best Practices desktop series. All seminars begin at 1:30 p.m. and end at 3:00 p.m.

May 20 The Strategic Project Record
Presented by Terri Lindow, Bucley & Leaders and Marcy Zeichner, XL Insurance

Discover how to properly maintain your electronic and paper project records, develop marketing information during a project, standardize contract work products and project management documents, negotiate and manage future client projects and determine which documents should be retained long term. Hear insurance perspectives on recommended project document retention guidelines.

May 29 Finance: Improving Pricing Management
Presented by William F. Fanning

Learn techniques that improve the "look" of your pricing, review best practice methods of setting fees and contracting, and explore alternatives that improve fee levels.

Click here to register or call Andrew Fort at 202-682-4330.

Tour The "Big Dig" At Boston Convention Please plan to attend the Closing General Session during ACEC’s upcoming Annual Convention, and listen to session speaker Robert Albee discuss some of the challenges of the massive engineering project, the "Big Dig." Technical tours of the Big Dig immediately follow the Closing General Session. The "Big Dig," started by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority in 1991, is one of the most technically-challenging infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the U.S. This project will see the existing Central Artery, an elevated six-lane highway, replaced by a subterranean highway and the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) extended. It has been called public works on a scale of the Panama Canal, The English Chunnel and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Completion is scheduled in 2004 at an estimated cost of $7.7 billion. In order to participate in this tour, please be advised that you must wear boots that cover your ankles. Participants are also asked to bring a hard hat and safety vest. Additional hats and vests will be generously supplied by ACEC/Massachusetts. It’s not too late to register for ACEC’s 2003 Annual Convention in Boston. Fax your registration form to 202-682-436, or to register online, click here. Hotel rooms are still available; call the Boston Marriott Hotel Copley Place at 1-800-228-9290 or 1-617-236-5800. Mention "ACEC" to receive the convention rate of $185 single/$195 double occupancy.

Click here to review past editions of the Last Word.