Selection of a Consulting Engineer

Lifecycle Costs

“Engineering design” typically represents 1 to 2 percent of the overall lifecycle cost of a project, with construction accounting for approximately 6 to 18 percent of the cost. All the rest - 80 to 93 percent of the lifetime asset cost - is accounted for by operations, annual and capital maintenance and decommissioning.

"It is unwise to pay too much, but it is worse to pay too little. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing you bought it to do." John Ruskin (1819-1900)

ACEC-NB supports the method of selecting a Consulting Engineer as outlined in the Infraguide Best Practice for Selecting a Professional Consultant. 

In the event that the Best Practice cannot be followed it is recommended that the following procedure, or one similar in principle, be followed in the selection of a Consulting Engineer when more than one is to be considered for an assignment. Further to the fundamental premise of public safety, it must also be recognized by all parties concerned that the lowest cost for engineering services will not likely result in the lowest overall project costs.

The most important standards by which to judge a Consulting Engineer's suitability to carry out a particular project are technical competence, managerial ability and professional integrity.

The client should seek information on any of the matters by talking to a consulting firm's senior personnel, consulting with the firm's clients, observing completed projects or obtaining written information from the firm in the form of proposals.

The client should:

  1. Prepare as complete a description as possible for the proposed project, including purpose to be served, proposed budget, desired date for start of construction and other pertinent factors which affect the engineering services required;

  2. Ascertain, from experience or through inquiry, the names of several consulting firms who appear to be qualified to render the required type of service.

    Draw up a short list of between three to five consulting firms which appear best qualified for the project;

    Contact each Consulting Engineer so selected, outlining the nature of the project, inquiring as to the Consulting Engineer's interest in it, examining the qualifications and record of each and determining time factors and availability of personnel;

  3. The client may, at this stage, simply discuss the project with the most suitable Consulting Engineer and negotiate an agreement;

    OR

  4. Write a letter to each of the firms on the short list and invite proposals. The proposal request should contain at least the following:
    • scope of work with supporting documentation;
    • statement of information to be included in the proposal;
    • basis of evaluation;
    • closing date

    The Consulting Engineer's proposal should include;
    • company information;
    • past experience with similar projects;
    • project staff;
    • project organization and schedule;
    • methodology to be used where applicable
  5. Check details in the proposals and obtain additional information from any of the Consulting Engineer's clients that are appropriate. Visit similar projects carried out by the Consulting Engineer, and talk to end users.
  6. Rank the proposals in order of merit. The firm listed as first should be invited to discuss its proposal, review the terms of reference, the contract terms and the fee structure.
  7. If agreement is not reached with the first ranked firm it should be notified in writing. The second ranked firm should be invited for negotiations and so on until a satisfactory agreement is reached. Once a firm has been rejected it should not be recalled for further negotiations.
  8. When agreement has been reached, all those firms submitting proposals should be advised in writing of the clients selection.