When Do You Use a Professional Firm

An engineering or surveying firm is retained when a client needs specialized technical assistance to solve a problem or complete a project.   The firms bring knowledge, independent judgment, experience, and the capability to apply modern engineering and surveying techniques to assist their clients.  For example, an engineer should be retained at the earliest stage of any project to develop the plan, determine its feasibility, analyze its costs, design the project, monitor construction, and verify the completed project for acceptance by the client.  The client and the engineering firm work in a collaborative process to achieve the client’s goals and objectives.

Engineering and surveying firms are available when clients do not have the manpower or expertise to solve technical problems or pursue projects.  A professional firm provides its services on an “as needed” basis, which saves the client from hiring additional staff and, perhaps, dismissing that staff when the problem is solved or the project is completed.  Firms may work for government, commercial, or industrial clients.  Firms may team up to provide comprehensive services for complex projects.

How Do You Select a Profession Firm

The primary factor in the selection of a firm is its qualification to solve the client’s particular problem.  The firm’s qualifications are a reflection of its experience, staff, and facilities.  Qualifications are also an indicator of the firm’s integrity and reputation.  Experience on similar projects suggests that the firm understands the concept of the project and has knowledge of local conditions.

Five-Point Checklist

The following is the recommended procedure to select an engineering or surveying firm:

1.   Consider the qualifications of a number of firms which appear to be capable of meeting the requirements of the project.

2.   Select three to five firms which may be qualified to complete your project.  Write each of these firms providing a brief description of the project, inquiring about their interest in pursuing the project, and requesting that the interested firms provide a statement of qualifications by a specified date.

Upon receipt and review of the statements of qualifications, provide those firms you deem most qualified  with available project information and invite them to an interview.  At the interview, discuss with each firm its qualifications, staff availability, present workload, and key personnel that would be assigned to your project.

3.   Check with recent clients of the firms to determine the quality of past performance.

4.   List the firms in order of their suitability for your project based on reputation, location, experience, availability of qualified staff, ability to meet your schedule, and any other factors pertinent to your specific project.

5.   Select the firm considered to be most qualified to complete your project.  Invite that firm to a meeting to develop a mutual understanding of the scope of the services required for your project and determine the equitable compensation for the required engineering or surveying services.

Compensation

The compensation is based on the amount and type of services required for the project.  Unnecessary services are wasteful.  Insufficient services can cause problems.  Most engineering and surveying firms will charge for services based on the actual amount of time spent by its various categories of personnel.  The charges will be typically be higher for the more experienced personnel and the more specialized expertise.  The contract amount is based on the hourly rate schedule of the selected firm, the anticipated hours to be spent on the project, and the anticipated expenses that the firm will incur during the project.  These parameters establish a contract amount that cannot be exceeded without prior approval of the client.  Other compensation options include:

• Lump sum fee
• Percentage of construction costs
• Direct labor or payroll cost times a factor for direct costs and profit

For Help

Contact the ACEC of WY office for additional information to assist in your selection of engineers and surveyors.

Wyoming State Procurement Law

The State of Wyoming has statutes that control how state agencies must select and retain professional  services.  While these statutes do not apply to private interests or to many other public agencies, they do offer a systematic and efficient process for selecting firms.