The QBS Award
Previous Winners
1999 Public Sector - Board of Sanitary Commissioners, Terre Haute The City of Terre Haute has consistently utilized QBS as its primary method of procuring engineering services. A good example is the Board of Sanitary Commissioner's procurement of engineering services to design the Vigo County Industrial Park Sewer Interceptor. The Board solicited and evaluated proposals, made reference checks, ranked firms on this basis, interviewed the top three firms, identified their top choice, developed a detailed scope of work and negotiated a contract with their firm of choice. This QBS process resulted in a quality project that was designed and constructed on time and within budget. In 1996, the St. Luke's United Methodist Church Facilities Subcommittee to the Building Committee solicited statements of qualifications from interested parties for their proposed $12.0 MM educational wing and 1,500-seat sanctuary addition. The Facilities Subcommittee followed the QBS procurement process outlined in the QBS User's Guide developed by the Indiana QBS Coalition. Fourteen statements of qualifications from interested groups were received and evaluated. A short list was prepared and three design teams were interviewed. Only after the preferred team was selected, did formal scope definition and fee/contract negotiation take place. Partnering was used on the project, facilitated by an independent consultant. A Partnering Agreement was developed by all team members and was the basis for all project management and dispute resolution. The project was completed in June, 1999 and is considered a success by all involved. The Indiana Department of Commerce (IDOC) is an active proponent/supporter of the "Qualifications Based Selection" (QBS) method of procurement of professional architectural and engineering (A/E) services. The IDOC administers the State of Indiana's federally funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program under the supervision of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The IDOC presently receives over $36 Million annually in CDBG funding from HUD. The IDOC in turn awards grants to units of local government with the primary emphasis of funding projects that benefit Indiana's low-and-moderate income families. Approximately seventy-five percent (75%), or $27,000,000, is distributed annually by the IDOC for local projects that require the services of Indiana-licensed professional architectural and/or engineering services. The IDOC funds a number of CDBG grant projects which provide funding for both planning and construction of local environmental infrastructure projects (water, wastewater, storm drainage projects). The IDOC also makes CDBG grants for the construction of other local public buildings/facilities, as well as projects that address repair/replacement of blighted areas. Federal procurement regulations governing the state's CDBG program allow for the use of the QBS method and the Indiana Department of Commerce is a proponent of the use of the QBS method of procurement for selection of professional architectural and engineering (A/E) services for these projects. The IDOC also authorizes the use of the QBS procurement process for selecting professional A/E services that are necessary to implement state-funded programs and projects. The Indiana Department of Commerce coordinates extensively with the Consulting Engineers of Indiana, Inc. and endorses the QBS User's Guide. The IDOC believes that the QBS method of procurement of professional architectural and engineering services is the appropriate method for units of local government to procure such professional services from qualified firms. The Indiana QBS award was established to recognize and honor entities that have contributed to and used qualifications based selection to retain professional services in the built and natural environment. 1997 was the first year for the award. The inscription on the award reads as follows: Presented in recognition of its commitment to obtaining the highest level of quality and the greatest public good through extended support and promotion of qualifications based selection in the procurement of professional services.
The Towns of Milltown and Marengo, Indiana recieved the 1998 Indiana Qualifications Based Selectins (QBS) Award at an awards luncheon on Tuesday, December 1, 1998, during the Indiana Rural Water Association Fall Conference, held at the Holiday Inn, in Columbus, Indiana. Monty Garrett, Town Manager, Lula Mae Van Winkle, Clerk Treasurer, David Pierson, Council Member and his wife, Betty, accepted the award for the town of Milltown. Mike Cox, Council Member, accepted the award for the Town of Marengo. On behalf of Commonwealth Engineers, Inc., the consulting engineer for the project, Vincent S. Sommers, Director of Project Development, accepted the award. Jeff Pruitt, from the Indiana 15 Planning Commission - the organization that facilitated the QBS process, was also present to accept the award. This project was recognized for its use of the QBS process to select its engineering professional. Background: The Towns of Milltown and Marengo recognized the impact the Safe Drinking Water Act has on small water utilities and decided to jointly undertake a Water Master Plan. The Towns wanted the Plan to give them alternatives that would provide the best quality water at the most reasonable price - whether together or apart. An Indiana Department of Commerce grant was awarded to the Towns for this Plan. Once funded, the Towns initiated a QBS process for selection of an engineering firm to conduct the Plan. The Plan indicated that the Towns would be served best by joining their water utilities into a Regional Water District that would also have the ability to extend service to existing and future customers in east-central Crawford County. | ||||
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| Pictured: Top (l to r) David Pierson (Milltown), Monty Garrett (Milltown), Mike Cox (Marengo), Vince Sommers (Commonwealth Engineers) Seated (l to r) Steve Craney (QBS Facilitator), Lula Mae Van Winkle (Milltown), Jeff Pruitt (Region 15 Planning Commission |
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