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  A state society of the National Society of Professional Engineers

 

Serving the Engineering Profession Since 1959

February 25, 2008

Maine QBS Program
Attn: Dick Eustis
35 Pride Street
Old Town, Maine 04468-1925

RE: QBS Endorsement

Dear Mr. Eustis,

The Maine Society of Professional Engineers is pleased to provide its support for the process known as Qualification Based Selection (QBS), whereby design professionals are selected based on their

qualifications in relation to specific projects rather than by low-bid approach. The QBS system encourages facility owners to review the credentials of highly qualified professionals in candidate design

firms to ensure a suitable match between the expertise of the individual professionals and the needs of the facility owner. Since the QBS process promotes professionalism and facilitates the development of

sound working relationships betweens owners and engineers, we fully endorse the QBS Council and its objectives.

MAINE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS

Jon Cavallo, PE, NSPE MeSPE President
president@mespe.org

AIA   Maine
A Chapter of The American Institute of Architects

   9 Sylvan Way Manchester, Maine 04351
   207.623.1218
   207.623.1930 fax

www.aiamaine.org
jharvie@roadrunner.com

March 11, 2008

Dick Eustis
Maine QBS Council
35 Pride Street
Old Town, Maine 04468-1925

Re: QBS Endorsement Dear Mr. Eustis:

The American Institute of Architects Maine Chapter (AIA Maine) is pleased to provide its support for the process known as Qualifications Based Selection (QBS). Under the QBS process, architects and engineers are selected on the basis of demonstrated competencies and qualifications for the type of professional services required before reasonable and fair fees are negotiated. QBS provides owners with a selection process that is not only straightforward and easy to implement, but is objective and fair.

Furthermore, the public prefers the QBS process. A nationwide poll of voters (1,000 sample, margin of error +/- 3.1) conducted January 3-5, 2006, by two respected national pollsters—The Tarrance Group, a Republican firm, and Lake Snell and Perry, a Democratic firm—found that only 17 percent of voters said they agreed with the viewpoint that “architects and engineers who are hired by government agencies to design and construct public buildings like schools, hospitals, airports, courthouses and prisons should always be awarded to the lowest bidder in order to save money.” On the other hand, a strong 80 percent agreed with the contrary statement, “Because public health and safety is at stake, these contracts should be awarded by selecting the best qualified architects and engineers and then negotiating the best possible fee.”

AIA Maine encourages all clients to subscribe to the QBS process and we support the Maine QBS Council in its ef­forts to promote this process.

Yours sincerely,

Carol J. De Tine, AIA President

AIA Maine