Engineering Inc. - September/October 2008 - 40

oNE oN oNE Industry Challenges, Benefits of QBS, Best Value Procurement, ACEC Influence Philios Angelides is senior vice president of Alpha Corporation in Dulles, Va. Q. The biggest challenge facing our industry is the lack of qualified engineers, both in numbers and skills, to meet the ever-growing demand for our services. This challenge becomes even more daunting as we observe the increased demand for engineering expertise to address the nation’s infrastructure concerns and to take advantage of booming international development. It is important that we invest time and capital to further develop our existing workforce, as well as cultivate the next generation of engineers. The second most important challenge is the trend of diluting the value of engineers through the practice of bidding our services. This practice not only brings an added financial burden in the pursuit of projects, but it also 40 ENGINEERING INC. A. What do you see as the major challenges facing the engineering industry in the coming years? changes the role of the engineer from one of a trusted partner to one that feels more like a commodity supplier. Owners need to be educated that the perceived benefits or price competition on the front end of a project are not worth sacrificing the broader cost savings achieved when partnering with the most qualified engineering firm selected through a Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) process. Q. Does the increased reliance on design-build and best Value at the federal level dilute the role of the engineering firm, and if so, how should the industry respond? I believe that the increased reliance on designbuild (D-B) and Best Value at the federal level not only dilutes the role of the engineering firm in the delivery of a project, but also provides a false sense of understanding of the underlying risks associated with this practice of project delivery. While D-B and Best Value procurement have a place in the industry as project delivery methods, proper advanced preparation and management of the process to preserve the true value gained out of D-B is important. We should work with federal agencies to distinguish A. the evaluation of the engineering/design firm as part of the D-B team and assign rating criteria for the firm’s qualifications and price. By doing so, the engineer’s portion of the proposal is evaluated as a stand-alone element of the value brought to the project, and separated from the commodity parts of the bid. D-B contracts need to “fence” the designer’s price, so that the contractor cannot bid out or pressure down that price once the contract is in place. Ultimately, we need to ensure that D-B and Best Value procurements are not used as a means to bypass QBS, and that they are driven by a desire to blend design and construction innovation in a fast-track project delivery process. important business issues. ACEC has also afforded me personally, and others within Alpha, a platform to develop leadership skills and expand our knowledge in engineering management, business and technical practices through various seminars, conferences and networking activities. Q. Q. Alpha Corporation has been an ACEC Member since the early 1980s. I have been active with ACEC, both at the local level (Metro Washington Board Member and President) and nationally (Committee Member and PAC Champion), for over 10 years. This exposure has provided our firm with an outlet to voice our opinion and participate on the front lines on A. How have you and Alpha Corporation benefited from your very active involvement in ACEC? Political decisions affect our industry in many ways. These include priorities in funding for projects, procurement and project delivery practices, accountability and liability issues. Though many groups can offer advice to politicians on what, why and how to do something, nothing can replace the insight offered by the engineering practitioners who bring a unique perspective from the trenches. As principals of firms, we should continue to seek opportunities to inform and educate our politicians at the local and national levels on the technical and business implications and impacts of certain actions or inactions associated with important issues affecting our industry. n A. You have always been very active politically—at the local, state and national levels. Why, in your view, is it important for firm owners and principals to get engaged politically? sEptEmbER / oCtobER 2008

Engineering Inc. - September/October 2008

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