March 2018 – Region 9 Reports
REGION 9 REPORTS – MARCH 2018 NEWSLETTER
Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) Procurement Process
by Jennifer Teasdale
ACEC California – Policy Outreach Coordinator
The American Council of Engineering Companies, California (ACEC-California) is excited to partner with the American Society of Civil Engineers, Region 9, in supporting and promoting Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS). California state law requires that public agencies use QBS to procure professional services because it is recognized that hiring the best-qualified professionals to design and administer public works projects results in the best use of scarce public funds. ACEC California has begun a strategic campaign to provide education, resources, and outreach to assist public agencies in understanding and complying with QBS statutes.
QBS is a competitive procurement process that requires a public agency to evaluate design professionals, like engineers and land surveyors, based on their qualifications and their demonstrated competence, instead of lowest bid. The amount of time spent working on a project is the primary factor that determines the cost of professional services. Making the best use of that time by hiring the right professional for the right project has proven to result in the safest, most durable, and most cost-effective projects. A project designed by a qualified firm can significantly decrease construction and life-cycle costs and promote innovation, public participation, and often leads to greater public approval and satisfaction with the completed project. This is why QBS is required to be used by federal, California, and local governments.
ASCE Policy Statement 304 – Qualifications-Based Selection of Professional Engineers, states ASCE believes that the selection of Professional Engineers as prime consultants and subcontractors should be based on the qualifications of the engineering firm. Qualifications including education, training, experience, past-performance, capabilities, personnel and workloads should be evaluated when selecting an engineering firm.
ACEC California has developed an extensive QBS program intended to engage and educate public agencies that are not complying with QBS. One of our key accomplishments is the creation of short and simple educational materials that will help the design professional community explain QBS statutes and benefits to their clients. Additionally, the organization’s leadership and staff are proactively liaising with agencies, local government associations, and public officials on behalf of our members. We are confident that these efforts will help to uphold the engineering and land surveying professions, deliver the clients’ needs at a fair price and, most importantly, provide the safest infrastructure for all Californians.
If you desire to learn more about ACEC California’s QBS efforts, please contact Jennifer Teasdale at jteasdale@acec-ca.org. To learn more about ASCE policies in regard to QBS, please contact Richard Markuson, ASCE Legislative Advocate, at richard@pacificadvocacy.com
ASCE Los Angeles Air Transport Technical Group
by Mr. Khashayar (Kash) Hadipour, Ph.D., P.E., Kleinfelder
Chair, ATTG
The new Utility Engineering and Survey Institute
The Air Transport Technical Group (ATTG) serves the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Los Angeles Section, its members and supporters by conducting periodic meetings for the benefit of engineers and architects having an interest in the aviation industry. The meetings focus on various aspects of air transport, including airport improvements, airline affairs, air traffic control and the aircraft manufacturing industry. ATTG’s goal in conducting periodic meetings is to provide informative presentations to its members and guests, and to provide them with an opportunity to exchange information and ideas for the benefit of all participants.
ATTG meetings are typically planned for January, March, May, September and November of each year. Arrangements are made for presentations on terminal and airfield airport improvements for passenger and cargo transport, airline tenant improvements, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) developments in air and ground traffic control, airport security, and developments in aircraft manufacturing.
The current ATTG Board of Directors are:
CHAIR: Mr. Kash Hadipour, Ph.D., P.E., Kleinfelder
SECRETARY: Ms. Lilith Terry, P.E., PMP, AECOM
TREASURER: Mr. Tony Fermelia, P.E., HNTB
PAST CHAIR: Mr. Charles Adams, P.E., M.ASCE
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
Mr. Jeffrey C. Smith, P.E., LAWA
Mr. Matt G. Ulukaya, P.E., AECOM
Mr. Jeffrey Sedlak, P.E., Jacobs
Mr. Virgil C. Aoanan, P.E., S.E., VCA Engineers
Mr. Clint Isa, P.E., Diaz Yourman & Associates
Mr. Renju Abraham, P.E., Burns & McDonnell
Mr. Alberto Cruz, P.E., C.M., FAA
ASCE Air Transport Technical Group had their bi-monthly meeting on December 19, 2017 when Mr. Barry Rondinella, Director of the John Wayne Airport provided an overview of the airport and some of the current issues that JWA faces. Mr. Rondinella discussed current and upcoming projects at the airport and his presentation was greatly appreciated by all members.
ASCE Air Transport Technical Group will be hosting Mr. Iraj Ghaemi, Director of Facilities Development Department at San Diego International Airport on February 20, 2018. Mr. Ghaemi will be providing a presentation on San Diego International Airport Capital Improvement Program.
To learn more about the ASCE ATTG, please contact Kash Hadipour, Chair, at khadipour@kleinfelder.com
UTILITY Engineering and Surveying Institute (UESI)
The Orange County Branch of the Los Angeles Section recently established a UESI chapter headed by Shaun Clark (shaw.clark@cardno.com). The L.A. Section provided funding to the new institute to begin functioning. Make your plans to join us in sunny Southern California for the inaugural UESI 2018 Surveying & Geomatics Conference in joint collaboration with California State Polytechnic University Pomona April 22 thru April 24, 2018. There will be exhibitors, special plenary sessions and keynote speakers, and a special event that will be hosted by Cal Poly Pomona to feature an exciting venue in Southern California! For more information check out: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/asce-uesi-2018-surveying-geomatics-conference-tickets-36627276169