Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) is a process for the selection of design professionals. It is a negotiated procurement process for selection based on qualifications and competence in relation to the work to be performed.

Quality begins with qualifications-based selection. The New York State QBS Council can help you gain a better understanding of the process of selecting an engineer or architect. From the pre-proposal stage through proposals and interviews, we can help you streamline and improve each step. The end result, a project team that will deliver you the project you expect.

Step 1 Establish evaluation criteria and select the best qualified firm.

Establish Evaluation Criteria

Solicit Statements of Qualifications

Develop a Short List of Firms

Interview and Rank the Firms

Step 2 Jointly define scope and contract terms taking advantage of the experience of the selected firm.

Selected Firm Assists in Defining Scope of Work

Establish Contract Terms

Work With the Next Firm on the Short List

Agreement Yes               No

Step 3 Retain the firm on the basis of an acceptable proposal.

Ask for Fee Proposal

Agreement Yes               No

Retain the Selected Firm