It’s June, 2017— Do you know where your Federal Transportation Funds are?
Tuesday, June 13, 2017New Qualification Based Selection Rules (QBS) for Local Federal Aid Projects in Illinois
Editor’s Note: Due to a very important new requirement for the state and local agencies that comprise much of our client base, we are posting this blog sooner than we normally would. In addition, Howard’s next House blog is being shifted back a couple of weeks to make room for this one.
The Illinois Department of Transportation’s June 2017 update to their Bureau of Local Roads and Street Manual, Chapter Five will impact a number of Agreement processes and some current practices of IDOT, Local Agencies and Professional Service Contractors such as Engineers. A very important addition that will affect NEARLY ALL federally funded transportation projects is that Engineering and Professional Services for projects that are funded in whole or in part with federal monies, are now to be selected based on a publicly advertised “Qualification Based Selection” process when these services are projected to exceed $25k.
Although this is a change that requires that Local Agencies take the time and effort to write a defined scope of services, advertise, review proposals, and negotiate contracts, it will place them in the center of a defined selection process. We have found in our practice, that preparing complex proposals; reviewing past work and detailing project approaches brings out the best of ideas and places a focus on the key challenges for our clients. Moreover, a robust professional selection process provides Local Agencies the opportunity to make the best choice for the project specific services they require.
We are ready and excited to fold these new requirements into our project approach knowing that, taken in the right light, these new steps will strengthen the state’s transportation infrastructure and prove to be a wise long-term investment for our clients that are committed to receiving federal grant dollars. Due to our firm’s experience with years of work with IDOT and the Tollway, and my former work as an employee at both IDOT and the Tollway, we stand prepared to aid any agency with the proper project development that will ensure that your desired project will move smoothly and successfully through this new process.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Brian Bottomley PE
Brian can be reached at bbottomley@rehamilton.org or 815-730-3444