A/E Selection Process for Public‐School Districts

Abstract

Selecting A/E firms to design capital construction projects for school districts presents challenges that are more burdensome than those associated with private‐sector development. In addition to meeting building‐code requirements, political influence has to be mitigated, exhaustive public involvement processes accommodated, and legal requirements satisfied. State laws, overlapping local ordinances, and the recently enacted federal Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act (AHERA) must be considered in the A/E selection process. Thus, the objective becomes one of selecting competent A/E firms in a manner that promotes to the greatest extent possible cost effectiveness throughout the various stages of the development of capital projects. To meet this objective, the division responsible for selecting A/E firms within a school district must be strategically placed in the organizational hierarchy such that it receives necessary and timely support for its mission. The selection process utilized by the division must be accountable to the general public and acceptable to professionals by minimizing the subjectivity of persons serving as evaluators of the responses to the request for proposals submitted by A/E firms. Also, any evaluative criteria that is a part of the process, must be flexible enough to accommodate any changes in market conditions.