Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Date: May 25, 2004

Subject: Consultant Engineering Agreement Advertisement Selection Criteria Requirements

To: All District Executives
Highway Administration Bureau Directors

From: Gary L. Hoffman, P .E.
Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration

Effective the date of this letter, all advertisements for highway project design published by the Department will need to include the following four (4) selection criteria in addition to any other criteria deemed appropriate by the initiating organization:

1) What will the team do to ensure that a cost effective project for construction will be designed?

2) How will the team assure the Department that they will provide a quality construction plan?

3) What will the team do to control the cost of the design and minimize future maintenance of the project(s)?

4) How will you pursue project delivery in relation to developing and/or meeting design and construction project schedules?

The first criterion is looking for the methodology anticipated to assure the Department that a cost effective construction plan will be delivered, yet ensure a quality product. The second criterion addresses their firm's commitment to and methods of ensuring that the QA/QC Plan will be integrated into every aspect of the design. Responses to the third criterion will need to include the specifics, rather than generalities and commitments to minimize scope or construction creeping. The fourth criteria addresses the consultant's commitment to adherence to the design and construction scheduled which minimizes impacts to the traveling public.

When appropriate, oral presentations should be incorporated into the evaluation process. During these presentations, questions regarding these four criteria should be put to the prospective consulting firm seeking their approach and commitment to quality, timeliness and cost effectiveness.

When presenting shortlisting reasons, initiating organizations are to discuss in detail the difference observed in competing firms' treatment of these four criteria in addition to other criteria deemed necessary.