Dee Bennett, Engineering Operations Manager for the City of Columbia gave engineers good advice and frank comments on securing public work, especially from large municipalities at the ACEC-SC / SCSPE Winter Meeting.

Ms. Bennett began by explaining the difference between a RFQ and RFP.  She said the RFQ generally does not ask for price considerations, but some RFPs for some public agencies might ask for prices for professional services.

She said most big cities post the codes and other information engineers need to make good proposals. The City of Columbia targets DBE use on projects and is looking at ways primes can help DBEs grow and be proficient enough to make proposals for projects on their own.

Bennett said often the simplest presentations by engineers are the best. Not all proposals need to be made with power points and elaborate packages.  She said one of the main thing she looks for in proposals and presentations is who she and the City are going to be working with throughout the project. She wants to know the engineers and support staff listed in the proposal are the ones that are going to be doing the work on the project. In fact, she said, “Don’t switch staff on me, if you want to get future work from the city.”

In the City of Columbia’s case, any dispute resolutions are made in the courts. There is no mediation or arbitration with the City.