Consultant Q & A March 6, 2012 Consultant Selection Process ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference
“If I can put everyone to sleep within the first five minutes, the rest of my presentation should go pretty well.”
Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Consultant Selection Process NE RegionSE RegionSW RegionNW RegionNC Region Solicitations NOI’s Region Review Selection Posting ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference
Inquiring Minds that Want to Know: How WisDOT makes Consultant Selections
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference Blind-folded Dart Toss NOI Paper Toss
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference The 1 st Step to Selection is the NOI NE RegionSE RegionSW RegionNW RegionNC Region Solicitations NOI’s Region Review Selection Posting
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference What does WisDOT want to see in a good NOI? Addresses all points in the Consultant Requirements Section Good brief descriptions of example projects Similar attributes to project being solicited Good availability for listed staff A clear explanation of the staff’s availability
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference What does WisDOT want to see in a good NOI? Relevant comparable experience Verification that project narrative is understood Information needs to be accurate and representative Honest assessments of staff’s work quality
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference The 2 nd Step to Selection is the Region Review NE RegionSE RegionSW RegionNW RegionNC Region Solicitations NOI’s Region Review Selection Posting
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference Areas for Improvement on NOI’s? Read the full project scope Insufficient information to determine qualifications Unrelated project experiences noted Poor grammar
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference Areas for Improvement on NOI’s? Obvious errors resulting from cutting/pasting Evaluate past experience for listed staff Being accurate about availability of listed staff Focus on the key players’ qualifications
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference Areas for Improvement on NOI’s? Address project specific skill or consultant requirements Identifying their specific roles on past projects Submissions sometimes need a fact checker Follow the furnished format
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference How does WisDOT reduce your NOI’s down to the “short list”?
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference You are on the shortlist. It’s between you and the firm that is getting the job.
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference How does WisDOT reduce your NOI’s down to the “short list”? Good examples of similar project work for both staff experience and project examples Staff availability is reasonable especially for key staff Prior experience that the Region had with them Past performance of firms/listed staff based on evaluations
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference How does WisDOT reduce your NOI’s down to the “short list”? Overall relevant experience/capabilities of listed staff Specific skill set demonstrated Work Type Ratings sheet/previous experience in Region Top two or three project specific skill requirements
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference The 3 rd Step to Selection is making the SELECTION NE RegionSE RegionSW RegionNW RegionNC Region Solicitations NOI’s Region Review Selection Posting
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference What makes a winning selection? Project specific NOI Identifying project specific needs One that demonstrates that they have seen the project
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference What makes a winning selection? Paints complete picture of your qualifications for the type of work in the solicitation
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference What makes a winning selection? What picture are you trying to show us?
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference What makes a winning selection? One that nails every aspect about the project Discussed potential issues with the local units of government Staffing at the appropriate level based on project complexity Good past performance on comparable projects
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference What makes a winning selection? An accurate and complete NOI without obvious errors Demonstrate successful experience working together Be upfront & completely honest with any information in the NOI
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference
What makes a winning selection? Not submitting the same NOI for 5 different projects Identifying project specific needs Communicating the ability to provide a successful project
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference The Final Step is Posting the SELECTION NE RegionSE RegionSW RegionNW RegionNC Region Solicitations NOI’s Region Review Selection Posting
ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference The Selection is Posted Firm chosen is happy Firms not shortlisted – look for ways to improve next time Feedback Sessions for Interview Projects
The End ACEC/WisDOT Transportation Improvement Conference