Public procurement of architecttural and engineering services: Fee and quality

Book chapter, 2009

Consulting services can be very complex, which makes the evaluation process difficult, especially the assessment of multiple criteria used when selecting providers. The purpose of the paper is to investigate current Swedish practice among public clients procuring architectural and engineering services, in particular how they use other criteria than price when awarding contracts. Five large public clientsas well as architects and engineering consultants have been interviewed. Documented award routines have been analysed. Major public clients are found to have developed detailed selection procedures. Award practices among clients may affect the strategies of consulting firms. The study shows that consultants perceive public sector award practices as objective, although tending to exaggerate the price factor. As public clients increasingly become aware of the importance of using selection procedures that are adaptedto the specific service to be procured, the development of more effective frameworks for evaluating consultants is an obvious need.