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Choosing an Engineer 

Choosing an Engineer:

It should be obvious from your previous experience that the selection of your sub-consultants is one of the most significant decisions you can make with respect to the successful completion of your project. There are typically two ways to get an engineer on board with a project: direct appointment, and appointment through a formal selection procedure. These methods are well-known to the architectural community so we won't repeat them here again. If a project is very unique and you don't have much experience in dealing with that type, we recommend a full-blown formal selection. Small, simple projects don't warrant the time and paperwork required for a formal selection - try getting some tips from the method we show below. 

This page will show you a method that falls somewhere between formal and direct appointment that will make sure you'll get your money's worth and that you'll get good quality workmanship. Some items may seem common sense, others may seem unnecessary - but they all play a role in how your project will unfold. The steps have a unique point of view - the engineer's. We hope it will give you insight into how we see the process and how we react to situations. As always, having a broader perspective gives you an advantage over your competition who does not. We hope this helps. 

The following are the steps involved in the modified selection procedure: 

1.  Define the Project and Scope of Services Required:

This is one that seems like common sense. It's also the one that gets neglected the most. A written definition of the project and an outline of the anticipated engineering services is crucial prior to selecting an engineer. How can you get a valid Fee Proposal if the scope hasn't been defined. Letting the engineer define it could be a disaster. While it may not be a bad idea to sit down with an engineer to discuss the project beforehand, don't leave it in his/her hands - s/he may underprice or overprice. The outline may vary from one page to several depending on the project's complexity. All available pertinent information should be included and it should be comprehensive in describing what the engineer is expected to execute as part of his work. This should include things like lighting design (specialized or standard?), lightning protection systems, site supervision and review, and so on. This step will help define the Fees and make sure you get what you pay for in terms of design.

You probably already will have an idea of who you'd like to submit a Fee Proposal for this project based on;
• personal knowledge and experience;
• recommendations by owner or other architects;
• requests from the engineers to submit a proposal.
Having a defined Scope of Services will allow you to compare apples with apples when it comes down to making your final selection. You should be looking at a list of  three or four firms unless the project is very large and you'd want five to ten. Note that you may be foregoing better quality and service if you don't compare the service you've been getting to date with what's available in the industry right now.

When you ask firms for a Fee Proposal, your Scope of Service must be ready and delivered to each of the engineering firms promptly. This gives you the image of professionalism and that you're serious - the response from the engineers will reflect it. With a detailed Scope outline, you'll immediately see which of the firms is capable of doing what you need them to do in their proposal.

The information you should ask for from the engineer is:

• their location, and description of how they work;
• a list of key personnel that will work on project;
• previous experience on similar projects;
• project methodology, if applicable;


Depending on the size and nature of the project, you may want to meet with the engineering firms individually to review the Scope of Services and what is expected. It's critical that each engineer receive the same information, for obvious reasons. This meeting can also be used to "interview" the candidates to determine whether their personality fits into your requirements and personal taste.

The final selection should be based on:
• ability and specialized knowledge;
• qualifications and previous experience;
• reputation and personality;
• location of firm relative to project;
• fee proposal breakdown and List of Fees.


Make sure that your personality meshes well with the engineer you intend to select. It will be hard to negotiate and come to compromises if you have conflicting personalities.

The fee proposal breakdown that will tell you what you're getting versus what you asked for. Choosing a company that gives you a lump-sum-for-everything-you-need may end up hurting you and your client if the engineer hasn't specifically accounted for specialized design items like lightning protection or sprinkler design. It is critical to get an engineer who has properly broken down the fee proposal into major components - the next section will explain why.

After you've weighed all the factors important to your firm, make your selection and sign the contract based on the contents of the Fee Proposal.

While the bottom line in a fee proposal IS important, a proper fee-format will allow you to determine whether the fees can be reduced without compromising the design integrity.

By reviewing the proposal, you may find that the engineer has proposed services that are not required, or that are not as complex as may have been expected. You can then negotiate the fees based on your understanding of the requirements. This is the SAFE way to reduce costs. Like any transaction, you usually get what you pay for.

Cutting back on fees is tricky and dangerous. Purchasing engineering services is like purchasing a promise for work that WILL be done, as opposed to purchasing a tangible product like a telephone. When you negotiate a price for a phone, you know the part number and exactly what you'll get, so it's safe to go bargain-hunting. The last thing you want to have is an engineering firm that has been pressured into lowering its fees - you may end up having a difficult time if there are minor changes because they become extremely sensitive with how much time they can spend on your project. You may have to pay, in extras, the amount of money you saved on their fees.

Some architects have a problem justifying the time needed to carry out this important step. But, it's as important as asking for the Fee Proposal unless you NEVER intend to ask for a proposal from them again.

You should notify all the unsuccessful engineers with a personal telephone call explaining how the selection was made and on what basis. Was their fee too high or too low (!?), were they not qualified or over-qualified, and so on. Why? If an engineering firm feels that you've ignored them or that they never had a chance from the start, the next time you ask for a proposal they may not be too competitive or they may low-ball just to get the project. That's where your biggest problems will begin.

And anyway, it's just a nice thing to do. Be professional and you'll get professional people looking to work with you.