Quebec engineers face post-project evaluations

Since October 1, consulting engineers in Quebec have been accorded the right to be selected on the sole basis of their competence and qualifications — not price — for government projects related to health, education or transportation.

While this is hailed as a great benefit for consulting engineers, the Association of Consulting Engineers of Quebec (AICQ) is also pointing out to its member firms that the new regime comes with another aspect: the requirement that at the end of projects, clients will do post-project evaluations on the work performed, and may use them in the selection criteria for further projects.

The AICQ is working with major clients to develop some best practices for such evaluations and to try and reduce the subjectivity that can be involved.

AICQ is in favour of the post-project evaluations and is encouraging its members to make sure its clients are aware of them also.