International

Use of Qualifications-Based Selection by the Multilateral Development Banks

Issue
Although Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) is federal law, the World Bank and the regional development banks have adopted Qualifications and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS), a process that does not provide the best value to the client or maximize public safety. Further, QCBS is detrimental to U.S. engineering firms, which are among the best in the world but cannot compete on the basis of price against those for whom cost competition is the preferred vehicle for winning work.

QBS is superior to cost-based procurement methods and is a cornerstone of U.S. engineering and federal procurement law. As the United States is one of the leading donors to the multilateral development banks, QBS should be adopted by these institutions.

ACEC Position
ACEC advocates the use of QBS for procurement of A/E services for infrastructure projects funded by the multilateral development banks and is opposed to the use of QCBS. ACEC seeks to reverse the recent trend towards the use of QCBS by the international development banks.