Consultant Q & A

Consultant Q & A

March 6, 2012Consultant 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

ProcessNE Region SE Region SW Region NW Region NC Region

Solicitations Solicitations Solicitations Solicitations Solicitations

NOI’s NOI’s NOI’s NOI’s NOI’s

Region Review Region Review Region Review Region Review Region Review

Selection Selection Selection Selection Selection

Posting Posting Posting Posting Posting



Inquiring Minds that Want to Know:

How WisDOT makes

Consultant Selections


Blind-folded Dart Toss NOI Paper Toss


The 1st Step to Selection is the NOI

NE Region SE Region SW Region NW Region NC Region







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


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


The 2nd Step to Selection is the Region Review








Areas for Improvement on NOI’s?

• Read the full project scope

• Insufficient information to determine qualifications

• Unrelated project experiences noted

• Poor grammar



• 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



• Address project specific skill or consultant requirements

• Identifying their specific roles on past projects

• Submissions sometimes need a fact checker

• Follow the furnished format


How does WisDOT reduce your NOI’s down to the “short list”?


You are on the shortlist. It’s between you and the firm that is getting the job.

Region Rating Team



• 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



• 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


The 3rd Step to Selection is making the SELECTION








What makes a winning selection?

• Project specific NOI

• Identifying project specific needs

• One that demonstrates that they have seen the project



• Paints complete picture of your qualifications for the type of work in the solicitation



What picture are youtrying to show us?



• 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



• An accurate and complete NOI without obvious errors

• Demonstrate successful experience working together

• Be upfront & completely honest with any information in the NOI



• Not submitting the same NOI for 5 different projects

• Identifying project specific needs

• Communicating the ability to provide a successful project


The Final Step is Posting the SELECTION








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


Consultant Q & A

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Transcript of Consultant Q & A