Qualifications-Based Selection is the standard way public owners procure design services. Instead of awarding to the lowest bidder, the owner ranks firms on demonstrated competence and negotiates a fair fee with the most qualified. The model comes from the federal Brooks Act (1972), which requires it for federal A-E work; most states have adopted 'mini-Brooks' statutes applying the same principle to state and local design contracts.
How QBS works
- The agency advertises the project and evaluation criteria
- Firms submit qualifications (often an SOQ or SF330)
- An evaluation board ranks firms and shortlists the most qualified (federal A-E procedures require at least three)
- Shortlisted firms may interview or present
- The agency negotiates fee with the top-ranked firm; price is not scored. If negotiations fail, it moves to the next-ranked firm
Why QBS instead of low bid
Design fees are a small fraction of a project's lifecycle cost, and the quality of design drives the far larger construction and operating costs. QBS is built on the premise that selecting the most qualified firm - then negotiating a fair fee - produces better long-term value than awarding design to the cheapest bid. For the full contrast, see QBS vs. low-bid selection.
How to win under QBS
Because price is not scored, QBS rewards firms that most clearly demonstrate relevant experience, the right key personnel, and past performance mapped to the published evaluation criteria. Aligning your SF330 or SOQ to each evaluation factor - and showing which people worked on which relevant projects - is the whole game.
Where QBS is used
QBS is the standard for architecture, engineering, and related professional design services across federal, state, and local government. Federal A-E work is required to use it under the Brooks Act; most states apply their own 'mini-Brooks' statutes to state and locally funded design work. It is generally not used for construction (often awarded by low bid or best value) or for commodity purchases, where scope is fixed and price is the fairer basis for award.
Common misconceptions about QBS
- 'QBS ignores cost' - it does not. Price is simply moved after selection, where the agency negotiates a fair and reasonable fee with the top-ranked firm.
- 'The most expensive firm wins' - price is not scored at all in the ranking; qualifications decide who is selected.
- 'It only applies to federal work' - most states extend qualifications-based selection to their own agencies through mini-Brooks laws.
- 'A strong brochure wins' - evaluators reward relevant experience and the right people mapped to the criteria, not marketing polish.