SPRINGFIELD – The American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC Illinois) applauds the Illinois House for passing Senate Bill 2424 by a vote of 108-0. It now heads to the Governor’s office. SB 2424 will bring greater efficiency and transparency to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) procurement of land acquisition services by having this essential service procured via Qualifications Based Selection (QBS).
Introduced by Sen. Ram Villivalam and co-sponsored by Sen. Donald DeWitte in the Senate and by Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid and Rep. Brad Stephens in the House, SB 2424 restores the best practice of requiring IDOT to use Qualifications-Based Selection for land acquisition services to deliver the best value to agency and taxpayers. By utilizing Qualifications Based Selection for land acquisition services, IDOT will have the most skilled and qualified firms working on this critical element of project delivery. The change will allow for experienced firms working with both IDOT and landowners to have a fully operational scope and budget that will help expedite the negotiation process with landowners.
“The legislation will provide greater efficiency, transparency and value to IDOT, landowners and taxpayers,” said Kevin Artl, President and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. Qualifications Based Selection is the industry’s gold standard for procuring services and it will eradicate the problem of ‘pricing in the blind,’ improve transparency and expedite project delivery in order to deliver the best value to the agency and taxpayer.”
“The legislature is always reviewing processes and procedures to ensure that we are maximizing efficiency and transparency and I’m glad to say this legislation achieves both,” said Sen. Ram Villivalam. “The utilization of Qualifications Based Selection for land acquisition services will help improve the efficiency, transparency and pace of infrastructural development across the state by IDOT and ultimately help deliver the promise of ReBuild Illinois.”
“Roads and bridges are not partisan and ensuring the delivery of the ReBuild Illinois program in an efficient and transparent manner is a bipartisan effort,” said Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid. “Qualifications based selection has been proven to provide the best value to both the agency and the taxpayer and its utilization for land acquisition services will ensure the most qualified firms will be working with IDOT to deliver the state’s ReBuild Illinois infrastructure program.”
About the American Council of Engineering Companies
Representing hundreds of companies, we are the voice of the engineering industry in Illinois. With roots dating back more than 100 years, ACEC Illinois represents more than 11,000 engineers, architects, land surveyors and other specialists. Our primary mission is to strengthen the business environment for our member firms through government advocacy, political action, and business education. For more information, visit www.acecil.org.