For professional design services, many states don't allow price-based competition. Instead, the county issues a request for qualifications (RFQ in this sense, which differs from a request for quotation), ranks firms on qualifications and experience, and negotiates a fee with the top firm. If they can't agree, it moves to the next firm.
Texas example: the Professional Services Procurement Act (Government Code 2254.004) requires selection of architects, engineers, land surveyors and certain other professionals on demonstrated competence and qualifications, followed by negotiation of a fair and reasonable price.
How to win QBS work
- Show directly relevant projects, ideally for similar counties.
- Name the people who will actually do the work and their experience.
- Keep a clean, current statement of qualifications ready, since deadlines can be short.