Dear ACEC-CA Sierra Chapter Member Firms:
The Sierra Chapter Board is excited to announce our Fifth Annual Engineering and Client Excellence Awards Program. This year we added two new categories to recognize the great clients in our region, both in the public sector and private sector. We will recognize the winners at our monthly Chapter Meeting, to be held on October 16, 2019 at 6 PM at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West.
This program is not to be confused with the statewide competition, but instead it is a Sierra Chapter event focused on the great projects and clients in our region. We have developed a simple nomination process that aims to promote the great work that our member firms are doing in our region. Our aim is to recognize deserving accomplishments and highlight these successes to clients and other member firms.
We have structured the award categories and the nomination criteria to follow the ACEC-CA EEA process, in hopes that a nomination made for a Sierra Chapter Award can also be submitted to be recognized at the State level as well (nominations for the State awards are due 1 week after the Chapter awards).
Please complete the enclosed nomination form for your best project(s) and clients! Our committee will review the entries, select and announce winners. The timeline for this event is as follows:
August 23rd Announcement and Nomination Form Emailed
September 20th Nominations Due by 5 p.m.
September 25th Winners Announced
October 16th Awards Reception
We’re planning a special evening to celebrate the award winners and all entries will be included in a slideshow that will play during the reception. We’re looking forward to receiving all of the great entries and seeing you all there along with your clients.
Sincerely,
Sierra Chapter Awards Committee
Sierra Chapter of ACEC-CA
Fifth Annual Engineering and Client Excellence Awards
Nomination Criteria and Form
Sierra Chapter Member Firms are invited to submit nominations for projects and clients to be featured at our 2019 Engineering and Client Excellence Awards event, to be held on Wednesday evening, October 16, 2019 at the Hilton Hotel, Sacramento Arden West.
All member firms are encouraged to submit nominations. All entries will be displayed at the Hilton. Projects and Clients that best meet the selection criteria for excellence (and potentially other special awards at the discretion of the selection committee) will be recognized at the event.
Please submit the requested information in a separate Microsoft Word or PDF file by e-mail to Debbie LoCicero at dlocicero@acec-ca-sierra.org. Keep nominations to two pages maximum. Submittals are due no later than Friday September 20, 2019 at 5 p.m.
Engineering Excellence Project Award Categories
Projects must have been substantially completed between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019 and must be submitted by an ACEC Sierra Chapter member firm. Projects may be for any phase, or phases, of work – from study through construction management. Project information to be provided shall include:
- Member Firm
- Project Title
- Client
- Other Firms Participating
- Completion Date
- Contact Name, Phone & E-mail
- Your Organization’s Role in the Project
- Role of Other Organizations/Stakeholders in the Project
- Project Photos
Please indicate which of the following award categories your project is applying for.
¨ Category A – Best Structural or Geotechnical Engineering Project (e.g. Foundations, Tunnels, Buildings, Seismic design, Towers, Bridges, Earth Retention, Slop Stabilization)
¨ Category B – Best Land Surveying or Mapping Project (e.g. Geometrics, ALTA, land title and rights surveys, Control, GPS, monitoring or construction surveying, Surveymapping, GIS/LIS, photogrammetry)
¨ Category C – Best Water Project (e.g. Wastewater collection/treatment and disposal, Reuse, Graywater systems, Agricultural, Storm water management Erosion control, Hydraulics, hydrology, Surface and groundwater supply development, Transmission, distribution and storage, Watershed management, Water use reduction, Flood risk management, Eco-system restoration, Dams/water control structures, Irrigation, Treatment, Groundwater)
¨ Category D – Best Transportation Project (e.g. Highways, Rail, Airports, Public transit, Intermodal facilities)
¨ Category E – Best Land Development Project (e.g. Single-family Residential, Multi-family Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Master Planned Communities)
Client Excellence Award Categories:
ACEC wants to recognize the public sector and private sector clients that utilize consultants in our industry and conduct business in a fair manner. Client nominations must be submitted by an ACEC Sierra Chapter member firm. Clients must be based within the Sierra Chapter region, or have an office within our region, and do business within our region. Client information to be provided shall include:
Member Firm
Client
Contact Name, Phone & E-mail
Description of Client’s Excellence:
1. Do they utilize the Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) process?
2. Do they utilize consultants to conduct a majority of their services?
3. Do they utilize project funding in an efficient manner?
4. Are they open to new technologies and innovative ideas?
5. Are they fair and reasonable with conflict resolution?
Please indicate which of the following award categories you are nominating your client for.
¨ Category 1 – Public Agency Excellence Award
¨ Category 2 – Private Sector Excellence Award
Evaluation Criteria (Project Awards):
Please complete responses to the following evaluation criteria:
1. Original or Innovative Application of New or Existing Techniques 20%
a. Demonstrate use of new science or a breakthrough in general engineering knowledge?
b. Represent a unique application of new or existing technologies?
2. Future Value of the Engineering Profession and Perception by the Public 20%
a. Redefine current engineering thinking?
b. Advance a positive public image of the profession?
3. Social, Economic and Sustainable Design Considerations 20%
a. Do solutions identified produce secondary benefits to the community or environment?
b. Does approach provide society with social, economic or sustainable development benefits?
c. Does project improve the health, safety or welfare of the public or environment?
4. Complexity 20%
a. Does project successfully address a complex or unique problem?
b. Were there extraordinary circumstances of the site?
c. Did the project utilize out-of-the-box solutions or technologies?
5. Exceeding Client/Owner Needs 20%
a. Was an economical or cost-effective solution provided?
b. How did final cost relate to original budget?
c. How did the project meet the client/owner goals?
d. Was the project on-schedule?
Evaluation Criteria (Client Awards):
1. Describe their procurement and selection process 20%
a. Do they utilize the Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) process?
a. Are they fair in negotiating contract and payment terms?
b. Do they request and compare contract proposals accurately and fairly? (Private)
c. Do they consistently budget for projects appropriately?
2. Describe their utilization of consultants 20%
a. Do they utilize consultants to conduct a majority of their services?
3. Describe their use of public/private funds in a positive manner 20%
a. Are they good stewards of public/private funds?
b. Do they utilize project funding in an efficient manner?
c. Do they utilize efficient payment processing systems and pay invoices on time?
d. Are they reasonable with change orders/addendum requests?
4. Describe how they embrace new technologies or innovative solutions 20%
a. Are they open to new technologies and innovative ideas?
b. Do they allow their consultants to provide unconventional project alternatives?
5. Describe how they handle project issues or conflict resolution 20%
a. Are they fair and reasonable with conflict resolution?
b. Do they utilize effective communication and decision-making processes?
