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One
of the measures that Clark County Public Works utilizes
to fast track critically needed infrastructure projects
is the electronic statement of qualifications (E-SOQ)
submittal process.
Through
E-SOQ, private consulting firms in the fields of
engineering, surveying and other land-use related
services submit, via the Public Works website, their
qualifications regarding certain types of works and/or
services that must meet County standards and minimum
requirements. Examples of “works” categories include
freeways and other roadways, major and minor flood
control facilities, and street and road repair. Recent
works projects include the Bruce Woodbury Beltway from
Lake Mead Boulevard to Craig Road; Silverado Ranch
Boulevard Interchange at I-15; Duck Creek Lower
Detention Basin; and Paradise Road from Harmon Avenue to
Desert Inn Road. Kinds of services that Public Works
seeks include freeway and urban arterial design, quality
assurance of construction projects, electrical
engineering for traffic and lighting, environmental
engineering for air quality impact studies, landscape
architecture and right-of-way acquisition. Recently
awarded projects in these service categories include
traffic signal warrant analyses; Harmon Avenue
right-of-way appraisals and relocation services;
Mountain’s Edge Special Improvement District; Flamingo
Arroyo Trail bridges; and surveying on major projects
such as the Bruce Woodbury Beltway.
The
statement of qualifications (SOQ) system came about due
to the desire of the Board of County Commissioners and
the Public Works Department to find the best-qualified
private consultant firms in a faster, but still
competent way. To meet the challenge, Public Works
adopted the SOQ process in 1991 to establish a ranked
pre-qualified list of firms for various services and
works every 18 months. At the time and up to 2001, the
process was completed in a “hard-copy” format that
was time-consuming for both the firms and Public Works.
Applying firms had to provide 5 copies for each of their
SOQ submittals, resulting in thousands of sheets of
paper to be reviewed. In 2001, the Public Works
technology team brainstormed to develop a submittal
process that revolutionized the SOQ by utilizing the
Internet to collect the firms’ data for the
Department’s evaluation. The online application is a
thorough, yet simple step-by-step procedure that
includes built-in checks and verifications to assist the
consultant community in ensuring a comprehensive
submittal. Also, the firms’ information is protected
by County Internet security measures. The online
application process has proven to be much easier and
faster for firms. E-SOQ benefits the County in that
Public Works employees can more efficiently process the
information and more quickly determine the
best-qualified companies for projects the community
needs.
Public
Works was the first Clark County agency to develop an
online statement of qualifications application process.
Public Works’ E-SOQ program has received numerous
awards for the successful integration of government
function and technology.
The
current SOQ lists are active until December 31, 2007.
For the SOQ term beginning January 1, 2008, and ending
June 20, 2009, Public Works will start accepting online
applications on July 16, 2007, and the submission
deadline is September 17, 2007. For more information,
including notices of E-SOQ workshops, please use the
following links: "Workshop
Information" or “Clark
County Public Works Electronic Statement of
Qualifications.”
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