The American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii (ACECH) “What We Do Is All Around You”
Our Organization
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii (ACECH) is an association of consulting engineering firms serving private- and public-sector clients. We are dedicated to the advancement of consulting engineering, while enhancing the health, safety and welfare of the public. We are a business organization devoted to improving the business climate and management practices of Hawaii’s consulting-engineering firms. Through our annual Engineering Excellence Awards program, ACECH recognizes the outstanding work of the consulting-engineering community.
Consulting Engineers
Consulting engineers are licensed professional engineers in private practice. They provide a wide range of services, from brief consultations to the complete design and coordination of a project. They are often the technical liaisons among architects, process specialists, contractors, suppliers and the client. Consulting engineers respond to various challenges by providing unique and innovative solutions to today’s complex problems. Their areas of expertise may be anywhere on the broad spectrum of engineering technology, including the fields of civil, electrical, environmental, mechanical, metallurgical, geotechnical, structural and highway engineering. A firm may also concentrate on specific fields such as soil mechanics, surveying and mapping, sanitation and hydrology. Consulting engineers can provide general consultation, feasibility reports, design, cost estimates, rate studies, project development, patent assistance, construction drawing and environmental impact statements.
How to Find Us
Locating the best available consulting engineers and negotiating the fairest fees require research, organization, evaluation and responsible decision-making. Technical competence, managerial ability and professional integrity are among the most important criteria to consider when selecting an engineer, and these factors can best be determined through a process known as qualification-based selection (QBS). The QBS process helps clients find the
most qualified engineering consultant. It is a time-proven method used by savvy clients who want to partner with an engineer or a team of engineers to obtain the best value.
Factors to Consider
Following the QBS method, engineering consultants are selected, first, based on competence, creativity and performance and, second, on negotiation of a fair and reasonable price.
Keep in mind that selecting a consulting engineer based solely on price limits the professional’s ability to undertake a thorough analysis of a problem and to search for innovative solutions. It also denies access to the most valuable assets the professional has to offer: creativity and professional judgment. The bottom line: Cheap design is expensive. Your investment in quality design will enable the most qualified consultant to apply technical knowledge and relevant project experience to develop a functional, cost-effective design to meet your needs for the life of the project or facility.
Hiring a Consulting Engineer
The following guidelines can help you select the most qualified consulting engineer for your project: 1. Prepare a description of the proposed project and request qualifications from a select list of firms. 2. Evaluate the firms’ submitted qualifications in light of your needs, and select three to five firms that appear to be the most qualified to interview. 3. Contact recent clients and conduct interviews with the firms. Rank firms based on both their qualifications and the interview. 4. Select the highest rated firm for detailed negotiation of scope of service, contractual terms and compensation. If an agreement cannot be reached with the selected firm, formally conclude negotiations and proceed to the next highest ranked firm for negotiation.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF ACECH
Conceived as a high school science building dedicated to the study of alternative energy, the Energy Lab at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy functions as a zero-net energy, fully sustainable building. Sited to utilize the strong trade winds for ventilation as well as a teaching tool in the study of wind and solar energy, the building uses only 30 percent of the power it generates, metering back all excess power to the campus grid..
ACECH Engineering Excellence Grand Conceptor Award Winner 2011 Hawaii Preparatory Academy Energy Lab Firm: Belt Collins Hawaii
Here’s an outline of the process in more detail:
Step 3: Interview
Step 1: Request for Qualifications
Arrange for interviews with top firms. Whenever possible, the interview should be held at the consulting engineer’s office to provide an opportunity for you to observe the firm in action. An evaluation form with predetermined selection criteria should be allocated between interviews to allow interviewers to complete the evaluation form. The evaluation form should include the following components:
Prepare a formal Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a proposed project and distribute to a select list of firms. The initial RFQ should include the following: • A description of the proposed project
• Any special expertise or unusual services that might be required
• A time schedule for the overall project, including the selection process to retain a consulting engineer
• A list of selection criteria (e.g., experience in a specific type of project, geographic location of the firm, or current staff workload)
Step 2: Evaluation of Firms Based on the following factors, evaluate the written qualifications of the firms and select the top three to five firms to be interviewed. • Individual qualifications of personnel as a team
• Overall experience of personnel as a team
• Ability of team to perform within time constraints
• Project team’s experience on similar projects
• Quality of past work
• Performance evaluation from past clients
• Project-team management plan
• Previous experience of project team
• Location and quality of office facilities
• Project control measure to monitor schedule and budget
• Availability of staff resources based on firm workload
• Project approach
• Quality of work on similar projects
• Awards and past client recommendations
• Financial stability of firm
• Overall team ranking
Step 4: Negotiation Select the top-ranked firm and initiate the negotiation for the scope of work, the terms and conditions of a contract, and compensation. Remember that QBS does not mean you cannot negotiate a fair and reasonable price for services. It does, however, mean that price is negotiated after
On the summit of Maui’s Mt. Haleakala in Hawaii, a first-of-its-kind observatory facility houses the world’s largest satellite tracking telescope, the Advanced Electro Optical System (AEOS).
you select the best-qualified professional for your project. The negotiation process includes the following: • Preparation of comprehensive proposal by the top-ranked firm
• Presentation of scope of work, schedule and level of effort by the top-ranked firm
PHOTO: COURTESY OF ACECH
• Agreement on scope of work, schedule, fee, and areas of responsibility and liability
ACEC Engineering Excellence Grand Conceptor Award Winner 2000 AEOS 3.67 Meter Telescope Facility
• Preparation of a written contract binding both parties to agreement Follow these steps to hiring an engineer, and you’ll be rewarded with a registered professional who serves as a trusted adviser with honesty and integrity, backed with solid training and practical experience. Most important, your project will be designed in the most competent and cost-effective manner, not only for today, but also for the future.
Firm: Sato & Associates Inc.
American Council of Engineering Companies
P.O. Box 88840 | Honolulu, HI 96830 | 808-234-0821 or 808-741-4772 | acechawaii.org
ACECH Member Listing AECOM 1001 Bishop St. Suite 1600 American Savings Bank Tower Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 521-3051 Fax: (808) 524-8677 Jan-Marie Agua jan-marie.agua@aecom.com www.aecom.com
Akinaka & Associates Ltd. 3375 Koapaka St. Suite B-206 Honolulu, HI 96819 Ph: (808) 836-1900 Fax: (808) 836-8852 kck@akinaka.com
Austin, Tsutsumi & Associates Inc. 501 Sumner St. Suite 521 Honolulu, HI 96817 Ph: (808) 533-3646 Fax: (808) 526-1267 atahnl@atahawaii.com www.atahawaii.com
Barry J. Scrivener, P.E. 16016 W. 161st Ter. Olathe, KS 66062 Ph: (913) 393-2737 Fax: (913) 780-2247
Belt Collins Hawaii Ltd. 2153 North King St. Suite 200 Honolulu, HI 96819 Ph: (808) 521-5361 Fax: (808) 538-7819 honolulu@betlcollins.com www.beltcollins.com
Bills Engineering Inc. 1124 Fort St. Mall Suite 200 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 792-2022 Fax: (808) 792-2033 David Bills info@billsengineering.com www.BillsEngineering.com
Bow Engineering & Development Inc. 1953 South Beretania St. PH-A Honolulu, HI 96826 Ph: (808) 941-8853 Fax: (808) 945-9299 William Bow bbow@bowengineering.com www.bowengineering.com
Bowers + Kubota Consulting 94-408 Akoki St. Suite 201-A Waipahu, HI 96797 Ph: (808) 836-7787 Fax: (808) 834-4833 info@bowersandkubota.com www.bowersandkubota.com
Brown and Caldwell 1099 Alakea St. Suite 2400 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 523-8499 Fax: (808) 533-0226 www.brownandcaldwell.com
CH2M HILL 1132 Bishop St. Suite 1100 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 943-1133 Fax: (808) 954-4400 www.ch2m.com
Coffman Engineers Inc. 851 Fort Street Mall Suite 300 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 687-8884 Fax: (808) 687-8883 www.coffman.com
Community Planning & Engineering Inc. 1100 Alakea St. 6th Floor Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 521-7491 Fax: (808) 526-2476 www.cpe-hawaii.com
Consulting Structural Hawaii Inc. 931 Hausten St. Suite 200 Honolulu, HI 96826 Ph: (808) 945-0198 Fax: (808) 944-1177 Ethan Okuna csh@consultingstructuralhawaii.com
ControlPoint Surveying Inc. 1150 South King St. Suite 1200 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 591-2022 Fax: (808) 591-8333 Ed Yeh yeh@cpshawaii.net www.cpshawaii.com
D. L. Adams Associates Ltd. 970 N. Kalaheo Ave. Suite A311 Kailua, HI 96734 Ph: (808) 254-3318 Fax: (808) 254-5295 Alex Donkle hawaii@dlaa.com www.dlaa.com
ECS Inc. 615 Piikoi St. Suite 207 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 591-8181 Fax: (808) 591-9098
Electech Hawaii Inc. 1100 Ward Ave. Suite 750 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 522-1866 Fax: (808) 521-4819 Clayton Pang general@ethawaii.com
Engineering Concepts Inc. 1150 South King St. Suite 700 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 591-8820 Fax: (808) 591-9010 eci@ecihawaii.com www.ecihawaii.com
Engineering Design Group 1236 S. King St. #207 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 589-1170 Fax: (808) 589-1171 mkse@hawaiiantel.net
Engineering Partners 455 E. Lanikaula St. Hilo, HI 96720 Ph: (808) 933-7900 Fax: (808) 933-3533 contact@epihawai.com www.epihawaii.com
Fewell Geotechnical Engineering Ltd. 96-1416 Waihone Pl. Pearl City, HI 96782 Ph: (808) 455-6569 Fax: (808) 456-7062 fge@fgeltd.com www.fgeltd.com
Fukunaga & Associates Inc. 1357 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 1530 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 944-1821 Fax: (808) 946-9339 office@fukunagaengineers.com www.fukunagaengineers.com
Geolabs 2006 Kalihi St. Honolulu, HI 96819 Ph: (808) 841-5064 Fax: (808) 847-1749 hawaii@geolabs.net www.geolabs.net
Gray, Hong, Nojima & Associates, Inc 201 Merchant St. Suite 1900 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 521-0306 Fax: (808) 531-8018 email@grayhongnojima.com www.grayhongnojima.com
HDR 1132 Bishop St. Suite 1003 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 697-6200 Fax: (808) 538-0445 rejena.orr@hdrinc.com www.hdrinc.com
Hirata & Associates Inc. 99-1433 Koaha Pl. Aiea, HI 96701 Ph: (808) 486-0787 Fax: (808) 486-0870 mail@hirata-hawaii.com www.hirata-hawaii.com
InSynergy Engineering Inc. 828 Fort St. Mall Suite 500 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 521-3773 Fax: (808) 521-3993 insynergyeng@insynergyeng.com www.insynergyeng.com
KAI Hawaii Inc. 31 N. Pauahi St., 2nd Floor Honolulu, HI 96817 Ph: (808) 533-2210 Fax: (808) 533-2686 mail@kaihawaii.com www.kaihawaii.com
Katayama & Assoc. Inc. 681 S. King St. Suite 203 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 521-5086 Fax: (808) 521-1713 mail@katayama-associates.com www.katayama-assoc.com
Kennedy Jenks Consultants - Hawaii Office 3375 Koapaka St. Suite F227 Honolulu, HI 96819 Ph: (808) 488-0477 Fax: (808) 488-3776 kennedyjenks@kennedyjenks.com www.kennedyjenks.com
KSF Inc. 615 Piikoi St. Suite 300 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 593-0933 Fax: (808) 593-9339
Lange Motonaga Inc. 826 Kaheka St. Suite 305 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 946-7774 Fax: (808) 955-1759
Masa Fujioka & Associates 98-021 Kamehameha Hwy. Suite 337 Aiea, HI 96701 Ph: (808) 484-5366 Fax: (808) 4840007 www.masa-fujioka-associates.com
MCE International Inc. 1360 S. Beretania St. Suite 400 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 941-0955 Fax: (808) 550-8167 mcehnl@lava.net
Mechanical Enterprises Inc. 1314 S. King St. Suite 411 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 591-9038 Fax: (808) 596-7356 ross@mechenterprises.com www.meihawaii.com
Miyashiro & Associates Inc. 850 Richards St. Penthouse Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 536-8317 Fax: (808) 536-8768 mail@mai-hawaii.net
MK Engineers Ltd. 286 Kalihi St. Honolulu, HI 96819 Ph: (808) 848-8622 Fax: (808) 848-5574
MKE Associates LLC 99-205 Moanalua Rd. Suite 205 Aiea, HI 96701 Ph: (808) 488-7579 Fax: (808) 488-7818 mke@mkellc.com
Moffatt & Nichol Seven Waterfront Plaza 500 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite 400 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 533-7000 Fax: (808) 543.6485 www.moffattnichol.com
MOSS Engineering Inc. 1357 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 830 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 951-6632 Fax: (808) 941-6632 mail@moss-engineering.net www.moss-engineering.net
Nagamine Okawa Engineers Inc. 1003 Bishop St., Pauahi Tower Suite 2025 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 536-2626 Fax: (808) 536-3926 noe@nagamineokawa.com www.nagamineokawa.com
Nakamura, Oyama & Associates Inc. 1314 S. King St. Suite 401 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 591-8887 Fax: (808) 596-2383 mail@noa-engineers.com www.noa-engineers.com
Notkin Hawaii Inc. 738 Kaheka St. Suite 301 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 941-6600 Fax: (808) 946-6696 mail@notkinhi.com www.notkinhi.com
Oceanit 828 Fort St. Mall Suite 600 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 531-3017 Fax: (808) 531-3177 oceanit@oceanit.com www.oceanit.com
Okahara and Associates Inc. 200 Kohola St. Hilo, HI 96720 Ph: (808) 961-5527 Fax: (808) 961-5529 hilo@okahara.com www.okahara.com
Pacific Geotechnical Engineers Inc. 94-417 Akoki St. Waipahu, HI 96797 Ph: (808) 678-8024 Fax: (808) 678-8722 pge@pacificgeotechnical.com www.pacificgeotechnical.com
ParEn dba Park Engineering 711 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 1500 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 593-1676 Fax: (808) 593-1607 paren@pareninc.com www.pareninc.com
PB Americas Inc. 1001 Bishop St. American Savings Bank Tower Suite 2400 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 531-7094 Fax: (808) 528-2368 www.pbworld.com
Randolph H. Murayama & Associates Inc. 1267 Young St. Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 593-9360 Fax: (808) 591-9362
Ronald N. S. Ho & Associates Inc. 2153 N. King St. Suite 201 Honolulu, HI 96819 Ph: (808) 941-0577 Fax: (808) 945-2646 postmaster@rnsha.com
S.S. Dannaway Associates Inc. 720 Iwilei Rd. Suite 412 Honolulu, HI 96817 Ph: (808) 526-9019 Fax: (808) 537-5385 ssda@ssdafire.com www.ssdafire.com
Sam O. Hirota Inc. 864 S. Beretania St. Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 537-9971 Fax: (808) 524-6313 Dennis Hirota dhirota@aloha.net www.samhirota.com
Sato and Associates Inc. 2046 S. King St. Honolulu, HI 96826 Ph: (808) 955-4441 Fax: (808) 942-2027 www.satoandassociates.com
Shigemura, Lau, Sakanashi, Higuchi and Associates Inc. 1916 Young St. 2nd Floor Honolulu, HI 96826 Ph: (808) 942-9100 Fax: (808) 942-1899 mtaka@lava.net
Shimabukuro, Endo & Yoshizaki Inc. / SEY Engineers 1126 12th St. Room 309 Honolulu, HI 96816 Ph: (808) 737-1875 Fax: (808) 734-5516 seyeng@seyeng.com
SSFM International Inc. 501 Sumner St. Suite 620 Honolulu, HI 96817 Ph: (808) 531-1308 Fax: (808) 521-7348 mmatsumoto@ssfm.com www.ssfm.com
Tanimura & Associates Inc. 925 Bethel St. Suite 309 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 536-7692 Fax: (808) 537-9022
The Limtiaco Consulting Group Inc. 650 Iwilei Rd. Suite 208 Honolulu, HI 96817 Ph: (808) 596-7790 Fax: (808) 596-7361 Raina Pasatiempo raina@tlcghawaii.com www.tlcghawaii.com
Thermal Engineering Corp. 512 Kalihi St. Honolulu, HI 96819 Ph: (808) 848-6966 Fax: (808) 848-6964 engineering@thermaleng.com www.thermaleng.com
URS Corporation 615 Piikoi St. Suite 900 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 593-1116 Fax: (808) 593-1198 nia_ah_kuoi-naufahu@urscorp.com www.urscorp.com
Wilson Okamoto Corporation 1907 South Beretania St. Suite 400 Honolulu, Hi 96826 Ph: (808) 946-2277 Fax: (808) 946-2253 woc@wilsonokamoto.com www.wilsonokamoto.com
Wiss, Janney Elstner Associates Inc. 1441 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 1700 Honolulu, Hi 96814 Ph: (808) 591-2728 Fax: (808) 591-2620 www.wje.com
WSP Lincolne Scott Inc. 1132 Bishop St. Suite 1850 Honolulu, HI 96813 Ph: (808) 536-1737 Fax: (808) 537-5829 honolulu@wsplincolnescott.com www.lincolnescott.com
Yogi Kwong Engineers LLC 1357 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 1450 Honolulu, HI 96814 Ph: (808) 942-0001 Fax: (808) 943-0004 www.yogikwong.com