A Traditional, Large Engineering Service Adopts the Best Value Approach

The BV environment was introduced into the Netherlands in 2006. By 2008 testing was being done by a partnership of Arizona State University and Scenter [Sicco Santema, professor from Delft University]. In 2010, the $1B fast track projects were procured by the Rijkswaterstaat, and by 2012, the BV approach had become the “buzzword” of procurement. However, in the delivery of professional engineering services, larger, more traditional services which were built on a system of relationships between clients and vendors, MDC from the clients’ experts, and the importance of “billable man-hours”, the transition from a traditional approach to a best value approach is very challenging. Large traditional professional organizations naturally will have more difficulty adapting to the new approach. The BV approach utilized the expertise of experts to replace the need for relationships and owner management, direction and control [MDC.] It also places less value on traditional practices that have been used by professional services to get business [relationships and working together with the client in a trust based relationship]. The study captures the efforts of a very successful engineering firm [the largest in the Netherlands] as they attempt to become
successful in this new approach. The best value team that they have put together has had outstanding results in using the BV approach to changing their paradigm.